"Bronco Jack" Niederkorn has a meticulously restored 1967 Ford Bronco Sport pickup…Possibly, one of the finest in existence.
I met "Bronco Jack" Niederkorn in 2010 at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) in Rosemont, Ill., where he was displaying his 1971 Stroppe Baja Bronco within the confines of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. During our introduction, he mentioned how his fascination for the Ford Bronco started back in 1980, and today he says he has "never been without one since." Since 1980, he has owned 15 of Ford's off-road ponies, with five currently in his collection.
According to Niederkorn, it all started with the purchase of an original 1972 Bronco that he upgraded with a suspension lift kit with the intent of doing some off-roading near his home in rural Illinois. The fun times navigating that Bronco through rough terrain and mud bogs quickly turned into a fondness for the little 4x4 vehicle.
"There's just something cool about the Bronco with its unique looks and off-road capabilities," Niederkorn adds. "I started with a nice original one back on June 12th, 1980. Nearly 45 years and 15 trucks later, this is where I'm at.
"They are a cool-looking truck. With their boxy shape and raised fenders, they have attitude, personality and one-of-a-kind styling, and I just love them. This little one, the first-generation trucks, are my favorites. I will continue to collect them."
Niederkorn's collection really took off after he joined the thriving Bronco community. With each new Bronco that he purchased, his collecting evolved as he became more informed about the various Bronco models. In the end, his Bronco collecting didn't just take him down rough back country paths, but also down smooth highways to acquire various unique and rare models. Niederkorn initially began hunting original and unrestored versions, but when the opportunity presented itself to restore a rare model back to like-new condition, that's when Bronco Jack hit his stride.
