1971 FORD BRONCO CUSTOM “BIG OLY” TRIBUTE: Selling with No Reserve at the 2023 Las Vegas Auction

May 16, 2023
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

This 1971 Ford Bronco custom SUV features a one-of-a-kind chromoly tube frame chassis that represents the year Parnelli Jones won his first Baja 1000 in the famed original Big Oly Bronco. The all-chromoly TIG-welded chassis is powder-coated. Everything on the vehicle is either polished, nickel-plated, anodized or 24-karat gold.

It is powered by a 438ci 351W Dart Block Ford V8 engine producing 723hp, paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Its modifications include Ross 11 to 1 competition pistons, Ford performance custom CNC heads, a forged steel crank, H-beam rods, special ceramic-coated pistons, skirts, a crank, rods, a combustion chamber, valves, exhaust ports, a Peterson 5-Stage dry sump pump system, a K&N filter, a Bassani custom stainless-steel exhaust system, Race Proven alternator, COMP Cams camshaft, FAST EFI and Mike’s Transmissions Powerglide transmission with a Gear Vendors Overdrive and Winters shifter.

The rear end features Dirt-Tech axle housing, Summers Brothers 300M axles and a Currie/Gearworks Trophy Truck third member with a 10-inch polished 5.14 gear ring & pinion. The body, chassis and interior feature PRP seats and harnesses, AutoMeter gauges and Lowrance GPS, and the exterior/bodywork and paint were completed by Perry McNeil. The front suspension is equipped with 24-karat gold-plated Sandco upper and lower A-arms, Bilstein Blackhawk shocks, Bilstein 2.5-inch coilovers and 2-inch bump stops, Hypercoil springs, PRP Limit straps and 24-inch wheel travel. The rear suspension is equipped with 24-karat gold-plated 4-link Dirt-Tech trailing arms, Bilstein Blackhawk shocks, Bilstein 2.5-inch coilovers and 2-inch bump stops, Hypercoil springs, PRP Limit straps and 31-inches of wheel travel.

It was featured at the San Diego Automotive Museum for two years, and the Petersen Automotive Museum featured the vehicle in the main entrance for the “Braving Baja – 1000 Miles to Glory Exhibit” from May 4, 2013, through September 2, 2013. It was also featured in numerous online shows, magazines and websites, including DirtSports “Masterpiece in Metal” February 2008 and January 2012, the feature vehicle of Off-Road Magazine in November 2011, Bronco Driver November/December 2007 and November/December 2009 editions, SEMA 2011 “Top Ten Pick,” SEMA 2011 “Number 5 out of Top 25 Pick,” Adam Carolla’s CarCast, Microsoft Start Autos’ article “Big Oly Rides Again” and AUTOWEEK’s article “Big Oly Rides Again.”