Ford Bronco’s return highlights a pedigree of adventure and generates excitement amidst the surreal for 2020

For several years now, excitement has been brewing over the reintroduction of Ford’s Bronco, a vehicle whose pedigree has been on hiatus for far too long. Now, as the Bronco begins its return and promises to rival the most competent of off-pavement adventurers already on the market it’s worth taking a look back at its origins, its evolution, and its imminent go over any terrain (G.O.A.T.) bloodline.

Ford’s off-road SUV expertise traces back to World War II, when the automaker was part of a government competition to build rugged carry-all utilities for GIs in the battlefield. Ford’s entry was called the GP, with the company building more than 270,000 of these “general purpose” vehicles for Allied forces. GIs returning home bought Army surplus GPs for work and play, but they were too small and uncomfortable for civilian life, according to Ford research from the early 1960s, so Ford developed a more refined, spacious, yet durable off-road vehicle to meet this need – Bronco.

The original Bronco was nicknamed G.O.A.T. by Donald Frey, the Ford president who championed both Mustang and Bronco nameplates and challenged engineering teams to deliver “go anywhere roadability.” An agile, sports-oriented off-road 4×4, Ford dubbed the original 1966 Bronco “a completely new line of sports-utility vehicles” at its reveal Aug. 11, 1965 – the first reference to “SUVs” from an American manufacturer.

Early Broncos had a rugged body-on-frame design with short front and rear overhangs, high ground clearance, and a short wheelbase for maximum off-road capability. Bronco’s toughness and agility at high speed enabled racers like Rod Hall and Larry Minor to capture an overall win at the grueling 1969 Baja 1000 – a victory no other production 4×4 has replicated in 50 years. This version of the Bronco would continue through 1977 with nearly 226,000 being built during that time period with an evolution of powertrains that began with a venerable 2.8L inline 6-cylinder, a 4.7L V8, then a larger 4.9L V8, and eventually a larger 3.3L inline 6-cylinder as the base powertrain in 1973.

“Rugged vehicles are in our heritage and we see strong growth opportunities with this ever-more popular segment,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, Americas and International Markets Group. “The Bronco brand meets that need by creating a family of truly capable off-roaders to take our customers further into the wild. We’ve leveraged our extensive off-road experience from vehicles like F-150 Raptor to ensure that every Bronco delivers the Built Wild toughness and durability our customers expect.”

The second gen Bronco was postponed due to oil embargo and lived a brief time from 1978-1979 with a only a V8 available. Two large V8s that produced puney numbers were offered: a 5.8L V8 pumping out 138hps and then a larger 6.6L V8 with a remarkably absurd 149hps. Ugh…

Bronco holds a special place in popular culture and has been featured in more than 1,200 films and 200 songs. Since Ford ended production in 1996, 30 years after the original Bronco made its debut, Bronco SUVs have continued to grow in popularity with collectors and enthusiasts. With the January 2017 announcement of the return of Ford Bronco, valuations have skyrocketed, according to Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, with the average first-generation Bronco sale price nearly doubling from $39,763 to $74,820 in just more than three years. Hagerty valuation guide ranks 1966-77 Broncos as among the highest vehicle price increases of all collectible SUVs over the past three years – a 75.8 percent gain.

The third generation of Bronco was based on the F-100 and available exclusively as a two-door vehicle. It was designed to be lighter with a variety of transmissions and several powertrain options ranging from a 4.9L inline 6-cylinder to an upgraded 5.8L V8 pumping out 210hps. There was eventually an EFI – electronic fuel injection – version in a 4.9L V8 with 190hps. Four years after the third generation version released, the Bronco II made its debut in 1984 to rival offerings from Jeep and Chevy, and remained in production until 1990. Ford’s Explorer, which made its debut in 1991, signaled a transition for Ford and the SUV market. Still, the Bronco went through another iteration with some minor tweaks and then the fifth gen ran from 1992 – 1996. Undoubtedly the early Broncos were a true highlight for the Bronco namesake and as the 2021 version is set to debut, there’s hope it will be guided by the original version’s go over any terrain mantra.

“Bronco delivers on the common theme desired by enthusiasts – authenticity,” said Mark Grueber, Ford U.S. consumer marketing manager. “Building Bronco as Ford’s distinct outdoor brand includes a unique network of experiences, community and engagement that extends far beyond ownership of Bronco and Bronco Sport models.”

The 2021 Ford Bronco will be making its debut at 7pm EST online and through Disney’s host of channels on Monday, July 13. Check your listings for more details.

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