A Brief History of the Bucking Bronco
Take a trip down memory lane as we look at every iteration of the Ford Bronco up to this point.
A Quick History Lesson
The hype surrounding the new Ford Bronco lineup cannot be fully understood without adequate knowledge of the history behind the iconic nameplate. The Bronco has served as a staple of the Ford family for the better part of the second half of the 20th century. And now that it has returned after over two decades in hiatus, here is a quick look at the legendary SUV's history for the uninitiated, and a refresher for other enthusiasts.
Original Bronco (1966-1977)
The world's original sports utility vehicle, the 1966 Bronco came in an era of ingenuity for Ford. It combined the off-roading capability of its closest competitor from Jeep with a street-friendly style and comfort. The philosophy behind it was always for it to be a no-fuss, straight-to-the-point machine, without any unnecessary pieces. Various configurations of the first Bronco were produced during its run from '66 to '77. These were the half-cab pickup, the roadster, and the popular 3-door wagon. The truck was offered with a V6 and a 302 ci V8, as well as a choice of 3-speed manual and 3-speed auto transmissions.
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1978-1979 Bronco
The very short-lived second generation of the Bronco had very little if anything at all in common with the original. Based on a significantly larger platform, the design of this SUV shifted more towards utility than off-roading. Though this would be the eventual direction of the Bronco for the remainder of its life prior to its departure from the lineup in 1997. Two engine options were available for the vehicle: a 5.8-liter V8 and a 6.6-liter V8. This Bronco also shaped the future of what we think of today as an SUV in many regards.
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1980-1986 Bronco
With the next update, the Bronco took another step toward on-street drivability and comfort. It even approached the higher end of the market with the Eddie Bauer edition. The powertrain options included an inline-6 motor, as well as three V8 choices throughout the production run. With the gradual domestication of the wild horse, the price of admission was beginning to rise as well.
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Bronco II
The automotive industry was headed in a direction that would see most manufacturers reduce the size, mass, and fuel usage of their products. With that ideology in mind, Ford introduced a smaller version of the Bronco, dubbed Bronco II, which was built from 1983 until 1990. The powertrain options were more economic than the Bronco, with a choice of a turbo-diesel 4-cylinder and a couple of V6 gas motors. Although it was smaller and lighter, the Bronco II faced a huge engineering downfall, and that was its lack of rollover safety, resulting in crashes.
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1987-1991 Bronco
With the next redesign of the Bronco came more added performance and safety features, as well as a more rounded-off look. Oh and another big price increase. Significant technological advances with this generation of the SUV included the usage of electronic fuel injection and a four-wheel-drive system that could be deactivated with a button.
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1992-1996 Bronco
More than a quarter of a century after the infamous O.J. Simpson police chase, many still attribute the discontinuation of the Bronco to his mishaps. In reality, the market didn't have much room for a chunky and heavy 3-door SUV without much practicality, in comparison to smaller, more economical crossover SUVs. The Bronco was essentially replaced in the lineup by the more spacious Expedition.
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Return of the King
The Bronco nameplate has returned to the Ford lineup with a variety of practical and fun new options. The starting price for the base Bronco is $28,000, which makes it more affordable than the last few iterations of the truck. For reference, here is a breakdown of Bronco prices with adjustments for inflation:
1966: Bronco Roadster $2,400 (just under $19,000), Bronco Wagon $2,625 ($20,800)
1978: $6,500 ($25,560)
1980: $8,400 ($26,100)
1987: $14,000 ($31,600)
1992: $19,000 ($34,700)
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