Bronco Talk: Stroppe Baja Broncos

Thanks for posting this. I love hearing about the stuff like this. I can't wait to see the tractor and trailer when it is done.

Hey @David
Do the Stroppe Baja Broncos appear at the Super Celebration East events?
They look amazing!

BuzzyBud

Hey @David
Do the Stroppe Baja Broncos appear at the Super Celebration East events?
They look amazing!

There were several at Super Cel West and I saw a couple at Super Cel East.

They knew how to do it right, polished wheels, chrome bumpers, mirrors etc V-8 under the hood

Love to see the 6g Broncos that Wayne in the video buys and has them painted to resemble his 1g Broncos.

BuzzyBud

Hey @David
Do the Stroppe Baja Broncos appear at the Super Celebration East events?
They look amazing!

Yes sir, and there's a couple around that haven't been restored that are in great condition and imo are more impressive than the restored ones lol.

This was taken at the Bush Bean factory on one of the SC tours.



This one made the drive from Oregon to Arkansas for OCBR in 15'

In the second pic above, I didn't notice at the time, but the pattern worn into the Baja tire cover looks like the tread pattern of an original Gates Commando tire that Stroppe used.

okie4570

Yes sir, and there's a couple around that haven't been restored that are in great condition and imo are more impressive than the restored ones lol.

Thank you for your insight on partially restored early Broncos. I can see where a completely restored Bronco might lose the feelings you get picturing the places they have been and the owner’s experiences sharing the journeys.

Here in New England, we have a few first-period homes. Some have been so restored they, unfortunately, look like reproductions. Sadly, you can no longer feel the lives of the people who called them home. The houses that are weather tight, but on the inside show their age are much more interesting.

BuzzyBud

Hey @David
Do the Stroppe Baja Broncos appear at the Super Celebration East events?
They look amazing!

Here are a couple that I took pictures of at the Super Cel East event last year.

I am coordinating a first of its kind Stroppe Reunion which will take place June 4-6, 2021 at the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle Pennsylvania. This is the largest Ford show in the world and should be bucket list item for any Ford enthusiast, even on years we are not having Broncos specific features there.

We will likely have the most Stroppes ever assembled together since they were in production, including the ones shown in the video above and more from Wayne's collection and others from all around the country. It is not going to be limited to just the Stroppe Baja Broncos, but all things Stroppe, so we are hoping to get some examples of his race cars and other special projects as well.

I will have the Stroppe Balloon Chaser Ambulance Bronco there, which Bill Stroppe built for a special Ford sales promotion in 1977, and then liked it so much he bought it back off of Ford and owned it until he died in 1995.

Bill Stroppe was an amazing mechanic and innovator who left quite a legacy in many forms of racing.

I've been talking with Bill's son Willie Stroppe regularly over the last few weeks trying to get some of these details nailed down on a few of the featured vehicles we plan to have there. Willie was part of the business with his dad, and raced Broncos himself. We had Willie out to Carlisle for the Bronco 50th anniversary in 2016, and he said he is very much looking forward to coming back this summer for the Stroppe Reunion. Willie will be available to talk about the Stroppe history and to sign autographs.

Here's a nice article that summarizes the legacy of Bill Stroppe.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/bill-stroppe