Yahoo Autos Velocity Restorations 1970 Ford Bronco Review: Capably Luxurious Vintage Off-Roader
The market for restomod vehicular creations is ever-expanding. In fact, it seems like any enthusiast platform with more than 20 die-hard fans can be had with a ground-up refresh and modern powertrain. But certain staples are well-established and on many well-heeled folks' wishlists, with the classic '60s and '70s Ford Bronco hanging out near the top of those lists.
These boxy American icons are well within the purview of Florida-based Velocity Restorations, a shop that takes restomodding quite seriously and, of course, charges accordingly. Recently, I had the pleasure of taking these folks' Signature Series 1970 Black Midnight Edition Ford Bronco for a hearty spin across California's Ventura County. As far as climbing aboard and going for a massive-smile-filled spin, fewer vehicles of any type or era have done so as effectively as this near-$300,000 piece of rolling craftsmanship.
Velocity Restorations 1970 Ford Bronco Specs | |
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The Build
$292,400 is a lot of money. No, scratch that—it's an obscene amount of money. But after running through the specs, it starts to make some sense. First, that figure includes the price of the donor Bronco, and a decent example isn't exactly cheap these days. Taking a look at the body, interior, and underbelly, it’s evident that every nut and bolt has been taken into consideration and restored. Everything that can be crafted by hand, is.
The gapless, perfectly aligned bodywork is flawless and sprayed in multiple coats of Black Glasurit paint, which sits atop a masterpiece of a tig-welded and properly coated frame. The amount of time given to the paintwork isn't something that should be overlooked, either. The high-gloss, deep finish was such a joy to photograph in bright, midday SoCal sun. All new glass and weather seals are fitted, and a six-point roll cage is thrown in for modernized peace of mind. Speaking of safety equipment, a massive aluminum fuel tank is welded together in-house and fitted as well.
Long-travel reservoir Bilstein dampers bolt up to each corner with extra long coil springs, giving the Bronco a sturdy, 2.5-inch lift. These attach to a Dana 44 axle at the front and Ford nine-inch at the rear. The massive Wilwood motorsport-grade brakes are hydroboost assisted rather than vacuum, lending to a reassuringly firm pedal.
Finally, Velocity threw on a set of 17-inch Method Race wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. This package does the trick, but considering the price, I would've expected a more unique style by HRE, MetalFX, or another higher-end mark.
The Finer Details
After driving VR's gorgeously upholstered F-250 last fall, I was especially looking forward to basking in this Bronco's interior. The Florida shop pays a lot of attention to every material used, and it certainly shows.
No disappointments, here: The rich, Velocity Signature Hickory leather seats, dashboard, door cards, and center console are extremely nice to the the touch. It's a harder, more durable hide but looks and feels so good and matches its thin-rim wood and metal steering wheel quite well. Carpeting is a minimal, loosely woven material, most likely to provide ambiance and luxury yet be easy to clean dirt out of. If you want Bentley-level material quality in an open-top off-roader, your dream has come.
