One-of-a-Kind Saleen “Big Oly” Ford Bronco Prototype Heads to Auction With Just 110 Miles
If you're a Bronco collector looking for something you're probably not going to see parked next to you at Cars & Coffee, this one deserves your attention.
A 2023 Saleen Ford Bronco “Big Oly” prototype is heading across the auction block at Mecum's Nashville auction — and this isn't just another modified Bronco.
This particular machine carries Saleen serial number 23-001P, has only 110 miles on the odometer and was created as a modern tribute to one of the most legendary off-road racing machines ever to wear the Bronco name.
And yes, we're talking about Big Oly.
The Bronco That Changed Off-Road Racing
To understand this Saleen Bronco, you have to go back more than 50 years.
The original Big Oly was built by Bill Stroppe's operation for racing legend Parnelli Jones. Rather than simply modifying another production Bronco, the team developed a purpose-built tube-frame racing machine designed to attack the desert at serious speed.
The Olympia Beer-sponsored Bronco became an icon.
Parnelli Jones drove Big Oly to victories in the 1971 and 1972 Baja 1000, followed by wins in the 1973 Baja 500 and 1973 Mint 400.
Its influence stretched well beyond those trophies. The lightweight tube-frame construction and long-travel approach helped point off-road racing toward the purpose-built desert racers we know today.
The original Big Oly's significance was reflected in its value when it sold for approximately $1.87 million at auction in 2021.
More than five decades later, Saleen decided to build a Bronco paying tribute to it.
Meet Saleen's Modern Big Oly
At first glance, there's no mistaking the inspiration.
Saleen covered the modern Bronco in a gold-and-white Olympia Beer-inspired livery, immediately recalling Parnelli Jones' famous desert racer.
But this isn't simply a graphics package.
Saleen substantially modified the sixth-generation Bronco for serious off-road performance.
Up front is a custom Saleen grille and a vented hood designed to extract heat. High-clearance fender flares provide room for the considerably larger wheel and tire combination.
Lighting comes courtesy of KC HiLites, including a roof-mounted light bar, additional light pods, bumper lighting and rear-facing lights.
And then there are the tires.
The prototype rides on 37-inch Nitto Recon Grapplers wrapped around Gunmetal Black Rhino Solid wheels.
Saleen Didn't Forget the Suspension
Putting 37-inch tires on a Bronco is one thing.Building the suspension to actually use them is another.
Saleen fitted the Big Oly prototype with its Racecraft suspension system, including a five-link rear setup, long-travel front suspension, coilovers and tubular control arms.
The goal wasn't simply to create a Bronco that looked like a Baja racer.
Saleen wanted something capable of performing like one.
375 Horsepower and 500 LB-FT
Under the hood sits Ford's familiar 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, but Saleen didn't leave it stock.A Saleen tune combined with a MagnaFlow exhaust pushes output to a reported:
375 horsepower
and
500 lb-ft of torque.
That's a healthy increase while retaining the 2.7-liter EcoBoost foundation familiar to Bronco owners.
The Interior Gets the Saleen Treatment Too
Inside, the Baja theme continues.
The Bronco features black leather seating with Alcantara inserts, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and body-color accents on the dashboard and steering-wheel trim.
An auxiliary control panel handles the extensive exterior lighting.
The result is a Bronco that combines the creature comforts of the modern sixth-generation Bronco with styling inspired by one of the most important racing Broncos ever built.
And This One Is the Prototype
Here's where things get especially interesting for collectors.This isn't merely a Saleen Big Oly Bronco.
It's identified as:
Saleen Serial No. 23-001P
That “P” is important.
This is the prototype.
Add an odometer showing only 110 miles, and you've got a modern Bronco with an unusual combination of Saleen provenance, Bronco racing history and extremely low mileage.
The vehicle's VIN is 1FMDE5AP1PLC02412.
Heading Across the Block September 26
The Saleen Big Oly prototype is listed as Lot S314 at Mecum's inaugural Nashville collector-car auction at Nashville Superspeedway.The auction runs September 22–26, with the Big Oly prototype scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Mecum expects roughly 1,750 collector vehicles to cross the block during the five-day event.
That makes this Bronco one machine among a huge field of collector vehicles — but for Bronco fans, it's going to be one worth watching.
How Much Will It Bring?
That's the fun part.We know what the original Big Oly eventually became worth.
Now we'll get to see what collectors think of Saleen's modern interpretation — particularly the prototype with just 110 miles.
Will buyers view it primarily as a modified 2023 Bronco?
Will the Saleen name command a premium?
Or will the combination of prototype status + Saleen + Big Oly heritage + 110 miles make collectors fight over it?
We'll find out when the hammer falls.
And you can bet we'll be watching.
BroncoBusting Wants to Know
Would you put this one in a collection and preserve its 110-mile odometer?Or would you do exactly what Big Oly was built to do:
Take it out in the desert and let it rip?
Tell us what you'd do on BroncoBusting.com — the Ford Bronco Forum.
