Are you the kind of person who loves being “first”? For Ford fans and off‑road enthusiasts, the moment is tailor‑made: the very first production‑line 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, showing only 99 miles on the odometer (about 160 km), has just appeared at auction on the American platform Bring a Trailer. Four years after its debut, this extreme 4×4 has hardly rolled, and it’s now at the center of attention from collectors as well as from hardcore off‑roaders.
Offered by a seller based in Alpharetta, Georgia, this Bronco Raptor wears serial number 00001, in other words the very first production unit, commonly known as VIN 001. A status already quite special, paired with a backstory that’s anything but dull: this unit was purchased for $350,000 at a charity sale in 2022, before resurfacing online today with a bid cap of $46,250. How far will VIN 001 climb in the battle against a new 2026 Bronco Raptor priced at $81,990 (about €75,000) without any notable history?
The Very First Bronco Raptor, From Charity Auction to the Used Market
As with many early examples of highly anticipated cars, this 2022 Bronco Raptor number 00001 initially served a good cause. According to the seller, the original buyer paid $350,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction in 2022, a staggering sum for a Bronco but standard in the context of a charity sale. With all fees and commissions waived, the entire amount was donated to the National Forest Foundation and the Outward Bound youth organization, a check for roughly €325,000 to support these two charities.
Since that spectacular sale, the 4×4 has led a notably quiet life. In four years, its odometer has advanced just 99 miles, barely 160 km, making it more of a collectible than a toy for playtime. Now up for sale from Alpharetta, Georgia, it shows a current bid of $46,250 with several days left on the clock. The gulf with the original asking price of $350,000 remains dizzying, but the tug‑of‑war between bargain hunters and VIN‑001 aficionados is almost certainly just getting started.
A 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, Ultra‑Loaded, Built for Off‑Roading
For context, Ford rolled out this Bronco Raptor about a year after the Bronco’s return in 2021. This radical variant sports a 3.0‑liter twin‑turbo V6 delivering 418 horsepower and 440 lb‑ft of torque (about 600 Nm), paired with an automatic transmission and a four‑wheel‑drive system designed for serious off‑roading. Under the notably widened fenders sit chunky 37‑inch BFGoodrich KO2 off‑road tires, a Fox HOSS 4.0 suspension, electronically controlled dampers, and semi‑active shocks, for a stated ground clearance of 13.1 inches (roughly 33 cm). In a 2023 test, American journalists described it as “indescribably capable off‑road” and “an incredible machine that makes you feel like a hero while you look like a world‑class fool,” Jalopnik wrote, a summary that sets the tone.
The model currently for sale doesn’t rely on pedigree alone. It is advertised with the carbon interior package and the Lux Package, which add, among other premium features, 10 Bang & Olufsen speakers, adaptive cruise control, and a wireless phone charger. By comparison, a 2026 Bronco Raptor equipped similarly and new starts at $81,990, destination included, about $75,000 with no notable history. The final price for VIN 00001 remains to be seen, and whether its future owner will finally take it out to get muddy instead of keeping it pristine, tucked away in a garage.
