The History of Ford Broncos
Ford's sport utility vehicle Bronco is the granddaddy of today's Ford Excursion SUV. The early Bronco was a one-of-a-kind vehicle that did not share its frame, body or suspension with any other Ford vehicle. First generation models were stripped-down true offroad vehicles designed with a rugged capability. By 1978, the Bronco shared many mechanical and body components with the F-Series trucks and became more luxurious.
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Origins
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The Bronco was conceived to compete against the Jeep CJ-5 and the International Harvester Scout. The 4X4 was the brainchild of Ford product manager Donald Frey and was given the green light by Division manager Lee Iacocca. It was designed by engineer Paul Axelrad. It debuted in 1966 with the axle and brakes lifted from the 4X4 Ford F-100 pickup truck, but placed on its own frame.
Early Period
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Broncos produced through 1977 were a tough lot. The Bronco was short with a tight turning radius of only 34 feet and featured a Spartan interior and flat glass all the way around and a body not unlike the IH Scout. It was used to compete in the Mint 400, the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 offroad races.
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First Generation Specifications
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The Bronco was placed on a 92-inch wheelbase, measured 151.5 inches long, 68.5 inches wide and 71.6 inches tall. Through 1972, it was powered by a 170-cubic-inch straight six-cylinder engine or a 289-ci V-8. In 1973-1974, the displacement of the six-cylinder grew to 200 cubic inches. A 302-ci V-8 became available in 1969. Most Broncos were four-wheel-drive models, although a small number of two-wheel-drives were offered.
Early Styles
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The Bronco could be ordered as a half-cab, wagon or the roadster. A compact pickup version, dubbed the Bronco II, was produced as an alternative from 1984-1990 after the larger versions were introduced in 1978.
The Competition
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Initial sales of the Bronco were solid with 23,776 sold during the first model year. But the Jeep CJ-5 occupied the top position in overall sales. In 1969, Chevrolet introduced its full-size Blazer based on its full-size C/K Series truck line and had a wider selection of engines. Since the Bronco did not share its platform with Ford's F-100 Series, it could not respond to the new Blazer.
Poor Sales, Big Change
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The Bronco remained essentially unchanged through 1977 with total sales during the 12-year period at an unimpressive 230,800 units. Just 14,546 Broncos were sold in 1977. In 1978, Ford offered a full-size Bronco placed on the F-100 pickup truck frame and also shared the F-Series drivetrain and body panels.
Post-1977 Bronco
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The new Bronco sported a 104-inch wheelbase and measured 180.3 inches long, 79.3 inches wide and 75.5 inches tall. By 1980 it was equipped with a 300-ci straight-six, the 302-ci V-8, the 351-ci V-8 and an optional 400-ci V-8. Transmission options were a four-speed Borg-Warner, New Process or Tremec manual. A three- or four-speed automatic also was available. The Bronco's updates and redesigns coincided with the F-Series truck further diluting its uniqueness. In 1996, the Bronco was ceased production to make way for the full-size Ford Expedition SUV.
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