“Money doesn't buy happiness.”
“Yeah, well, neither does being broke!” Hilarious. Never heard that one before, Oscar Wilde.
True, a cheap beer with your best friends in a dive bar is better than bottle service at a stuffy nightclub with pretentious strangers. Not because it’s cheap, but because the experience will undoubtedly be more fun. Conversely, a cheap hotel is never as enjoyable as an expensive one.
Happiness isn’t about expensive versus cheap. It’s about spending the right way to achieve it, which can be especially true with cars.
For example, there are a lot of cars you can buy for $150,000. A new C8 Corvette or Porsche 911 come to mind if you like speed. You could have a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen if you want to look like someone who overlands but will actually spend all of their time vaping in the mall parking lot. More into luxury? The BMW Alpina B8 starts around that price and is so classically luxurious you’ll barf. This isn’t to mention the dozens of desirable classic collector cars you could put in your driveway if you have that kind of cash to burn.
But the question is, will any of those cars make you happy? Will you sweat their steady depreciation? Will you dread stone chips, potholes, and even rain? Will those cars be an endless source of headaches when you just want to go for a drive and the damn thing won’t start?
Spending $150,000 on a car should yield nothing but fun at every point in the ownership experience.
So if you’re itching to spend a big slice of cheddar cheese like that on a vehicle, you should ignore all the usual suspects and start shopping for something like this custom 1971 Ford Bronco for sale right now on AutoTrader at Family Ford in Parksville, B.C.
This thing is a conversation starter. Back in 2014, it crossed the auction block at Barrett-Jackson as Lot 939 in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday, Jan. 17. We haven’t been able to find the broadcast footage, but it did earn a spot in a MotorTrend roundup of the top selling SUVs that year.
Beyond that, this Bronco is a bit of a mystery. A quick VIN lookup confirms that it is indeed a real-deal 1971 Ford Bronco and not some kit car or recreation. Before making its way to Barrett-Jackson, it was last registered in the U.S. in Washington state in 2012, and before that, Florida in 2007.
Outside of that, it’s a mystery.
We have no idea who put the work into customizing this Bronco, for example, which is a shame because we like their vibe. Beyond undergoing a complete nut and bolt restoration and being finished in the very tasteful yet oddly appropriate Lamborghini Grigio Telesto paint colour, some excellent decisions were made in the pursuit of fun.
First, the entire body of the truck has been Rhino Lined — like you would the bed of a pickup — which means you don’t have to be precious about this Bronco. That’s what you want in a vehicle that also has a 351 Windsor V8 (replacing the original 302, at least according to the VIN), a ZF five-speed manual transmission, fully built suspension, and a custom roll cage. The 4x4 system was rebuilt with parts from Wildhorses, a brand known for early Bronco performance accessories. Despite the fact that this Bronco has only ever seen pavement since its rebuild, find a gravel or a dirt road, and this thing will party.
It’s not all just hooliganism, either. A Tuffy Security centre console was added to stash any valuables. A modern power brake assist system means this ‘71 SUV doesn’t have to stop like one. And speaking of classic car headaches that aren't present, this Bronco’s driveline, cooling systems, fuel lines, electrical wiring, and batteries are all new, so this classic is ready to be driven and enjoyed.
That red jerry can on the tailgate? Real ones are illegal now for explode-y reasons, so this one houses a toolset. That’s a good sense of humour.
You can even pop a top on if it happens to rain. A BestTop Supertop with tinted windows and the original metal doors are included in the sale.
This Bronco is a $150,000 vehicle you can beat up on like it stole that money from you. And that is always a better pathway to joy than something that a vengeful bird can ruin should you be so lucky.
Strangely, this Bronco has only driven under 500 km since being purchased from Barrett-Jackson, with local Ford dealers mostly just taking it to car shows around Vancouver Island.
Still, we’d wager you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of this $150,000 purchase than something you’re afraid to get dirty, get a stone chip in, or frankly just isn’t that interesting.
In this instance, $150,000 may not buy you super speed, status, or luxury in the traditional sense, but it does buy you loads of fun without the trade-off of added stress.
And if that’s not happiness, what is?
