I found the Rarest Early Ford Bronco in Existence - 1966 U13 Roadster

After years of looking I finally found it! This 1966 U13 BUDD body (built in September 1965) is arguably one of the rarest and most sought after Ford Broncos ever made. While there were 5000 U13's made during the three-year production run experts now claim that there are fewer than 150 left today. My goal is to preserve this beast and get it back in action!
#fordbronco #buddthebronco #earlyfordbronco

[@Brette_Caldwell]

Cool Bronco, love those style doors. Wish new vehicles were more like the old ones. Good luck

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks Brette! I know if they could roll some of the older classics off of the assembly line today people would line up around the block :)

[@srh1101]

That's a great vintage Bronco. I'm going to look forward to you bringing it back to a new life on the road

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks! Me too

[@dnovello]

Great find, Scott. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Color is awesome, too!!

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks Paul! Yes the patina is here to stay this time :)

[@dnovello]

The original paint, aged with time, makes the truck that much more special, in my opinion. I think you really scored, Scott. Any original Bronco is collectable; but, yours is even more unique. Can't wait to see it on the road!!

[@NashvilleEarlyBronco]

Looking good!!

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks!

[@kristopher87]

Love it! My family has a 1966 bronco roadster as well we had it sitting in the garage for over 25 years before we decided to restore it back to original your bronco also has a some very hard to get parts especially the roadster inserts if the are original, front and rear bumpers and the roadster mirror on the drivers side is next to impossible to find. Love to see the 4wd dash sticker too that’s really rare

[@paulhillar1833]

Bad ass! I had a 66 U15 when I graduated high school. Mine had the original 170cid engine. I now own a 77 U15, originally an Oregon coast vehicle, now living in the Kommieforniastan. You gotta love the Bronco, nothing else compares!

[@DIYSCOTT]

Kommieforniastan hahaha. Thank you!

[@mickeysadler5272]

Waiting to see more.

[@markarmstrong5979]

Thanks for sharing! I needed motivation. I’m currently restoring Bronco number 59 built aug 65. it’s a u15 same color but 6 cylinder and manual. This is my 3rd resto and have recently gained a lot of knowledge on the budd 66. Reach out any time.

[@DIYSCOTT]

That's awesome how were you able to determine it was the 59th built?

[@Dailydieseldose315]

Interesting. Definitely fell down a rabbit hole researching the Budd company. Never realized they made the very 1st Broncos!

[@DIYSCOTT]

Yeah I think they made like the first 200 or so bodies and then Ford put it all together. I still have some more research to do myself

[@artummomenti3147]

Looks like you got yourself a solid project. It sounds pretty good.

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks! Yes definitely quite the project :)

[@jeremyjenks]

Cool dude! I’ll be working on mine soon too

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks! Good luck with yours

[@markmcc1]

That's taken a few twists and turned since 1966 but a great start for a project.

[@DIYSCOTT]

Yes it's turning into more and more of a project each day haha

[@Blk63Vette]

The Kil Care sticker on the roll bar tells me all I need to know about this Bronco. Get your money back.

[@DIYSCOTT]

vroom vrooooom

[@Blk63Vette]

I’m from Dayton Ohio close to Xenia. I’m sure this Bronco was driven very hard and put away wet. Good luck.

[@DIYSCOTT]

@@Blk63Vette I'd just think the person went to it for fun and got a sticker to put it on their truck? It has super swampers (not the ideal racing tire lol) on it that look to be from the 80's and I have the original wheels with tires that don't look too worn either. But the engine is toast and I'm swapping it right now so you never know I guess

[@nickefgen9219]

Cool bronco, you have good project, go check out all the bronco vendors they can help you with parts for the bronco, great video thank you for posting it

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks Nic! Yeah I started looking at toms offroad and bronco graveyard and filling up my shopping carts haha

[@nickefgen9219]

@@DIYSCOTT don’t forget James Duff and wild horses, wild horses is just over in Lodi California there close to you

[@nickefgen9219]

@@DIYSCOTT I’ve got a 1970 bronco that I’ve had for 27 years

[@DIYSCOTT]

@@nickefgen9219 That's awesome!

[@jamazonnewyork3221]

looks sick , dont even paint it . All you gotta do is maintain it . Double check your hub bearings and u joints . All fluids. Cool tires

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks! I agree with keeping it original as much as possible besides for things that have already been changed like the tailgate I might end up making those match

[@Double66U13]

Nice Roadster! What's the last 6 of your VIN?

[@DIYSCOTT]

Thanks! That's a secret 😅 (just don't want to put it out there in case anyone is ever trying to register one without a vin and needs one)

[@drewperoni5316]

​@@DIYSCOTTsharing sequential production numbers is not a big deal. Those of us who have been collecting and researching these for decades. There's even an entire thread listing the earliest ones starting with pre production unit 732000. We have 732364 which is a first week production U13.

[@DIYSCOTT]

@@drewperoni5316 Gotcha yeah according to the decoder I used mines a September 1965

[@tom4139]

Get it running and safe - try to avoid the rabbit hole.

[@DIYSCOTT]

Yeah I agree thanks!

[@ronniesensiba2240]

The 66 vin plate is not on the glove box door?

[@DIYSCOTT]

Merry Christmas! I think the only location where the vin should be on mine is the left sidewall by emergency brake pedal and stamped on the passenger side frame near the starter

[@artummomenti3147]

That year did not put the vin in the glove box.

[@ronniesensiba2240]

@@artummomenti3147 learn something new every day. Thanks

[@freedommonger4512]

grabber green

[@DIYSCOTT]

The original hood color?

[@ryanc3656]

Why didn’t you just take it at the buy?

[@DIYSCOTT]

I don't understand what you mean?

[@ryanc3656]

@@DIYSCOTT sorry, dumb question… you ended up mentioning later in your vid that other ppl facilitating shipping for you was a mistake. Looking forward to following your resto!

[@DIYSCOTT]

@@ryanc3656 Ah yeah I didn't have the time to trailer it at the time

[@kevinbarrett9615]

Please don’t turn it into a six figure show truck, get it running, fix the rust, keep the original look and patina and for f$#k sake drive it !

[@DIYSCOTT]

My plan to a t

[@paulhillar1833]

My 66 was also without a vin. plate! I was told it was one of the first made, but had no proof and wasn't as knowledgeable about them then.

[@DIYSCOTT]

Yeah its stamped on the frame but hard to read. The bummer part about 66's is the Marti reports start in 1967 so it's hard to find info on them