Picture this – It’s 1966, LBJ is in the White House, the Vietnam War is in full swing and you are on the market for a new 4X4. If you were looking for something with serious off-road capability you had 3 choices, the Jeep CJ-5, the International Scout and the brand new Ford Bronco. Sure, you could have opted for a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Land Rover Defender but you have to remember in the 1960’s foreign vehicles didn’t have the dealer network, parts and service availability or reputation that they have today so they were a much more esoteric choice.
Ford was on a roll in 1966. After inventing the pony car in 1964 with the release of the Mustang, they decided they would attack the growing 4X4 market. Unlike the Mustang, which was based on the existing Ford Falcon, the Bronco was an all new design. At 92 inches, the Bronco came in between the ultra-stubby CJ-5 (80 inches) and the comparatively limo like Scout (100 inches). The stubby wheelbase gave the Bronco a terrific turning circle of 33.8 feet.
The Bronco came ready to play with a 170 cubic inch inline six engine belting out 105 hp. Later models were available with a 302 cubic inch V8 engines. Underneath the Bronco got the job done with a 2 speed Dana 20 t-case, a Dana 30 Front diff and a Ford 9” rear end. In 1971 the Dana 30 was replaced with a stouter Dana 44.
The Bronco’s styling was the epitome of simplicity. 2 boxes, flat glass and 90 degree angles abound. Apparently the styling team at Ford believed that if it wasn’t a right angle it was a wrong angle.
Alas, the industry marched on and competition from more powerful and better equipped SUV’s such as the Chevy Blazer led Ford to replace the Box Bronco with an F150 based version in 1978.
The Bronco came ready to play with a 170 cubic inch inline six engine belting out 105 hp. Later models were available with a 302 cubic inch V8 engines. Underneath the Bronco got the job done with a 2 speed Dana 20 t-case, a Dana 30 Front diff and a Ford 9” rear end. In 1971 the Dana 30 was replaced with a stouter Dana 44.
The Bronco’s styling was the epitome of simplicity. 2 boxes, flat glass and 90 degree angles abound. Apparently the styling team at Ford believed that if it wasn’t a right angle it was a wrong angle.
Alas, the industry marched on and competition from more powerful and better equipped SUV’s such as the Chevy Blazer led Ford to replace the Box Bronco with an F150 based version in 1978.
News Source: http://www.4x4review.com/top-10-trail-ready-rigs-of-all-time/
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