The Story

Why Baby Palomino?

Some restorations begin with a vehicle.

This one began with a memory.

When I was growing up, my dad had a yellow 1972 Ford Bronco. It was the Bronco I learned to drive in and a vehicle tied to some of my favorite childhood memories.

We also had a CB radio. My dad’s CB handle was “Papa Palomino.”

Mine was “Baby Palomino.”

Years later, when I had the opportunity to build an early Bronco of my own, I wanted to recreate the feeling of that Bronco — not as an exact replica, but as my own interpretation of something I remembered and loved.

I chose a period-correct 1969 Ford yellow from another Ford model because I preferred its softer shade to the original Bronco yellow.

And Baby Palomino was born.

This Bronco has been part restoration, part passion project and part tribute to a wonderful piece of my childhood.

I am planning to move out of the country next year, and Baby Palomino deserves to be driven, enjoyed and taken on new adventures rather than spending most of her time in my garage.

It is time for her next chapter.

The Bronco as found before restoration, wearing its original faded yellow paint — As found, before the restoration began.

Baby Palomino Today

Photographed September 2026

This 1969 Ford Bronco underwent a documented frame-off restoration and was thoughtfully rebuilt to retain the unmistakable character of an early Bronco while incorporating upgrades that make it enjoyable to actually drive.

Power comes from a rebuilt Ford 302 V8 paired with a TCI automatic transmission and TCI torque converter. The Bronco is equipped with four-wheel drive, power steering, power brakes with front discs, a 3-inch suspension lift, 35×12.50 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires, and a vintage-style RetroSound stereo with Bluetooth.

Baby Palomino is finished in a beautiful soft yellow selected from Ford’s period color palette. The color choice was intentional — a nod to the yellow 1972 Bronco I grew up with, but in a softer shade that I personally preferred. White rear fender flares, chrome bumpers and trim, classic Bronco badging, a black roll cage and a rear-mounted full-size spare complete the look.

The 3-inch lift and 35-inch tires give Baby Palomino the classic lifted early-Bronco stance without turning her into an extreme off-road build.

Baby Palomino from the front three-quarter, parked on a gravel mountain road beneath rocky peaks — Front three-quarter, top off

Driver-side front three-quarter view under a blue sky with pines and a mountain ridge behind — Driver side

Profile — 3-inch lift on 35-inch KO2s

Low front three-quarter view in a mountain meadow, grille and chrome bumper in the foreground — Grille & chrome bumper

White flares & Bronco badging

Head-on view of the Bronco on the road, Ford grille and headlights centered — Head on

Front three-quarter view in a wide alpine meadow — In the meadow

Rear three-quarter view showing the rear-mounted full-size KO2 spare, roll cage and tailgate — Rear-mounted full-size spare

Straight-on rear view with the spare tire, chrome rear bumper and roll cage — From behind

Wide profile

Photographs taken September 2026 with the hard top removed. Baby Palomino is being driven regularly, so mileage will increase slightly while she is offered for sale.

Specifications

At a Glance

Year / Make / Model: 1969 Ford Bronco
VIN: U15GLE34567
Asking Price: $85,000
Title: Clean title in hand, in seller’s name
Mileage: Approximately 2,347 miles since restoration (odometer reset during restoration; will increase slightly as she is driven)
Restoration: Documented frame-off restoration, 60+ build photographs
Engine: Rebuilt Ford 302 V8 (replacement engine, not the original)
Carburetor: Edelbrock
Transmission: TCI automatic with TCI torque converter
Drivetrain: Four-wheel drive, power steering
Cooling & Exhaust: Aluminum radiator, ceramic headers
Ignition & Electrical: Updated ignition and electrical components
Suspension: 3-inch suspension lift, upgraded shocks
Brakes: Power brakes — front disc, rear drum
Wheels & Tires: Black aftermarket wheels, 35×12.50 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 (matching full-size KO2 spare on a matching wheel)
Exterior: Soft period-inspired Ford yellow; white rear fender flares, chrome bumpers & trim, classic Bronco badging
Roll Cage: Full black roll cage
Interior: Black front buckets with headrests, matching rear bench, black carpeting, seat belts, wood-rim steering wheel
Stereo: RetroSound vintage-style stereo with Bluetooth
Air Conditioning: None
Hard Top: Removable white hard top included (excellent condition, finished in white Rhino Liner)

Included with Sale

Removable white hard top in excellent condition
Matching full-size BFGoodrich KO2 spare and matching wheel
Two keys
More than 60 restoration/build photographs
Clean title in hand

Current Condition

To the best of my knowledge, there are currently no known non-working systems or mechanical issues.

Baby Palomino is currently being driven regularly both for enjoyment and to keep everything exercised after spending periods of time stored. The timing was recently checked and adjusted, and she is currently running and driving well.

Mileage will therefore increase slightly while the Bronco is offered for sale.

Baby Palomino is presented honestly: the engine is a rebuilt 302 V8 replacement — not numbers-matching — and the stated mileage reflects distance since the restoration was completed.

The Restoration

Built from the Frame Up

Baby Palomino wasn’t given a quick cosmetic refresh.

The Bronco was extensively disassembled for a frame-off restoration, with work encompassing the chassis, suspension, drivetrain, body and paint, electrical components and interior before final assembly.

The build is documented with more than 60 restoration photographs, including images of the Bronco at multiple stages of the process. Selected restoration photographs are shown below, and the complete restoration photo collection is available to serious buyers.

The Bronco as found, front three-quarter view with faded original paint — As found

Close view of the original weathered hood and grille before restoration — Five decades of original paint

Engine bay before teardown — Engine bay, before

Interior and dashboard stripped during teardown — Interior teardown

Body shell stripped with engine bay empty during disassembly — Teardown complete

Bare body shell during bodywork and surface preparation — Bodywork under way

Body masked and being prepared for paint — Prepped for paint

Body tub coated in gray primer — Tub in primer

Hard top section on a stand during refinishing — Hard top refinishing

Freshly painted body panel in 1969 Ford yellow — First coats of 1969 Ford yellow

Door in fresh yellow paint with restored trim panel — Fresh paint, door detail

New coil spring suspension with upgraded shock and front disc brake — Suspension & front disc brakes

Automatic transmission and transfer case prepared for installation — Drivetrain ready for installation

Rebuilt Ford 302 V8 installed in the freshly painted engine bay — The rebuilt 302 V8 goes in

Restored dashboard with wood-rim steering wheel during wiring — Dashboard & wiring

Interior during carpet and trim installation — Interior fit-out

Upholstered black rear bench seat over new black carpeting — Rear bench upholstered

Black front bucket seats installed in the finished interior — Front buckets installed

Fender flare, black wheel and all-terrain tire fitted to fresh paint — Wheels, tires & trim

Baby Palomino nearly complete during final assembly — Final assembly

Engine & Mechanical

Rebuilt for the Road

Under the hood is a rebuilt Ford 302 V8 — a replacement engine, not the Bronco’s original — paired with a TCI automatic transmission, TCI torque converter and four-wheel drive.

The engine breathes through an Edelbrock carburetor and ceramic headers, is cooled by an aluminum radiator, and runs updated ignition and electrical components. Power steering and power brakes (front disc, rear drum) make her easy to drive.

The chassis rides on a 3-inch suspension lift with upgraded shocks and 35×12.50 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires on black aftermarket wheels.

Rebuilt Ford 302 V8 with chrome air cleaner and headers, viewed from above

Engine bay of the restored Bronco showing the rebuilt 302 V8

Front view of the engine bay with restored grille and chrome bumper

Interior

Classic Character. Thoughtfully Updated.

The restored black interior keeps the straightforward character of an early Bronco while adding comfort and usability.

The RetroSound system maintains a period-appropriate appearance while allowing modern Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity. There is no air conditioning.

Black front bucket seats with headrests and the full black roll cage, looking back toward the rear bench and spare — Front buckets & roll cage

Restored dashboard and wood-rim steering wheel — Dashboard & wood-rim wheel

Matching black rear bench seat with seat belts, black carpeting and rubber floor mats — Matching rear bench

Rear cargo area with tailgate open showing new black carpeting — Rear cargo area

Hard Top

White Hard Top Included

The removable white hard top is included with the sale, is in excellent condition, and is finished in durable white Rhino Liner.

The top is currently removed and stored, which is why the photographs show Baby Palomino in open-top configuration.

The Bronco before restoration with the white hard top fitted — Shown before restoration with the hard top fitted. The refinished top is currently stored; photographs available upon request.

Documented Restoration

The Build, Documented.

More than 60 photographs document Baby Palomino’s restoration from the early stages of the build through mechanical installation, interior work and final assembly.

For a serious collector or buyer, the restoration archive provides a much more complete picture of how this Bronco came together than finished photographs alone ever could.

Why She’s Available

Ready for Her Next Chapter

Baby Palomino was built because I wanted to recreate a piece of my childhood, and she has done exactly that.

I’m planning to move out of the country next year, and I know that means this Bronco would spend far more time sitting in a garage than being driven.

I’d rather see Baby Palomino go to someone who appreciates early Broncos, understands what went into her restoration, and will actually drive her, enjoy her and create memories of their own.

She’s ready for her next chapter.

Baby Palomino from behind, heading up a winding gravel road into the mountains under a blue sky

Inquiries

Interested in Baby Palomino?

Offered at $85,000

Serious inquiries are welcome.

Additional photographs, restoration documentation and information are available upon request.

Text to Inquire