1996 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer opened a tennis store in 1920 at the age of 21. Not long after, he developed and sold golf clubs and fishing tackle. After developing hypothermia on a winter fishing trip, he began designing light weight alternatives to heavy wool winter wear, which had been the standard. As a result, he patented the first quilted down jacket and 20 other outdoor items. He retired in 1968, but the company thrived, and he saw the first cross promotion with Ford take place with the 1984 Bronco.
For consignment, one of those co-branded Fords, a 5 owner 1996 Bronco in its final year big bodystyle. While mechanically similar to the XT and XLT models, the Eddie Bauer edition has distinctive two-tone paint and a number of exterior and interior enhancements that came as part of the package. They were considered the top of the Bronco line and, as with many full-size SUV's of the era, are in high demand as collectibles today.
Exterior
Pacific Green Metallic over Light Saddle covers this truck in epic 90's goodness. The tan cap, discolored in some spots, is matched by the rocker panel line and Bauer specific step up. For the year and mileage of the truck, the paints, chrome, and chromed plastic grille show very nicely. The headlight lenses show a bit of yellowing, the emblems are fading, and the door handles have some pitting. But overall, the body is straight, and the panel gaps are better than acceptable. That's not to say the old gal doesn't have some patina. The roof and front fender tops show a clear coat that split the scene a long time ago. There are numerous areas of rust bubbles, flaking paint and rust, and dry seals. We've seen worse in trucks with fewer miles, so not put off by the degree of imperfections on this truck. 15-inch wheels are wrapped in 265/75R15 tires with a late 2019 date code. A spare tire is covered in tan canvas and mounted on the back looking extra rugged.
Interior
Medium Mocha is the color of choice on the inside, and it first appears on the molded plastic door panels with vinyl inserts and as is typical for this era of Ford, they've held up well. The cloth bucket seats look great and may have lost some of their firmness over the years, but haven't we all? No rips or tears on these captain chairs and that's stupendous! The simple rear bench, in the same cloth, looks practically untouched. A leather wrapped steering wheel would have been standard on a Bauer and ours is covered with an aftermarket grip. The standard simple dash has all square gauges on a single, black faced panel. An aftermarket Kenwood AM/FM/CD player in the center area has aux cord and USB capability. Below that, simple heater and AC knobs. A faux wood strip shoots across the dash and is picked up in the door panels. This is both a bit of luxury and a reminder of the great outdoors. A center console with cup holders and a covered bin is present and an overhead console has a digital readout, lamps, and cubbies to hold garage door opener, sunglasses, and anything else that might fit. The low pile tan carpet is in good shape as is the headliner. The way back shows some history and tells the story with some staining on the carpet.
Drivetrain
Of the two drivetrains available to Bauer Bronco's at the time, this one got the bigger one. It's the 5.8 liter electronic fuel injection. (EFI). V8 factory rated at 205 horsepower. It's tied to the E4OD 4-speed automatic transmission with a BW1356 transfer case to split the power to the front wheels when you're deep in the mire. Under the hood we note the unique engraved intake plenum with a distinctive font used since the 80's, and the twin air intake tubes into the throttle body. Power disc brakes are housed up front while we find power drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
She reveals her age with substantial surface rust covering many metal parts and some of it is pitted, but nothing appears to be a structural threat or body issue. There is some flaking near the leaf spring mount. The engine is dry, and the alloy housing of the transfer case looks factory fresh. The single exhaust, though not shiny, does pass through a stock style muffler and exits behind the right rear wheel. Under the rear bumper we note a trailer hitch and electrical hook up. Radius arm with coil spring is the suspension in the front and leaf springs in the rear.
Drive-Ability
As the owner of a 4x4 that weighs 500 pounds more than this one and has the smaller 5.0 302, this truck is not only a familiar perch from which to drive, but a similar ride, albeit one with considerably more grunt. 205 horsepower doesn't sound like a big number by today's standards, but it's more than adequate to move this big rig through our test loop, where we get to check the operation of lights, horn, A/C, and many other items. As it happens, everything works as it should on this well maintained full size Bronco.
About ten years ago, there was a trend where young men were grooming and dressing like lumberjacks, wearing work boots, flannel shirts, and long beards. Even as they sipped their Starbucks with the protective heat sleeve. Well, what they lacked were the rides to back up their rugged aspirations and now, those rides are trending with a broad demographic. Full sized Broncos are hot, and this well kept hardy Eddie Bauer has lots of outdoor experiences ahead of it. Grab your fishing poles and down jackets, and raise a toast to the man, the myth, and the 4X4!
1FMEU15HXTLB45995
1-USA
F-Ford Motor Company
M-Multi Purpose Vehicle
E-6001 Thru 7000 GVWR
U15-Bronco 4wd Wagon
H-5.8L V8 205hp
X-Check Digit
T-1996
L-Wayne, MI Assy Plant
B45995-Sequential Unit Number
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