Ford Bronco “Big Oly” Baja 1000 Winner

Back in 1969, Parnelli Jones drove this very Ford Bronco for the podium in the brutal Baja 1000 desert race. The “Big Oly” legend (named after sponsor, Olympia Beer) is now up for auction as a piece of automotive racing history. While it might have a Bronco body shape, it was packed with then unheard of off-road racing tech, and it paid off in the end. Its Chromoly spaceframe and aluminum/fiberglass body amounted to a mere 2,620 pounds, and the powerful 390-hp V8 made for serious performance. It also boasted uber-capable suspension components to manage huge jumps and rough terrain, and its roof was actually a massive spoiler for ideal downforce. It went on to win the Baja 1000 four years running, 1971 to 1974, a monumental feat. Rumor has it that in 1972, a bottle of tequila acted as the fuel source when the team ran out of gas 14 miles from the finish, reason alone to put up money to win this remarkable race truck. The auction starts May 14th at Mecum Auctions.