1968 Ford Bronco

The Ford Motor Company's first dedicated 4X4 sport-utility vehicle, the Bronco, was launched for 1966 and was aimed squarely at the growing market occupied by the International Harvester Scout and Jeep. Ford staffers Donald N. Frey inspired the Bronco concept, while Paul G. Axelrad was responsible for the structural design of the car's chassis. The Bronco's frame, body, and suspension were unique, while the brakes and 9-inch rear axle were borrowed from the Ford F-100 truck line. The transfer case was a Dana-sourced unit and through 1971, a more robust Dana 30 front axle was utilized. Underpinnings comprised a coil-spring front suspension and leaf springs at the rear. With its short wheelbase, the Bronco was capable of a tight 35-foot turning radius.

The Bronco had a sporty and purposeful square body design with flat glass, short wheelbase length, and no-frills bumpers. Bodystyles initially consisted of a wagon, pickup-style half-cab, and a Spartan Jeep-style roadster. On the inside, there were front bucket seats, a rear bench seat, and tachometer. Available items included an auxiliary gas tank, snow plow, winch, tow bar, post-hole digger, and specific tires and wheels. Standard power was provided by Ford's 105-horsepower, 170 cubic-inch 'six' at the Bronco's launch. The engine was borrowed from the compact Falcon, and modified with a heavy-duty fuel pump and a carburetor upgrade with a special float to ensure proper fuel delivery on steep grades. In 1966, an optional 289 V8 became available. A three-speed column-shift manual transmission was the sole gearbox available and automatic transmissions would not be offered until 1973.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2017