Period Mods: 1988 Ford Bronco XLT – Sold?

October 4, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

The gold standard in car collecting is that you want to find a vehicle as close to its original condition as possible. Every nut should be OEM, every fastener stamped with the manufacturer’s logo. But in certain cases, when a vehicle is modified so perfectly, so in keeping with the era in which it was made, you will gladly sacrifice those exacting details for a vehicle that just screams period correct. That’s the feeling you get looking at this 1988 Ford Bronco 4×4, modified in the best 1980s tradition with a lifted suspension, Super Swamper tires, more KC lights than you’ll ever need, and a chrome roll bar in the bed. This Bronco was originally listed in August 2022 on Craigslist in Farmingdale, New York, for $34,900. Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide shows that the seller is asking for a bit more than the average sale price of under $20,000, but not many Broncos look as good as this one.

When it comes to automotive styling, it’s not exactly a surprise that most enthusiasts gravitate towards the obvious: sports cars and bad-ass sedans. Sporting models benefit from lowered suspensions, sports exhausts, bigger swaybars, Recaro seats, cold air intakes, and other enhancements. Sedans the likes of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars and Pontiac’s GTO follow similar recipes for adding personal touches, with perhaps a greater nod towards big stereos, tinted windows, and body kits that make the car look like it’s hovering off the ground. 4x4s have their own language, and what I love about vintage trucks done up like this Bronco is that all of those enhancements do serve a purpose. Even though this pristine square body will never rip its way through a bog, it very well could be able to with those upgraded tires and wheels. And that raised suspension will make short work of a fire road or other unpaved surface with the occasional obstacle. Even the lighting can illuminate a trail with no light sources other than the Moon above – try doing that with three 12-inch subwoofers.

The MotorWeek RetroReview YouTube Channel features this test drive of the 1988 Ford Bronco XLT:

Now, there’s a slight problem with this listing, and it has to do with the fact that the seller doesn’t seem all that invested in his Bronco. The for-sale listing description reads like a classic scam whereby pictures are ripped off the internet and dropped into the post, hoping to entice a victim to meet the “seller” of the vehicle in a dimly-lit parking lot. I hope that’s not the case here, as this Bronco just looks incredible for the year. Clean ruby red paint; a handsome black interior with upgraded Corbeau seats (I actually want these exact buckets for my Dakota pickup); chrome step rails; an aftermarket three-spoke steering wheel; a re-done backseat, made to match the front buckets; and just 117K on the clock. The Bronco is spotless underneath and definitely does not look like it came from the northeast. The scope of the description notwithstanding, this Bronco is a perfect example of how the right modifications can absolutely sell a vehicle. I hope this one is real because I guarantee you there’s someone out there looking for a Bronco that does it exactly like this.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Selling this Ford Bronco XLT as is.

The car is running and mechanically sound, to my knowledge.

Come inspect the car.“

OEM or period correct modifications: which path would you take if you owned a Bronco like this?