You’ve heard me talk in the past about history and how Brown Bros Ford Lincoln has a long one in the area (66 years now).  Part of that history is the many vehicles that come and go through our doors.  One of the vehicles though came 42 years ago and stayed.  A Grabber Blue 1970 Bronco. 

From the day this vehicle arrived it was used as our Service truck.  We ran out with it to do minor maintenance for our customers.  As time went on though it kind of got forgotten though it was still occasionally put to use.  

In 1996 two Brown Bros employees decided to take on a project.  The restoration of the Bronco.  I don’t think Mark Korst or Chris O’Neill knew what they were getting into, but the 2 year journey began. 

Years of sitting outside left the box rusty as was the engine!

Rusted floorboards, another sign of sitting in the rain.  The vehicle beginning to be stripped.

Chris O’Neill & Mark Korst (when they had hair) beginning the two year restoration journey.

Frame off and just down to engine.  Then the bare frame.  Every nut and bolt and every piece disassembled. 

Then it was time to bring the Bronco back to a new life.  Everything was powder coated, everything was essentially done in house by Brown Bros. 

Paint booth ready to go.  Time to reassemble body to frame. 

Back to being “better” than new.  All original including the paint colour & the hand painted lettering.  Chris & Mark tried to find the original painter for the lettering. 

1970′s simplicity.  A “3 in the tree” tranny.  The floor shifter is for the 4 wheel drive.

Facts about the 1970 Bronco & Mark Korst even managed to keep the original build sheet!

The Bronco has become part of our dealerships history.  It sits in a place of pride in our Ford showroom.  It’s something special, that two employees took on the task and got other employees involved, all on their own time, because they cared.  It’s also something special that the group of people that worked on the vehicle 16 years ago, still work at Brown Bros Ford Lincoln today.