2025 Broncos... 2-door going extinct?

[broncorik]

I was a kid during arguably what was the best of those days...my dad worked for General Motors, in endurance testing (not sales), and he shares with me about build sheets and where they were located. It was like opening a treasure chest when in late 60's/early 70's GM muscle cars one could find the magic slip under a seat or some other strategic location and find out all the cool stuff that a buyer had ordered on a particular vehicle. We can even tell what gear ratio a diff was without having to lift up either or both rear wheels (and counting revolutions... Both wheels for a posi or one wheel and doubling the rotation count for a one-legger). Certain folks were fortunate enough to be able to order unicorns like a Camaro Z28 with a 302 (and the twin four-barrel set up on a cross ram manifold that would be delivered in the trunk wrapped up like a present):

https://www.hotrod.com/features/cross-ram-september-1980-982-1174-42-1/

Or more pedestrian options like radio deletes...those were the days...the base model Bronco that is no longer an option seemed to be the last vestige of something even remotely akin to those days...sigh. I can only dream of what it would have been like had I been able to order a base model (2-door) Bronco but with Raptor upgrades including the engine, the suspension, the steering, without all the bloated electronics and other things that most owners strip off quickly and spend tens of thousands to upgrade.

Instead there are heaps of people waiting to choose from whatever packages the Ford folks dreamed up (for us) only to wait too long to get them, then pay too much for them, then eventually be driving exactly what the person a block away from them have in their driveways. Marketing genius for Ford (and the aftermarket companies) but a huge bummer for the rest of us.

I remember when you could order a Camaro with both the RS and SS package. Everything was an option, you wanted a heater, you wanted a radio, you wanted a passenger side mirror, you wanted visors, you paid extra. You wanted A/C, that was about a 1/4 of the price of the car. Many cars had everything from a 4cyl to a 8cyl, 2-BBL, 4-BBL, heck some cars you could get a two snorkel air cleaner. When you ordered A/C tinted glass was an option. Even on Cadillacs you could order power windows but you better order power vent windows if you wanted them because if you forget you got cranks. We won't even talk about the all the colors available for the interior and exterior. It truly was a la carte as broncorik pointed out and you could come up with some pretty interesting combinations. I really think when Japanese cars started to become popular is when things changed because they gave you a long list of standard equipment (for the day) and things tended to come in packages since you really couldn't order from a Japanese factory. American automakers follow suit.
[/QUOTE]
Mine was ordered with electric top, PS, PB, posi, RS/SS...

I was a kid during arguably what was the best of those days...my dad worked for General Motors, in endurance testing (not sales), and he shares with me about build sheets and where they were located. It was like opening a treasure chest when in late 60's/early 70's GM muscle cars one could find the magic slip under a seat or some other strategic location and find out all the cool stuff that a buyer had ordered on a particular vehicle. We can even tell what gear ratio a diff was without having to lift up either or both rear wheels (and counting revolutions... Both wheels for a posi or one wheel and doubling the rotation count for a one-legger). Certain folks were fortunate enough to be able to order unicorns like a Camaro Z28 with a 302 (and the twin four-barrel set up on a cross ram manifold that would be delivered in the trunk wrapped up like a present):

https://www.hotrod.com/features/cross-ram-september-1980-982-1174-42-1/

Or more pedestrian options like radio deletes...those were the days...the base model Bronco that is no longer an option seemed to be the last vestige of something even remotely akin to those days...sigh. I can only dream of what it would have been like had I been able to order a base model (2-door) Bronco but with Raptor upgrades including the engine, the suspension, the steering, without all the bloated electronics and other things that most owners strip off quickly and spend tens of thousands to upgrade.

Instead there are heaps of people waiting to choose from whatever packages the Ford folks dreamed up (for us) only to wait too long to get them, then pay too much for them, then eventually be driving exactly what the person a block away from them have in their driveways. Marketing genius for Ford (and the aftermarket companies) but a huge bummer for the rest of us.

I remember when you could order a Camaro with both the RS and SS package. Everything was an option, you wanted a heater, you wanted a radio, you wanted a passenger side mirror, you wanted visors, you paid extra. You wanted A/C, that was about a 1/4 of the price of the car. Many cars had everything from a 4cyl to a 8cyl, 2-BBL, 4-BBL, heck some cars you could get a two snorkel air cleaner. When you ordered A/C tinted glass was an option. Even on Cadillacs you could order power windows but you better order power vent windows if you wanted them because if you forget you got cranks. We won't even talk about the all the colors available for the interior and exterior. It truly was a la carte as broncorik pointed out and you could come up with some pretty interesting combinations. I really think when Japanese cars started to become popular is when things changed because they gave you a long list of standard equipment (for the day) and things tended to come in packages since you really couldn't order from a Japanese factory. American automakers follow suit.
[/QUOTE]
Mine was ordered with electric top, RS/SS, posi, AC, PS, PB, tilt, etc...nothing unwanted got thrown in the mix.

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[TheShark]

I remember when you could order a Camaro with both the RS and SS package. Everything was an option, you wanted a heater, you wanted a radio, you wanted a passenger side mirror, you wanted visors, you paid extra. You wanted A/C, that was about a 1/4 of the price of the car. Many cars had everything from a 4cyl to a 8cyl, 2-BBL, 4-BBL, heck some cars you could get a two snorkel air cleaner. When you ordered A/C tinted glass was an option. Even on Cadillacs you could order power windows but you better order power vent windows if you wanted them because if you forget you got cranks. We won't even talk about the all the colors available for the interior and exterior. It truly was a la carte as broncorik pointed out and you could come up with some pretty interesting combinations. I really think when Japanese cars started to become popular is when things changed because they gave you a long list of standard equipment (for the day) and things tended to come in packages since you really couldn't order from a Japanese factory. American automakers follow suit.

Mine was ordered with electric top, PS, PB, posi, RS/SS...

I remember when you could order a Camaro with both the RS and SS package. Everything was an option, you wanted a heater, you wanted a radio, you wanted a passenger side mirror, you wanted visors, you paid extra. You wanted A/C, that was about a 1/4 of the price of the car. Many cars had everything from a 4cyl to a 8cyl, 2-BBL, 4-BBL, heck some cars you could get a two snorkel air cleaner. When you ordered A/C tinted glass was an option. Even on Cadillacs you could order power windows but you better order power vent windows if you wanted them because if you forget you got cranks. We won't even talk about the all the colors available for the interior and exterior. It truly was a la carte as broncorik pointed out and you could come up with some pretty interesting combinations. I really think when Japanese cars started to become popular is when things changed because they gave you a long list of standard equipment (for the day) and things tended to come in packages since you really couldn't order from a Japanese factory. American automakers follow suit.
[/QUOTE]
Mine was ordered with electric top, RS/SS, posi, AC, PS, PB, tilt, etc...nothing unwanted got thrown in the mix.

[/QUOTE]
Sweet, brings back memories of my '67 Firebird convertible.

 

[NORCALGXP]

[/QUOTE]
Mine was ordered with electric top, RS/SS, posi, AC, PS, PB, tilt, etc...nothing unwanted got thrown in the mix.

[/QUOTE]
I miss my 1967 RS/SS. Built for street racing in the 1990s. 10 sec street car not bad for the times.

 

[userdude]

Cool, cool. Someone said "2drs going extinct" and of course we end up with actually extinct 2drs...

 

[Imaginary Friend]

Cool, cool. Someone said "2drs going extinct" and of course we end up with actually extinct 2drs...

I'll raise that extinct 2-door with one that's so extinct that even the company that built it is extinct....

 

[UncleBrad]

Perfect example of a vehicle which absolutely only works in 2-Door form. This Cougar is total perfection. One of Ford (Mercury's) best efforts. To make it longer and put in extra doors would ruin it, right? What rational mind would argue with that?

So, what if one thinks the same holds true with the simple, clean, purposeful original Bronco design?

I am not a savage...

 

[broncorik]

I was a kid during arguably what was the best of those days...my dad worked for General Motors, in endurance testing (not sales), and he shares with me about build sheets and where they were located. It was like opening a treasure chest when in late 60's/early 70's GM muscle cars one could find the magic slip under a seat or some other strategic location and find out all the cool stuff that a buyer had ordered on a particular vehicle. We can even tell what gear ratio a diff was without having to lift up either or both rear wheels (and counting revolutions... Both wheels for a posi or one wheel and doubling the rotation count for a one-legger). Certain folks were fortunate enough to be able to order unicorns like a Camaro Z28 with a 302 (and the twin four-barrel set up on a cross ram manifold that would be delivered in the trunk wrapped up like a present):

https://www.hotrod.com/features/cross-ram-september-1980-982-1174-42-1/

Or more pedestrian options like radio deletes...those were the days...the base model Bronco that is no longer an option seemed to be the last vestige of something even remotely akin to those days...sigh. I can only dream of what it would have been like had I been able to order a base model (2-door) Bronco but with Raptor upgrades including the engine, the suspension, the steering, without all the bloated electronics and other things that most owners strip off quickly and spend tens of thousands to upgrade.

Instead there are heaps of people waiting to choose from whatever packages the Ford folks dreamed up (for us) only to wait too long to get them, then pay too much for them, then eventually be driving exactly what the person a block away from them have in their driveways. Marketing genius for Ford (and the aftermarket companies) but a huge bummer for the rest of us.

I remember when you could order a Camaro with both the RS and SS package. Everything was an option, you wanted a heater, you wanted a radio, you wanted a passenger side mirror, you wanted visors, you paid extra. You wanted A/C, that was about a 1/4 of the price of the car. Many cars had everything from a 4cyl to a 8cyl, 2-BBL, 4-BBL, heck some cars you could get a two snorkel air cleaner. When you ordered A/C tinted glass was an option. Even on Cadillacs you could order power windows but you better order power vent windows if you wanted them because if you forget you got cranks. We won't even talk about the all the colors available for the interior and exterior. It truly was a la carte as broncorik pointed out and you could come up with some pretty interesting combinations. I really think when Japanese cars started to become popular is when things changed because they gave you a long list of standard equipment (for the day) and things tended to come in packages since you really couldn't order from a Japanese factory. American automakers follow suit.
Mine was ordered with electric top, RS/SS, posi, AC, PS, PB, tilt, etc...nothing unwanted got thrown in the mix.

[/QUOTE]
I miss my 1967 RS/SS. Built for street racing in the 1990s. 10 sec street car not bad for the times.

[/QUOTE]
That is a quick street car indeed...naturally aspirated? Pump gas? Av gas?

 

[BearPatrol]

I keep hearing the excuse, "but I need a 4 door for hauling around my kids & all my stuff!"

No, you need a minivan.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

I keep hearing the excuse, "but I need a 4 door for hauling around my kids & all my stuff!"

No, you need a minivan.

This needs to be a bumper sticker!

 

[NORCALGXP]

[/QUOTE]
That is a quick street car indeed...normally aspirated? Pump gas? Av gas?
[/QUOTE]
Holly double pumper with a very healthy shot of NOS run on 50/50 76 race gas and premium unleaded. 355 CID Reggie Jackson's High Performance in San Bruno CA, built engine with all race parts. NOS fogger system plumbed on the bottom side of intake manifold. Open the hood no nitrous to been seen.

 

[broncorik]

That is a quick street car indeed...normally aspirated? Pump gas? Av gas?
[/QUOTE]
Holly double pumper with a very healthy shot of NOS run on 50/50 76 race gas and premium unleaded. 355 CID Reggie Jackson's High Performance in San Bruno CA, built engine with all race parts. NOS fogger system plumbed on the bottom side of intake manifold. Open the hood no nitrous to been seen.

[/QUOTE]
Stealth... Where did the NOS lines exit the intake manifold? Was it mini-tubbed? What were you running for a rear diff?

 

[NORCALGXP]

That is a quick street car indeed...normally aspirated? Pump gas? Av gas?

Holly double pumper with a very healthy shot of NOS run on 50/50 76 race gas and premium unleaded. 355 CID Reggie Jackson's High Performance in San Bruno CA, built engine with all race parts. NOS fogger system plumbed on the bottom side of intake manifold. Open the hood no nitrous to been seen.

[/QUOTE]
Stealth... Where did the NOS lines exit the intake manifold? Was it mini-tubbed? What were you running for a rear diff?
[/QUOTE]
The lines ran to the back of the lifter valley and the back of the block was drilled and taped for the fuel and NOS to go through with fittings. The rear was a 12 bolt with c-clip eliminators. The rear end was set up for correct pinion angle upon launch.

 

[JL8jeff]

I've had several older Toyota 4Runners that were 2 doors (84-89), several Toyota pickups/Tacomas that were standard cabs, a few Chevy Silverado 2 door regular cab short bed pickups as well. I've never had a need for an extended cab or back seats so a 2 door Bronco was a no brainer. I think a big part of the 2 door trucks disappearing is that the mpg requirements are based on wheelbase and the shorter stuff needs to get a lot better mpg than a 4 door and they can't. So manufacturers don't even want to make them because I think there's a penalty or you need to use carbon credits or something.

 

[EasternSierra]

I need to apologize to the 2-door mafia. I went ahead and deleted my previous tone-deaf do-gooder post in this thread from a while back. Sorry about that. Carry on with your fun.

 

[NORCALGXP]

I need to apologize to the 2-door mafia. I went ahead and deleted my previous tone-deaf do-gooder post in this thread from a while back. Sorry about that. Carry on with your fun.

It's all fun and games till some one loses a door.

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