Possibly abandoned 1995 Bronco XLT 4X4

[Li'l Work Truck]

There's an old mechanic's garage beside the place I work, and sitting out front on flats is a white-on-white 1995 fullsize Bronco XLT 4x4 with a 351 Windsor according to the VIN. It's likely been sitting there since the early to mid 2000's, because there's a tree growing beside it that would be in the way if the shop was still in business. The truck is the kind of dirty you'd expect from a roadside vehicle. I can try and get some pictures of it. I'm going to see if it's truly abandoned, or if the shop owner is still alive and he has the title.

In the case that I can get my hands on it, what should I look for? Is there anything that might be a reason to walk away? I know it still has the engine in it since it's not sitting nose up.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

white-on-white 1995 fullsize Bronco XLT...

In the case that I can get my hands on it, what should I look for?

The missing evidence.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Edit: OH!!! HAHAHAHA!

 

[MISWFL]

There's an old mechanic's garage beside the place I work, and sitting out front on flats is a white-on-white 1995 fullsize Bronco XLT 4x4 with a 351 Windsor according to the VIN. It's likely been sitting there since the early to mid 2000's, because there's a tree growing beside it that would be in the way if the shop was still in business. The truck is the kind of dirty you'd expect from a roadside vehicle. I can try and get some pictures of it. I'm going to see if it's truly abandoned, or if the shop owner is still alive and he has the title.

In the case that I can get my hands on it, what should I look for? Is there anything that might be a reason to walk away? I know it still has the engine in it since it's not sitting nose up.

Check the license plate to see when it was last registered. If the owner doesn't have the title, he can do a lien sale to get a title.

 

[Curious Hound]

Last driven in a low speed police chase in California.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

You do realize that if that is *the bronco,* you absolutely have to buy it.

Maybe do a nice "red splash" paint job on top of the white.

 

[Curious Hound]

You do realize that if that is *the bronco,* you absolutely have to buy it.

Maybe do a nice "red splash" paint job on top of the white.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

View attachment 148833

Literally this.

 

[RobbieD]

And be sure to hang a pair of tiny gloves from the rearview mirror.

 

[Shran]

No title would be a real breaker in South Dakota, not sure how it works there so hopefully that is not an issue.

Those are otherwise excellent trucks. Maybe an E4OD trans? Common rust is in and around the tailgate. Otherwise just the normal old truck stuff to check. Good luck and my fingers are crossed for ya, I love full size broncos!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Once you get past all the red flags you get to why it was at the shop originally, if it was ever even fixed or if the owner just told the shop to keep it rather than pay the diag.

And then you get to deal with resurrecting a vehicle that has been sitting a long time in addition to whatever brought it there in the first place.

 

[Curious Hound]

Once you get past all the red flags you get to why it was at the shop originally, if it was ever even fixed or if the owner just told the shop to keep it rather than pay the diag.

And then you get to deal with resurrecting a vehicle that has been sitting a long time in addition to whatever brought it there in the first place.

Ok, Debbie Downer.

 

[MISWFL]

No title would be a real breaker in South Dakota, not sure how it works there so hopefully that is not an issue.

Those are otherwise excellent trucks. Maybe an E4OD trans? Common rust is in and around the tailgate. Otherwise just the normal old truck stuff to check. Good luck and my fingers are crossed for ya, I love full size broncos!

South Dakota apparently has a bonded title process.

I'd first talk to the shop owner/landlord, then look in the vehicle for any paperwork showing who's the owner. Look them up to see it they're still alive and if so ask them about the vehicle.

 

[Shran]

South Dakota apparently has a bonded title process.

I'd first talk to the shop owner/landlord, then look in the vehicle for any paperwork showing who's the owner. Look them up to see it they're still alive and if so ask them about the vehicle.

We do and that is a new thing this year. Vehicle has to be over 30 years old if I remember correctly so in theory it would work for this one. Basically you do a bond for it that is in place for 3 years and previous owners can claim it during that time. After 3 years it's yours. I have no idea what would happen if an owner tried to claim it.

I used to be able to have the state do a VIN number search and they'd give you a name & address for the last known owner and you could do an abandoned vehicle claim after that. The state took that away about 10 years ago, we got totally screwed in the process and it was almost impossible to get titles for vehicles after that. Government work at its finest. At least with the bonded thing, we are moving forward somewhat.

 

[MISWFL]

We do and that is a new thing this year. Vehicle has to be over 30 years old if I remember correctly so in theory it would work for this one. Basically you do a bond for it that is in place for 3 years and previous owners can claim it during that time. After 3 years it's yours. I have no idea what would happen if an owner tried to claim it.

I used to be able to have the state do a VIN number search and they'd give you a name & address for the last known owner and you could do an abandoned vehicle claim after that. The state took that away about 10 years ago, we got totally screwed in the process and it was almost impossible to get titles for vehicles after that. Government work at its finest. At least with the bonded thing, we are moving forward somewhat.

California did that long ago and might have been the first state to do so because of this:

Rebecca Schaeffer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

ETA: looks like a few people tried to take out the trash in 2007, but didn't succeed.