Celebrity Pedigree for Pre-Production Bronco

Guru Upgrade

Before releasing their new 'All-Purpose Vehicle' in 1966, Ford produced a handful of pre-production units. Among those is this unrestored 'half-cab' Bronco—considered to be the very first Sports-Utility version ever built. Soon after, the 'half-cab' found its way to renowned 'go-fast' guru Carroll Shelby, where it received an engine upgrade—further adding to its unique provenance and celebrity pedigree.

Photos: Gateway Bronco

Conversion Show

Gateway Bronco founder Seth Burgett now owns the 'half-cab.' He elaborated on the engine swap's uncertain timeline. “Exactly when that happened is a little cloudy, some say the conversion was done at Shelby American, but we found photos showing the vehicle with Ford product manager Donald Frey at a 1965 auto show, and the Bronco had a V8 in it at the time.”

Identified Code

The auto show Burgett references is the Detroit Auto Show, now the North American International Auto Show, historically held at the end of November to showcase upcoming new models. The 'half-cab' still sports its high-performance, Shelby-installed, 289 V8—identified as a 1963 build. According to the VIN's motor code, the Bronco was originally equipped with a 170 cubic-inch straight-six.

Assembly Facility

The VIN tag tells all about the truck's early years. The 'S' indicates that it was built at the Ford Pilot Plant in Allen Park, Michigan—later renamed the New Model Programs Development Center. The facility still develops new models, along with the necessary tooling. Production Broncos were built at the Michigan Truck Plant and stamped with an 'L' assembly code.

Eventful Roll

Burgett's truck was built in August 1965 and is numbered UF4FS732000. The last three zeros are quite telling, establishing it as the first Sports-Utility Bronco to ever roll out of the Ford Pilot Plant. It also predates the first run of regular production machines. The 'half-cab' led an eventful life right from the beginning—a story supported by substantial documentation.

Rangoon Performance

With a 'J' paint code, the 'half-cab' would have originally been painted Rangoon Red. It does raise a question about the Teal Green truck in early photos. Bronco enthusiasts have also recognized the red truck from Ford's television commercials and print media of the time. After Shelby acquired the truck, it was registered under his automobile dealership name, Hi Performance Motors, Inc.

Cool Upgrade

Subsequently, Shelby sent the rare Bronco to work on his ranch, Christmas Mountains Land & Cattle Company, near Terlingua, Texas. In 1978, Vincent Yukubanski, a local Ford dealership salesman, convinced Shelby to upgrade to a new Bronco. Yukubanski then bought the 'half-cab' for $100, because he thought it was a “cool truck,” painted it blue, and installed a new interior.

Fine Talk

Burgett bought the Bronco from Yakubanski in 2016, after it had faithfully served as a family vacation hauler for decades. His initial contact with Burgett was an image of the VIN tag and a message that read, “First Bronco, owned by Carroll Shelby. Want to talk?” At the last report, the pre-production Bronco with a celebrity pedigree is running just fine—no changes are planned.

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