The SUV isn’t a new invention. As early as the 1931, companies like Marmon-Harrington were taking production vehicles and adding 4-wheel-drive, and with the Jeep coming home from WWII, well, America was in love with getting dirty. There are arguments about what the first modern SUV might have been, perhaps the Willys Station Wagon introduced in 1949 with factory 4-wheel-drive, but there’s little debate that the breed was perfected by the Ford Bronco. Just the right size to be nimble, available with V8 power, and flexible enough to be used just about anywhere, from the suburbs to the park service, the Bronco really could do it all. And who can forget the most famous 4x4 of all, a white Ford Bronco that captivated the nation for a few hours on a warm summer night. If you ask someone to name a 4-wheel-drive truck, the Bronco’s name is apt to come up more often than not.

Today, the early Ford Bronco is a hot property. After languishing for years as an afterthought, Broncos are suddenly A-List collectables with values going up faster than the price guides can be printed. And the collectors don’t seem to care whether it’s a stocker or a resto-mod like this 1970 Bronco, all they care about is quality. If that’s what you’re after, then this incredible Viper Yellow Bronco will deliver the kind of thrills you expect from a six-figure build.

Yes, that’s right, this is a fresh professional build by some of the best-known guys in the Bronco business, and we have receipts that hit the six-figure mark, not counting the purchase of the truck itself. Starting with a remarkably clean tub from Colorado, it was stripped bare and rebuilt from there with virtually every part being bolted to that tub being brand new. The bodywork was finished to a level usually reserved for vehicles that weren’t designed to get dirty, and the flat Bronco bodywork is particularly demanding simply because every surface reflects like a mirror; there’s just no place for bad bodywork to hide here. The front fenders are brand new reproduction pieces in steel and the hood is a very cool Wild Horses Buckaroo fiberglass piece with integral hood scoop that looks incredibly sinister. Just about anything you can see is new, including the Wild Horses fender flares, Rock Ski step plates, Protofab tubular bumpers and rear spare tire holder, and all the exterior LED lighting, including the headlights. There’s also a Smittybilt wireless winch on the front bumper, complete with synthetic cable that’s stronger and safer than steel, and a pair of KC LED running lights perched out there on the front of the grille guard. Most of the brightwork was powdercoated satin black, including the door handles, wiper arms, and even the Bronco script emblems, which really tie it all together. Of course, the roof is removable and the doors have quick-release hinges, so if you’re interested in running alfresco, it’s easy to get there. We haven’t had many vehicles that can attract attention like this big yellow Bronco.

The interior is just as beautifully finished as the bodywork, including two brand new Pro Car Elite seats wrapped in black cloth in a pattern that’s remarkably similar to the original Ford setup. The whole inner tub was treated to a color-matched layer of spray-on bedliner material, so it’ll last forever and you don’t have to worry about getting it dirty—just hose it out after a day of playing in the mud. You’ll note that the dash and side panels resemble carbon-fiber, which was achieved using a cool technique called Hydro-Dipping and we love the look. A Tuffy center console was installed and the Pioneer AM/FM/CD/USB/MP3 stereo was hidden inside and there are speakers stashed throughout the interior. A custom IDIDIT tilt steering column and Grant steering wheel give it a more modern feel from the driver’s seat and the gauges are from Dakota Digital, putting all the vital information in a single pod that takes the place of the original speedometer. Vintage Air supplied the A/C system tucked under the dash and the entire roof was lined with DynaMat to help control heat and noise inside the cabin. This is one Bronco that doesn’t feel loose and crude. A full roll cage was installed for safety and both a fire extinguisher and a gorgeous (and undoubtedly very expensive) jack were affixed to the cage out back. Check out the photos—they don’t lie. This sucker is spectacular!

The engine is a brand new 5.0 crate motor from ATK, rated at a nice, round 300 horsepower. In a tall vintage 4x4 like this, that’s more than enough to make performance entertaining. It’s topped by a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, an aluminum intake manifold, and a fairly aggressive cam lives inside, giving it a gnarly idle and plenty of mid-range punch. There’s a giant Howe aluminum radiator up front, so slow going in the mud isn’t going to stress the engine, and an electronic ignition system fires it reliably under all conditions. All the wiring is new and it wears fresh Ford Racing tinwork that provides a great contrast to the yellow inner fenders and firewall. The A/C system is neatly integrated into the original heater setup so it looks like it was born there and thanks to proper tuning, it starts quickly, idles nicely, and runs superbly. With only 262 miles on the build, it’s broken-in and fully sorted, but still brand new so there are no signs of use under the hood.

As a frame-off build, they had the opportunity to upgrade everything under the surface and build a take-no-prisoners off-roader. The frame was sandblasted and a complete Wild Horses suspension kit was installed, including front shock hoops and dual shocks at all four corners. The frame was painted satin black, and most of the components that were bolted on were painted to match. Experts might not recognize the front rack, which is the very first power rack-and-pinion setup from Uni-Steer, and it transforms the handling and feel of the Bronco from primitive to state-of-the-art. The brakes, booster, hoses, rotors, calipers, drums, and all the hard lines under the truck are brand new and custom driveshafts were built just for this truck. C4 3-speed automatic transmission was rebuilt with a heavy-duty B&M shift kit and it feeds a fresh Dana 20 J-shift transfer case with high and low ranges. The front axle is a Dana 44 with 3.54 gears and a Detroit Tru-Trac limited slip, while a heavy-duty Ford 9-inch was built with 3.50 gears and another Tru-Trac diff, making this a very formidable truck in the slippery stuff. Experts will quickly spot that this is a dual tank truck, with a custom 23-gallon stainless steel rear tank and a factory 11-gallon auxiliary tank with an electric switch, so you’ll never be too far from gas again. Hedman ceramic-coated long-tube headers feed a custom Flowmaster exhaust system with tips that exit right behind the rear wheels, giving this Bronco a fantastic soundtrack that’s more Mustang than utility vehicle. Custom powdercoated Mickey Thompson Classic aluminum wheels carry giant 33x12.50-15 Dick Cepek tires that ride and handle surprisingly well.

Documentation is extensive, including receipts, build photos, and even a spreadsheet showing expenditures of about $72,000 just in parts, never mind the labor and time to put it all together. Broncos are red hot today and if you want the best one we’ve ever seen, one that’s still brand new and fresh, and one that is built using all the parts you’d use if you were doing it yourself, this is a fantastic choice. Why build when you can buy this one today and be playing with it by next week? Call now!