You could bag a Bronco restored by a Formula 1 champ
2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button has really embraced his California lifestyle since quitting racing, even going so far as to renovate a 1970 Ford Bronco for a bit of beach cruising.
As you’d expect from one of the planet’s fastest pedallers, Button wasn’t content with the Ford’s original power output and under the hood is a 4.9-liter 300-hp V-8 fed by Fitech fuel injection and an Edelbrock air filter. The engine also features an MSD ignition kit with push-button start and drives through a three-speed automatic transmission. Other upgrades include a Borgenson power steering system with a brightly-polished steering column and a wood-rimmed steering wheel.
There’s a half-cage installed, 35-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch Method alloys, plus lifted suspension on Bilstein shocks. The brakes are by Wilwood discs. Aside from the wonderful woofle from the V-8, sounds are provided by a Kenwood stereo.
The interior features cream leather over the period-correct seats, which appear to be in great shape, however the dark blue exterior paintwork does have a few stone chips and cracks, which may not pass scrutineering.
Button is said to have spent $20,000 on bringing the Bronco up to scratch, but barely drove it, and it has covered just 170 miles since the restoration. Now the race ace looks set to to cash in, as at the time of writing bidding was up to $85,000 on the Collecting Cars website.
