$400K V8-Powered Ford Bronco Is One Wicked Machine
Vaughn Gittin Jr,'s wicked Ford Bronco is packing a Mustang Shelby GT500 powerplant under its hood.
Latest and Greatest
Vaughn Gittin Jr. - creator/owner of RTR Vehicles and Ford racing driver - has long been known for his antics on and off the track, whether that be competing in pro drifting events or off-road races, all while cranking out some seriously cool builds of his own. The latest of this pack might just be the best, however - a Ford Bronco that's been transformed into a total beast of an off-roader with V8 power under its hood, which he recently showed off to mega-popular YouTuber Cleetus McFarland.
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Baja Inspired
Officially known as the Bronco Baja Runner - or "El Bandito," as Gittin Jr. likes to call it - this particular build started life as a pre-production 2021 Bronco that could have been crushed had it not been saved and converted into the machine we see here. Instead, Ford gifted it to Gittin Jr., who had been flogging it for the past three years before he had an idea - why not transform it into something that could pay tribute to his friend and teammate Lauren Healey's love for the Baja 1000?
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Totally Custom
From there, Gittin Jr. ditched all the stock body panels and replaced them with custom pieces that mimic the look of the Ultra4 Bronco racers. Only the original cab remains, in fact, and the whole thing rolls on a set of beadlock wheels wrapped with massive 40-inch tires.
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Big Surprise
With a bespoke suspension underneath, this Bronco build certainly looks the part and seems like it could conquer pretty much anything in its path. Aiding in those efforts is the engine that powers it, too - a supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V8 crate engine, which is the same powerplant used in the last-gen Mustang Shelby GT500, as well as the current F-150 Raptor R.
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Four Digit Output
However, this particular Predator isn't stock, either, even though it's plenty capable in that guise. Rather, it's been fitted with a host of upgrades including a Whipple supercharger that helps lift output all the way up to a cool 1,000 horsepower - making this Bronco one heck of a screamer in a straight line.
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Nimble Beast
As one might imagine, this combination of parts makes El Bandito seriously fun to drive, as McFarland found out when he was able to spend a little time behind the wheel. In fact, he's particularly amazed at just how good it feels, noting that it's like "a nimble trophy truck."
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Best Bronco Yet?
While we'd obviously love to see Ford actually build and sell Broncos like this - at least, ones that we can easily access and afford, unlike the Bronco R - it's still cool to see what's possible for those that have the budget and talent to pull it off. El Bandito is easily one of the coolest custom Broncos we've seen yet, though knowing Gittin Jr., he probably already has something even better up his sleeve.
Photos: Vaughn Gittin Jr.