Ford Bronco
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| Ford Bronco | |
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| Manufacturer: | Ford Motor Company |
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| Production: | 1966-1996 |
| Successor: | Ford Expedition |
| Class: | Compact SUV (1966-1977) Full-size SUV (1978-1996) |
| Body style: | 2-door SUV |
| Engine: | 170 in³ Straight-6 289 in³ Windsor V8 302 in³ Windsor V8 302 in³ Cleveland V8 351 in³ Windsor V8 351 in³ Cleveland V8 200 in³ Straight-6 300 in³ Straight-6 |
| Similar: | Chevrolet K5 Blazer Dodge Ramcharger Jeep Grand Wagoneer Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep Cherokee (SJ) |
The Ford Bronco was an SUV produced from 1966 through 1996, with four distinct generations.
It was initially introduced as a competitor for the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout. A major redesign based on the Ford F-Series truck in 1978 brought a larger Bronco to compete with the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and Dodge Ramcharger. Thus, Broncos can generally be divided into two categories: Early Broncos (1966-1977) and Full-size Broncos (1978-1996).
The full-size Broncos and the successor Expedition were produced at Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan.
The Bronco permanently entered popular culture in 1994 as the vehicle in which O.J. Simpson traveled during his (in)famous low-speed chase with police through the Los Angeles area. It was a white 1993 model owned by Al Cowlings.
Contents |
[edit] 1966-1977 (Early Bronco)
| First generation | |
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| Production: | 1966–1977 |
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| Body style: | Small SUV |
| Engine: | 170 in³ Straight-6 (1966-1972) 200 in³ Straight-6 (1973-1974) 289 in³ Windsor V8 (1966-1968) 302 in³ Windsor V8 (1969-1977) |
The original Bronco was a small SUV, intended to compete with Jeeps and the International Harvester Scout. Its small size (92 in wheelbase) made it popular for off-roading and some other uses, but impractical for such things as towing.
The idea behind the Bronco began with Ford product manager Donald N. Frey, who also conceived of the Ford Mustang; and similarly, Lee Iacocca pushed the idea through into production. In many ways, the Bronco was a more original concept than the Mustang; whereas the Mustang was based upon the Ford Falcon, the Bronco had a frame, suspension, and body which were not shared with any other vehicle.
The Bronco was designed under engineer Paul G. Axelrad. Although the axles and brakes were sourced from the Ford F-100 four wheel drive truck, the front axle was located by leading arms (from the frame near the rear of the transmission forward to the axle) and a lateral track bar, allowing the use of coil springs which gave the Bronco a tight (34 ft) turning circle, long wheel travel, and an anti-dive geometry which was useful for snowplowing. The rear suspension was more conventional, with leaf springs in a typical Hotchkiss design. A shift-on the-fly (with utmost difficulty) Dana Engineering transfer case was standard, and heavy duty suspension was an option.
The initial engine was the Ford 170 in³ I6, modified with solid valve lifters, a six quart oil pan, heavy duty fuel pump, oil-bath air cleaner, and a carburetor with a float bowl compensated against tilting.
Styling was subordinated to simplicity and economy, so all glass was flat, bumpers were simple C-sections, the frame was a simple box-section ladder, and the basic left and right door skins were identical except for mounting holes.
The base price was only US$2,194, but the long option list included front bucket seats, a rear bench seat, a tachometer, and a CB radio, as well as functional items such as a tow bar, an auxiliary gas tank, a power takeoff, a snowplow, a winch, and a posthole digger. Aftermarket accessories included campers, overdrive units, and the usual array of wheels, tires, chassis and engine parts for increased performance.
The Bronco initially dominated the market against the Scout and Jeep until the advent of the fullsize Chevrolet Blazer in 1969, a much larger and more powerful vehicle which could offer greater luxury, comfort, space, and a longer option list including an automatic transmission and power steering, and thus had broader appeal. Ford countered by enlarging the optional V8 engine from 289 in³ and 200 hp to 302 in³ and 205 hp, but this still could not match the Blazer's optional 350 in³ and 255 hp. In 1973, power steering and automatic transmissions were made optional and sales spiked to 26,300, but by then, Blazer sales were double those of the Bronco, and International Harvester had seen the light and come out with the Scout II which was more in the Blazer class. For the average driver, those vehicles made more sense than the more rustically-oriented Bronco; however, the low sales of the Bronco (230,800 over twelve years) did not allow a large budget for upgrades, and it remained basically unchanged until the advent of the larger, more Blazer-like second generation Bronco in 1978. Perhaps predictably, sales of the original model peaked (30,700) in its last year, 1977, as buyers who wanted more of a fun, spunky, no-frills, go-anywhere vehicle took advantage of their last opportunity to buy one.
[edit] Racing
In 1965, racecar builder Bill Stroppe assembled a team of Broncos for long-distance off-road competition for Ford. Partnering with Ford's frequently favored race team Holman-Moody, the Stroppe/Holman/Moody (SHM) Broncos proceeded to dominate the Mint 400, Baja 500, and Mexican 1000 (which was later named the Baja 1000). In 1969 SHM again entered a team of six Broncos in the Baja 1000. In 1971, a "Baja Bronco" package partially derived from Stroppe's design was offered in the Ford showrooms, featuring quick-ratio power steering, automatic transmission, fender flares covering Gates Commando tires, a roll bar, reinforced bumpers, a padded steering wheel, and distinctive red, white, blue, and black paint. However, at a price of $5566 versus the standard V8 Bronco price of $3665, only 650 were sold over the next four years. [1]
In 1966, a Bronco dragster built by Doug Nash ran the quarter mile in 9.2 seconds, with a top speed of 150 mph.
[edit] 1978-1979 (Full-Size Bronco)
| Second generation | |
| Production: | 1978–1979 |
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| Body style: | Full-size SUV |
| Engine: | 351 in³ 351M V8 400 in³ 400 V8 |
The redesign of the Bronco in 1978 was based on the F-100 truck, sharing many chassis, drivetrain, and body components. Ford started the redesign in 1972, codenamed Project Short-Horn, but introduction was delayed by concerns over the mid-1970s fuel crisis. The increased size allowed them to compete with the fullsize SUVs offered by GM (Chevrolet Blazer), Chrysler (Dodge Ramcharger) and Toyota (Toyota Land Cruiser). The base engine was a 351M, with a 400 also being an option. A Ford 9" rear axle, and a Dana 44 front axle combined with the "indestructible" F-100 frame demanded rave reviews from the press. 1979 saw the addition of a catalytic converter, and other various emissions control equipment.
In the TV series 240-Robert, several 1979 Broncos were seen as rescue vehicles.
[edit] 1980-1986
| Third generation | |
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| Production: | 1980–1986 |
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| Body style: | Full-size SUV |
| Engine: | 300 in³ Straight-6 302 in³ 302 V8 351 in³ 351M V8 (1980-1982) 351 in³ Windsor V8 |
There was a major redesign of the model in 1980 (the 1980 model was based on the redesigned Ford F-series; this generation lasted until 1986 with no sheetmetal changes, mostly powertrain and chassis related). The new Bronco was shorter, and had cosmetic changes along with powertrain, suspension and other odds and ends. Most notably, the Ford Bronco had a TTB (twin traction beam) setup in the front end for an independent front suspension. By 1982, the big block 351 was gradually being phased out in favor of the 351 Windsor. Ford also returned to using its "blue oval" logo on the front grille, and removed the "F O R D" letters from the hood.
[edit] Specifications (1980-1986)
Wheelbase: 104.0 in (2641mm)
Length: 180.3 in (4579 mm)
Width: 79.3 in (2014 mm)
Height: 75.5 in (1917 mm)
[edit] 1987-1991
| Fourth generation | |
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| Production: | 1987–1991 |
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| Body style: | Full-size SUV |
| Engine: | 300 in³ Straight-6 302 in³ 302 V8 351 in³ Windsor V8 |
In 1987, the body and drivetrain of the fullsize Bronco changed, as it was still based on the F-Series. The new aero body style reflected a larger redesign of many Ford vehicles for the new model year. By 1988, all Broncos were being sold with electronic fuel injection (first introduced in 1985 with the 302). In 1991, a special Silver 25th Anniversary Edition was sold featuring a gray leather interior. All Broncos were built at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan on the same line as the F-150.
[edit] 1992-1996
| Fifth generation | |
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| Production: | 1992–1996 |
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| Body style: | Full-size SUV |
| Engine: | 300 in³ Straight-6 (1992) 302 in³ 302 V8 351 in³ Windsor V8 |
The Bronco, along with the F-Series, was updated for 1992. The new Bronco was redesigned with safety in mind, incorporating front crumple zones, rear shoulder seat belts, a third brakelight embedded in the removable top, and after 1994, driver-side airbags. Cosmetic exterior and interior changes included a sweeping front end and a new dash. Power mirrors were also offered for the first time, and in 1996 the Bronco became the first vehicle to incorporate turn signal lights in the mirrors. No major drivetrain changes occurred.
[edit] Bronco Centurion
From the late 1980s through its demise in 1996, the Bronco was also sold at Ford dealerships as a modified 4-door SUV (making it similar to the Excursion or Suburban of today). These 4-door Broncos were converted by Centurion Vehicles of White Pigeon, Michigan. The conversion involved combining a new club cab short bed F-Series truck with a Bronco tailgate and fiberglass top. The end result? A huge, versatile, extremely rugged SUV. In addition to adding a third row of seats and more room, a Bronco Centurion could be ordered using an F-350 as the donor pickup, allowing the Centurion to have such engines as the 7.3L PowerStroke turbodiesel and the 7.5L 460ci gasoline V8. This made the Centurion more appealing to people in need of a comfortable tow vehicle, albeit a faster one. Over time the few of these cars that still exist are rare and valuable, except for the certain percentage of Northern cars that suffered from tailgate rust-out due to poor body paint preparation.
The Bronco Centurion could be ordered with options such as a third-row seat that can be folded into a bed, second row bucket seats, a TV with a VCR, and a built-in radar detector.
Bronco Centurions were considered as after market conversions before Ford's introduction of the Excursion as an official production model in 2000.
[edit] 1997
In the 1997 model year, the Ford Expedition, which more effectively competed with GM's Chevrolet Tahoe, was introduced as the successor to the Bronco. The Bronco name was dropped from production, but was reused a few years later for a similar concept car.
[edit] 2004 concept
At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, a Bronco concept car was introduced. Some features of the concept car, such as the box-like roof line, short wheelbase, and the round headlamps are features associated with the Early Bronco, but this concept car also had a 2.0 L intercooled turbodiesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Ford has - and is still considering - releasing this for production, likely based on the success of the retro-themed Toyota FJ Cruiser. The vehicle would be between the Ford Escape and Ford Focus wagon if it were to be produced.
[edit] Trivia
A white Ford Bronco was made famous on June 17th of 1994 during the NBA playoffs when O.J. Simpson hid in the back of Al Cowlings 1993 while eluding the Los Angeles Police Department in a low-speed chase.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Bronco.com
- FullSizeBronco.com- Extensive fullsize bronco resource
- Bronco Driver Magazine
- Broncofix.com
- Broncograveyard.com - Source for Bronco Parts/Info/Technical
- Broncohq.com
- ClassicBroncos.com
- Customized Ford Bronco trucks
- Project Bronco 78-79
- Enthusiast reference page
- Myspace Early Bronco Page
- Article on 2004 concept vehicle
- WildHorses4x4 - Source of 66-77 Bronco Parts
- fourdoorbronco.com - Pictures of the Bronco Centurion
- Centurion
- The Second-Generation 78-79 Ford Bronco by Paul Eschenbach
- Ford Bronco 40th Anniversary Article
