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Early Broncos have been restomod bait for years, but plenty of them arrive wearing six-figure builder badges. This 1966 Ford Bronco 4x4, live on Hemmings Auctions out of Marrero, Louisiana, takes a more hands-on route: a 2018 Coyote 5.0-liter V8, a Ford 10R80 ten-speed automatic, new sheetmetal and a lifted chassis on 35-inch tires. At last check it sat at $40,000 with the reserve still unmet and just over five days left.
A Modern Powertrain in a 92-Inch Wheelbase
A 1966 Bronco left the factory with an inline-six or a 289 V8 and a three-speed manual. This one gets a DOHC Coyote that, according to the listing, had 23,000 miles on it when it was acquired. Ford rated the 2018 Mustang GT version of that engine at 460 horsepower, though the listing doesn't say which donor vehicle it came from or whether output was changed, and there's no dyno sheet. Polished, ceramic-coated headers feed a stainless exhaust, and a remote transmission cooler supports the 10R80 behind it.
A BorgWarner transfer case splits power between a Dana 30 front axle and a Ford 9-inch rear. The suspension is lifted on extended radius arms with Bilstein shocks, a new steering box and a relocated power steering pump. Four-wheel disc brakes with hydroboost replace the original drums, and the stance comes from 35x12.50R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires on eight-hole Pro Comp alloys.
New Metal, Modern Wiring
The restoration side is as extensive as the drivetrain work. The hood, doors and fenders are listed as new sheetmetal, the rear quarters have been flared to clear the big tires, and a custom 23-gallon fuel tank is fitted. A stand-alone eight-circuit wiring harness ties the swap together, the sort of detail that separates a tidy build from a weekend experiment. The Bronco wears Mint Green paint with new chrome bumpers, a powder-coated roll bar, Rhino Liner on the floor and underside, and power step bars.
Inside, tan vinyl diamond-tuck upholstery covers the front buckets, rear bench and door panels. A polished tilt column carries a wood-rimmed wheel, Dakota Digital gauges handle the instrumentation, and Vintage Air supplies the climate control.
What's Documented and What Isn't
Everything above comes from the seller, and Hemmings notes that it hasn't verified the listing. The seller is assisting the owner with the sale and calls it a fun build, but the listing doesn't name a builder or mention receipts. It also doesn't state the gearing, and a Dana 30 up front under 35-inch tires is something a serious off-road buyer will want to ask about. The listing is upfront about a few open items: the air conditioning doesn't currently blow cold, the driver's door needs alignment, and no top is included. The truck is offered on a clean Louisiana title, and the odometer shows 34 miles, marked as true mileage unknown.
The Auction
The listing has drawn two bids so far, $35,000 and then $40,000, both placed Tuesday and both below reserve. It carries 41 photos, and Hemmings charges a 5% buyer's fee.
If you like the Coyote-in-a-Bronco formula, we recently looked at a Coyote-powered 1973 Bronco restomod crossing the block at Worldwide Auctioneers. For more swap-built oddities, see the 914 with a 911SC flat-six or the supercharged 1998 Buick Riviera, also live on Hemmings.
