What do you guys think... Should Ford take the Bronco name out of the dust pile and slap it on something nice? I thought about it, and took it one step further. I made some computer drawings based on the explorer and I like it. Go to http://dev.isp9.net/bronco to see more.

So should Ford build a truck that looks like this and call it the "Bronco"?

 

Not like that. Base it on a super duty. Put a diesel in it. Put a 1 ton suspension in it. Make the top fully removable; right up to the windshield. The only interior comforts should be a CD player and power locks/windows. No AC because the top should be OFF. No leather seats. (Kind of following that other thread)

My 2 cents.

 

That's not a Bronco. That is as small as a Jimmy.

Here is what a Bronco should consist of:

Base it off the Ford Excursion.
Use 1-ton running gear.
Have only two engine options, a V10 or a 7.3L powerstroke turbo diesel.
4.10 Gears with selectable lockers front and rear should be standard.
I vote for No removeable top, I rather have a metal top that is painted.
I still want the tailgate that folds down like a truck.
Leather or cloth interior options.
Fully manual 4x4 system.
An option of an Automatic 4-speed or a manual 5speed.
Also it should come with a stout towing package so we can pull our big boats!!

best of all price it for around $25,000!!!

 

How about using a concept, since that's Ford's big thing now, and make it like the original Bronco. Small, useful, and a fully removeable top. With it's small stature, it could be based on a extended cab "Ranger" frame. Build it to compete with the Jeep Wrangler.

 

Bruin52, You got where I was going with it....

Bigrigfixer and Bronco351, They have a vehicle simmilar to what you are talking about its called the excursion....

The original Bronco was smaller. I think they sould make it in hard top and removable top, offer it with a V8 and go after the jeep liberty / TJ vehicles...

 

The one truly stupid thing I did was sell my '79 Bronco, with 400ci 400hp V8, and every possible thing I could think of doing to it is the 4 years I had it. Lifted, lockers, on board air, but no a/c, the thing was perfect..

Ford should reintroduce the Bronco in that format, without the modern junk that makes vehicles so unreliable nowadays. Failing that or we should all take our ever so modern vehicles, and sell them to some poor fool who don't know better, and buy up all the Broncos, and build them how we want them.

I am quietly biding my time, until a nice '79, some money, and me all find ourselves in the same place, then I will rebuild my dream Bronco, and this time, I WILL NOT SELL IT.

Theo

edit:
I would not buy the thing you drew..

 

A Bronco should not be built off the ranger frame, it should be as it was, a 150 frame....or the 1 ton would work....I like BigRigs and Bronco's ideas, except it should have leather and AC, BigRig, have you EVER been to the south? we need AC on everything!!! as for the removable top....hmm...cannot decide either all the way to the windshield or just to the drivers seat....but they should definately bring it back.

 

I agree. It should be based off the current Super duty frame, and slap a 6.0L diesel in it Someone here has an excellent pict. of what a 2004 Bronco concept would look like.

I agree fully that Ford should market the Bronco again. Let's write them a letter . . . . . . . . .

 

The top has to come off and I think that a 6.0 or 7.3L diesel would be amazing in a bronco. definatly needs to be based off one of the beefyier frames like the super duty. But HELL YES they need to bring it back.

 

When Ken comes back we need to ask him about senging in a letter to Ford regarding this very serious issue. Then Expidition is NO replacement for the Bronco.

 

Geez... I think I'm the only one that wants a Bronco built on a smaller platform like it originally was.

I do agree that there should be a low buy in and lots of easy to work on manual stuff, like manual hubs and t-cases and heavy duty parts that won't explode the first time you work the truck. Also full gauges that are actually real gauges, not fancy idiot lights. And one more thing, you should be able to get work / performance options without having to get all the other junk too. Oh you want a V8 and a tow package? You need to ge the leather seats, digital compase, power folding this, eletically operated that... And you just added $15,000 dollars to the price, and because all the stuff weights 1,000 pounds more, you actually lost towing capacity...

Th 6.0 liter deisel sounds good, but I'm still holding my ground on the smaller then a F-150 chassis issue. I don' t think it sould be a 1-ton either.

Make it a versital truck that can be optioned as a work truck or a fun runabout, size it between an explorer and a expedition, 2 door (or 4 door with the small flip doors) removable top and get it out the door nicely loaded (V8, cloth, AC, PW, PL...) for less then $25K and I think they'll have a winner.

 

Hence the new and improved Bronco II, the ranger frame!!

 

Ahh come on now, let the II cars / trucks rest in peace... It was a good thing when Ford killed the mustang II and it was good when they killed the Bronco II (Or Broccoli and I call them - If you look real quick at the name it looks like it says Broccoli)

Remember, from '66 to '77 The Bronco was on a smaller frame then the F150. THey didn't have a ranger at that time (well not as we know it) so it was a uniqe bronco frame. You could get a dana 44 front, a 9" rear, dana 20 t-case and a 302 under the hood... They had removable tops, a pickup conversion top (thought the Chebby avalanch was new? Naw just stolen from a Ford idea)

78 - 96 they were on a chopped F-150 frame, and owning one I do have to admit that the 104" wb is just about perfect for street / trail use.

 

Here's the thread about bringing back the Bronco, I think the pic's are a pretty good conseption of how a new Bronco should look. I know I'd buy one that looked like that. But I'd like to reconfigure the doors and the top so it could be removed right to the windsheild. Also it should come with a removable hard top and a soft top stowed in a nifty compartment for when you leave the hard top in the yard.

 

Maybe shorten the new F150 frame- its stiff as heck which is good for off roading, right? A diesel would be nice- but I doubt a 6.0 in a bronco. I would think the 3 valve 5.4 would be a fairly nice off roader- they are supposed to have a long flat torque curve.
I also think a concept model is due. Maybe FoMoCo will listen to us!