A few of Ford's vehicles have been named after horses, and of those, Bronco was a suitable and appropriate name for its dusty trails, off-road vehicle. The versatile, multi-purpose vehicle was a capable trail buster, second car, or even an auxiliary farm vehicle. Introduced in 1966, the Bronco was Ford Motor Company's first dedicated 4X4 sport-utility vehicle, aimed at the growing market already populated by the 'CJ' Jeep and International Harvester Scout. By this point in history, off-roading was widespread and well-organized in America. Californian Brian Chuchua organized the first off-road Grand Prix races near Riverside, California, and its success brought it to the attention of suburbanites looking for a new kind of status vehicle. Lee Iacocca had already taken notice, and the Ford company pursued a market survey involving more than 300 off-road clubs, thousands of owners and people who had never even set foot in an off-road vehicle. The results of the survey revealed potential for an upscale version of the off-road workhouse vehicle. The result was the Bronco which Ford introduced in August of 1965 for the 1966 model year. In comparison to its competitors, (including the Kaiser Jeep, Toyota Land Cruiser and the International Scout) the Bronco was more civilized and suited for the open road and the countryside. Victories at off-road racing championship helped boost the vehicles appeal. During its production lifespan, it was continuously improved and enhanced.
The Bronco Concept was inspired by Donald N. Frey, while Paul G. Axelrad oversaw chassis design. It was given a unique frame, suspension, and body design, while the brakes and axles, including the 9-inch rear axle, was sourced from the Ford F-100 truck line and the all-important transfer case was a Dana-sourced unit. It used a Dana 30 front axle through 1971. Underpinnings comprised a coil-spring front suspension and leaf springs at the rear. Its short wheelbase and design made it possible for a 35-foot turning radius.
The Bronco had a unique square body design with flat glass, a short 92-inch wheelbase, and no-frills bumpers. It had an 11.3-inch ground clearance and a short-overhang front and rear allowed high angles of departure. It had a narrow width of 69 inches allowing it to be nimble and maneuverable in traffic and on the trails.
Body styles initially included a pickup-style half-cab, a Spartan Jeep-style roadster, and a wagon. The interior had front bucket seats, a rear bench seat, and tachometer. Optional items included an auxiliary gas tank, snowplow, winch, tow bar, post-hole digger, and specific tires and wheels. The base engine was Ford's 170 cubic-inch six-cylinder unit offering just over 100 horsepower. The engine was borrowed from the Falcon but came with a heavy-duty fuel pump and the carburetor was equipped with a special float to ensure proper fuel delivery on steep grades. Later in 1966, the 289 V8 became available. A three-speed column-shifted manual transmission was the sole gearbox. An automatic transmissions would not be offered until 1973. They had four-wheel-drive with locking front hubs.
For 1974, including one exclusive new Bronco color of Bold Orange. A total of nine exterior colors were offered. Standard Bronco running gear included a Dana front axle with 3000-pound capacity, free-running hubs, forged-steel radius rods and a two-speed, constant-mesh transfer case. A Ranger package, available optionally, added two-tone body accents, additional body brightwork, and a swing-away spare tire carrier.
Two engines were available, the standard 200 CID 6-cylinder, and the optional 302 V-8.
Bronco sales were in a decline by 1974, but the first generation models remain very popular with long-time loyalists and off-road enthusiasts. Production of the first generation of the Bronco continued through 1977.
by Dan Vaughan