Happy 59th Birthday, Ford Bronco

[stampede1]

False statement right off the bat. International Harvesters Scout predated the Bronco by several years, and the Bronco is obviously styled after the Scout. Even the white roof was stolen from the Scout.






I am curious what V-6 engines were available pre-1978.




Again, curious what V-6 engines were available in a Bronco between 1980 and 1986. I had two Bronco’s of this vintage, both had the 300 straight six. I don’t remember any V-6 being available, but I am old and my memory is bad.

You are absolutely correct on your observation about the Scout predating the Bronco. Moreover your statement about the Bronco design significantly mimicking the Scout is something that most people are unaware of. But I am really glad they did because it provided enough separation from the Jeep design to make the Bronco an iconic design. I wish I could afford to buy and restore an old Scout to compliment my Bronco-both great American cassics

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[KitCarson3]

Per https://corporate.ford.com/articles/history/the-ford-bronco.html

The Ford Bronco
Bronco - the world's first Sport-Utility Vehicle.

Loved my 81 Bronco and drove it for 6 years. It was manual with "overdrive" which was just a high ratio and was a light-weight car transmission. Or so my mechanic said when he replaced it. Replaced it with a pickup transmission with a converter kit.

 

[tourproto]

Fun read, albeit somewhat embellished since this is a Ford article and not independently written

 

[Bruno]

Why does the windshield say : 1966 ?

 

[BigFootie]

Why does the windshield say : 1966 ?

You are kidding correct?

 

[Bruno]

You are kidding correct?

No, seriously why if 6G is calling out 1965

 

[BigFootie]

No, seriously why if 6G is calling out 1965

Although it says it was introduced in August of 1965, it was released as a 1966 model.

 

[Bruno]

Although it says it was introduced in August of 1965, it was released as a 1966 model.

Imean, ok i guess. Ill stick with the 1966 date becasue thats the first model year.

Calling 1965 the birthday is kinda arbitrary - just becasue that the date:
" Don Frey, the Ford Motor Company Vice President and Ford Division General Manager introduced (Publically Announced) the Ford Bronco."
Public announcements dont really mean anything, development cycles can keep dragging on.
You could then argue that 1963 was the birth becasue the internal development was kicked off - birthing the Bronco.
Or... that it was born in WW2!

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

Why and how did Ford develop the Bronco? For that story, we need to return to World War II. In addition to its other war-time production, Ford was one of three companies which worked to develop the Jeep. During the war, Ford produced more than 250,00 Jeeps and were renowned for their quality. After the war, surplus Jeeps were the choice of returning veterans and outdoor enthusiasts. However, with the improving highway system and demand for a more comfortable driving environment, even on the trails, Ford saw the chance to design and develop a best of class utility vehicle that could also serve as a sports vehicle. We already had experience building the Jeep, and during the late 1950s and early 1960s Ford designed and built the MUTT, a troop utility vehicle.

That's not quite true. American Bantam developed the Jeep.
Then the US Army, feeling that AB was too small to produce it in the numbers desired, stabbed AB in the back and gave Willys and Ford AB jeeps to examine and duplicate, resulting in the MA/MB and GPW.
Ford GPWs were of no better quality than Willys' MBs.

 

[ricstang]

The Pope Mobile Broncos were Wimbledon white 1980s.

 

[Fordified1]

You are absolutely correct on your observation about the Scout predating the Bronco. Moreover your statement about the Bronco design significantly mimicking the Scout is something that most people are unaware of. But I am really glad they did because it provided enough separation from the Jeep design to make the Bronco an iconic design. I wish I could afford to buy and restore an old Scout to compliment my Bronco-both great American cassics

My Dad had a Scout II for a while. I liked the size and styling better than the early smaller one. It had the 232 or 256 AMC engine that the Jeeps had up into the 2000’s (a good engine). I also remember it had a death wobble lol, not unlike Jeeps with loose front end parts and leaf springs. The 1st gen Bronco had heavier duty axles and diff’s than Scouts or Jeeps (same transfer case which was stout) and coil springs on the front instead of leafs. Really on paper a much better design than the competition. The popularity of the Chevrolet Blazer (Dad had a ‘71) prompted Ford to step up to the F150 based big Bronco’s which I never quite fell in love with because the top didn’t come off all the way to the windshield (thanks Ralph Nader).

 

[NatureBoy]

I happy B day!!! I love this thing!

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

The popularity of the Chevrolet Blazer (Dad had a ‘71) prompted Ford to step up to the F150 based big Bronco’s which I never quite fell in love with because the top didn’t come off all the way to the windshield (thanks Ralph Nader).

Ford made an absolutely massive marketing blunder by replacing the generously proportioned Jeep CJ competitor with a full-size F-150 based model, when FOMOCO should have instead enlarged the Bronco brand by producing both an evolved-forward mid-sized Bronco and a large F-150 Bronco.
Ford would have been foolish not to add a larger Bronco and compete with the K5 Blazer/Jimmy and Ramcharger/Trailduster. But demand for Jeep and Scout II vehicles never slowed down to this day (obviously).
But abandoning the mid-sized Bronco was a colossal mistake.
Furthermore, eliminating the Bronco brand altogether after MY1996 was one of FOMOCO's all-time biggest mistakes, as Bronco alike Mustang and F-150 was a signature Ford product from which huge profitability could be had under the watch of the right product development and sales teams.

 

[Squatch]

Well, at least it was by September.

 

[TheShark]

Happy Birthday Bronco!!

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