How much did “American collectors” pay for the 1966 Ford Bronco U13?

Throughout the 2010s, American Pickers became one of the most popular and enduring shows on the History Channel. Throughout the series, Mike Wolfe and the late Frank Fritz travel from state to state and city to city in search of antique goodies of all kinds. It is this spirit of adventure and discovery that ensures that the series continues into the Modernity survives and the finds shown therein are a topic of conversation among fans. Some of the most valuable car finds at American Pickers are not only fondly remembered, but also the ones that are both expensive and unique.

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One such find occurred in Season 15, Episode 12, aptly titled “Bucking Bronco.” In this 2016 episode, Wolfe and Fritz head to Indiana, where they meet a businessman named Dennis Clark who has a lot of fascinating inventory and is eager to sell it. It doesn’t take long for the two pickers to spot some extraordinary items, including a 1966 Ford Bronco U13 – with just 29,000 miles and a factory paint job that looks like it was applied yesterday. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take Wolfe long to go into negotiation mode, and he ends up receiving the incredible sum of $30,000.

Although Wolfe admittedly wasn’t a U13 fan, he knew that missing out on this piece just couldn’t happen. Who knew if they would ever see one again, let alone in such pristine condition?

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At first glance, this half-century-old Ford Bronco U13 may not seem very impressive. At least it shouldn’t be put in the same category as the coolest vehicles ever discovered on American Pickers. Sure, it’s in great condition for its age, but it’s not like the Ford Bronco is an anomaly of a vehicle. In fact, Ford is still in the Bronco business to this day. In reality, Wolfe and Fritz were absolutely right not to leave this piece behind, as this particular version of the Bronco is – in virtually any condition – exceptionally rare.

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The history of the Ford Bronco dates back to 1965, when the compact SUV range hit every road. It came in three forms, the most common being the wagon, which was equipped with a solid roof and doors. The others were the Half Cab, which consisted of a clip-on steel cab, and the Roadster, the kind that Wolfe and Fritz landed. It was recognized internally as a U13 and opted for a removable vinyl roof and fiberglass doors. Ultimately, Ford did not stick with this option and discontinued the model in 1968, after it was estimated that only around 5,000 examples had been produced. Decades later, no one can guess how many of them remain.

This special U13 is not only in phenomenal visual condition, but was also ready to drive again at the time it was purchased by the “American Pickers” crew.

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When Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz saw the 1966 Ford Bronco U13, Dennis Clark had already owned it for some time. He bought it from a friend in Missouri over a decade ago and kept it in his garage until the experienced pickers came to the door. Clark admitted to Indiana’s Lafayette Journal & Courier at the time that he hadn’t used the hard-to-find vehicle as much as he expected: “I never drove it the way I thought I would. But it was really in good shape.

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As it turns out, Clark wasn’t just referring to the paint and interior when he said the U13 was in good condition. About a year before parting ways with it, he took it to a local mechanic to get it in running condition, he told the publication. As if the U13 wasn’t already an amazing, valuable piece, the fact that it was in good condition to take on the open road placed it in an even narrower and more expensive category among the U13s still in circulation.

To say that the American Pickers made a big profit on their $30,000 deal on the 1966 Ford Bronco U13 would be a massive understatement. Given the car’s rarity and overall condition, it’s safe to say that, much like the Aerosmith van once found on American Pickers, it’s a one-of-a-kind choice.

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