Bronco Barn

For the last month or so we've been watching a Discover Channel U.K. show called "Wheeler Dealers" hosted by two Brits, one a mechanic and one a former car dealer turned presenter. The premise of the show is to find a modern classic car within a low budget that has been unloved and refurb it, find a new owner and make a profit. Its a great show and we've loved watching it as we are "car people".

The tv show started us to thinking about cars in the U.S. that would fall into the same category and we began brainstorming cars we could purchase and easily work on and refurb as a project car in the barn. It would be a project for Matt and the kids.

Add to the mix that we have been thinking of trading in my SUV for a more economical mom taxi-type of car. I stay pretty local during the week and cart the kids from here to there for their activities in the big, honking gas-guzzling luxury SUV. It was costing a pretty penny in payments and gas, especially when you consider we bought the SUV to tow the travel-trailer that we don't need anymore since we have the motorhome.

Our first thought was to buy a older Mini in good condition that we could work on, etc., but I didn't feel comfortable driving an older model project car with lots of mileage that may or may not be reliable so we started looking at newer Minis and cars like it while Matt started searching for a project car that he and the kids could work on together and wouldn't be a daily driver.

So, we narrowed down our choices, booked the babysitter and Matt and I set out to find a car for me. In a snow storm. It took us two dealers to find it and we made the deal/trade in record time. It was pretty enjoyable for a car-buying experience.

The little, red Momobile.

So, I had the grocery-getter, now we had to decide on the project car for Matt.

And just what would the older, project car that a Porsche-racing, kart-driving, F1 enthusiast would desire?

An old Ford Bronco.

Yes, you read that correctly.

A Ford Bronco.

Since coming to the States, Matt has always thought Bronco's were the coolest thing since sliced bread. He's always wanted one, I just didn't agree to it until now. So he searched and read up and searched some more until we literally stumbled on the fact that there was a man who bought and traded Broncos in excellent condition,with low miles just minutes from us. So the next day we were out looking at one of the 16 Broncos he had. Matt had seen one on line and it was in excellent condition. So he bought it.

Matt loves his 1990 Bronco.

But, it was in great shape and it didn't seem it would a long-term project car. So, he bought this one too.

Blue, the Bronco, arrived on a flat-bed tow truck and was pushed into the barn. Its definitely a project car. 

We've bought the coveralls for Matt, Chloe and Oliver and they will all be getting their hands dirty soon working on "Blue". Chloe and I are considering making a You Tube channel where she hosts a show about working on Blue the Bronco. 

In the meantime, Chloe and Oliver helped Matt out already on the brown Bronco. 

Just in case you were wondering, because many people were when Matt posted this photo to his FB account...the kids are not working on the Bronco in our home. This IS the barn.