The quest for off - route drive escapade , the one that the 1966 - 1977 Ford Bronco would help bring to unexampled markets , begin shortly after World War II when come back gilbert made ex - military Jeeps as much a part of the American scene as Coca - Colas and Lucky Strikes .
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Throughout the 1950S , exploring infour - wheel - drivevehicles – mostly by Jeep – was pretty much an unorganized amour . By the early 1960S , its impulse spawned a financial support organization of aftermarket industry , magazines , golf-club , and well - engineer effect .
These factors lend more brand to compete with the Jeep , but none of the Big Three was tempted to take the dip into this unexampled market until Lee Iacocca and a few others at Ford saw its potentiality .
early on off - roading was limited principally to weekend exploration in group . Then , in 1965 , one Brian Chuchua organized the first off - route races held on a teetotal river bottom near Riverside , California . His Riverside Grand Prix , which pitted two vehicles at a clip against each other , was an instant success .
But now there was a two - fork-like market place for 4x4s emerging . Pure off - road use was already warm and growing . spin off from it was a new market that wanted four - wheelwright more for suburban status than flying rubble .
It was in this environs that Ford innovate the Bronco in August 1965 as a 1966 model . The Bronco came in part as an answer to the develop popularity of off - route vehicle and in part to tap the new market beyond the back land .
Before infix the Bronco , Ford talked with members of 300 off - road clubs , thou of off - road vehicle owners , plus thousands of others who had never depend upon in a 4x4 . Ford get wind that many seasoned owners no longer wanted the motorized buckboard of the post - world-wide War II era , and the non - induct might buy one if it was made more civilized .
woman were an increasing part of the market , too . Everybody surveyed need faster acceleration , comfortable main road cruising , quiet , and all manner of creature comforts and contraption . While backroad adventure was the cardinal element , such a vehicle now had to leave position as well .
The Bronco debuted with adult , mild , and well-off optional bucket can ; easy - on - the - ridersuspension ; and light , nimble deal both off - route and on .
The Bronco was Ford ’s enlightened response to the International Scout , Toyota Land Cruiser , Kaiser Jeep , and the Land Rover , all of which had their peculiarity and were not near as well suitable to Saturday shopping and Sunday at the beach as to explore Arizona ’s Superstition Mountains or the royal hills " somewhere Occident of Laramie . "
The Bronco broke a sight of new ground , offering the best of both freeway and off - route driving , opening up the big country to Americans who had rarely hazard beyond shopping shopping mall and interstate highway rest areas .
Find mechanically skillful information on the 1966 Ford Bronco in the next section .
For more information about cars, see:
1966 Ford Bronco
The four - wheel - drive 1966 Ford Bronco come up on a 92 - column inch wheelbase and was 152.1 inches long overall . It was powered by a solid - lifter version of Ford ’s proven 170 - cubic - inch overhead - valve six - cylinder engine that recrudesce 105horsepowerat 4,400 revolutions per minute .
It was the same basicenginethat had been used in Falcons and Econolines , but in the Bronco , there was a different individual - barrelcarburetorand sullen - obligation fuel pump . ( In March 1966 , the 289 - cubic - inch V-8 was made optional . )
While the Bronco was not Falcon - derived in the same sentiency as the Mustang , it bank heavily on Falcon mechanically skillful component . Ford ’s reasoning behind using the six was to accentuate economy and keep the alkali Mary Leontyne Price down , but at an norm of 14 mpg , the Bronco was hardly an thriftiness vehicle .
The soletransmissionwas a steering pillar - mounted , to the full synchronized three - stop number . ( An automatic was not available until 1973 , and then only with a 302 - cubic - inch V-8 . ) The three - speed ’s ready shift and smooth mental process were welfare that had not previously been useable in four - rack - ride vehicles .
The transmission tunnel carried a second lever ( with a T - handle ) that operated the transfer case . The transportation case get both front and rear axles through unvarying - speed , twofold - cardan universal joint .
This resulted in a high mounting locating and greater ground headroom . A clit on the T - handle had to be depressed for the lever to move .
Prior to the origination of theautomatic transmission , one notch back from achromatic set-aside two - wheel drive , and a 2nd notch further back localize the Bronco in four - steering wheel effort high . A notch forward of impersonal selected four - wheel - drive low range , which could only be engaged when amply stopped .
Underpinning the Bronco was a box seat - section frame with front coil - spring suspension and semi - prolate rearward springs with outboard shock absorbers . Up front , a " Mono - Beam " tubular ray of light axle was turn up by two forged - steel spoke rod plus a track legal profession .
seismic disturbance were mounted on radius arms . Frame and suspension were organise specifically to the Bronco , giving very good ground clearance , a short 34 - foot turn radius , and splendid anti - dive characteristics .
The half - short ton Ford Bronco was offer in three body types – a rough and quick runabout with no top , unfastened - sided fairings in place of room access , and fold - down windscreen at $ 2,404 ; a pickup - similar " sport utility program " model at $ 2,480 ; and a steel - overstep police wagon at $ 2,625 .
The wagon prove to be the most pop of the three , sell 1,736 more units than the other two fashion model combine in the first year .
received equipment included front and rear bumpers , front workbench seat with seat bash , peal - up side windows on the paddy wagon and pickup , padded instrument panel , gum elastic storey lusterlessness , mesh liftgate on the Plough , close up down windscreen on all model , turn signal , and three-fold vacuumwindshield wiperswith washing machine .
Bronco instrumentation consisted ofspeedometer , hodometer , fuel bore , oil insistence gauge , ammeter , and temperature gage .
alternative let in a heater / defroster , 11 - Imperial gallon adjuvant fuel tank , free - running front hubs , front bucketful seats , rear seat for the buggy and wagon , steering wheel covers , trump ring , front armrests for the sports utility and wagon , padded sun eyeshade , a herd of leaden - duty items , enceinte - tariff clasp , cool down package , limited - solecism front and rear axles , tailgate mounted spare tire carrier , front bumper guards , chromed bumper , front and rear power takeoffs , citizen ’s lot radio , snowplow , trailer hitch , winch , tachometer , and tow meat hooks .
roadster could be outfitted with a vinylconvertibletop or sword doors , the latter with a choice of frameless glass or charge card windows . The 1966 Bronco was offered with five exterior colors and six interior colors .
A Bronco could be regulate as a mini flak motortruck or auto wrecker . Dealers promote mowers , power booms , post hole diggers , sprayers and trenchers , and rotary Scots heather .
It seems Ford was not only compete with Jeep and International but with Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward , too .
A steel bulkhead divide the number one wood ’s compartment from the 55.2 x 61 - inch cargo area ; the spare part was beetle off to the back of the bulkhead . On wagons and roadsters with the rear tooshie option , the bulkhead was omitted and the spare was mounted inside the tailgate . The pickup and wagon featured thunderbolt - on steel roofs .
In all models the top , doors , and extra rear were designed for quick removal , so even the cartridge and wagon could well be strip down for weekend activity . The side and tailgate window in the wagon stay stationary throughout the life of the first - generation Bronco , but aftermarket sliding windows were available .
To find out what the critics think of the 1966 Ford Bronco , keep record on the next page .
1966 Ford Bronco Reviews
In their 1966 Ford Bronco review , self-propelled magazines for the most part agreed that the vehicle was better suited for off - route employment .
Motor Trendfound that in two - wheel drive , the Bronco " spring to 30 miles per hour in 5.5 second , passed 45 mph in 11.5 seconds , and come to 60 in 21.2 second , crossing the cultivation credit line ( of the tail - mile cartoon strip at Ford ’s show earth test track ) in 21.5 seconds , with our fifth - wheel electricspeedometerreading an accurate 62 mph . " Top speed was approximately 80 miles per hour .
MTdescribed the Bronco ’s hill climbing power this elbow room : " Ford ’s test track has a steep , paved hill for various testing procedures . It ’s about 50 - 60 animal foot high and has unconscionable grassy slope on each side . The Bronco cantered right up the slopes without a whinny in low - range first , but we were even more impressed when it did it in third after a quick switch from first .
" A shift into reverse at the top allowed us to make a leisurely withdrawal in accomplished ascendency with some aid from the bracken . back up the mound was just as easy – from the driver ’s ass it take care straight down . "
auto Life ’s test , made in California , not Michigan , put the Bronco in a real - worldly concern environment . " A term of enlistment of Southern California pike instantly demonstrated the low - geared Bronco should best be given its point in back country , " sound out the magazine .
" A comfortable highway sail for this particular Bronco was 55 mph – slow by the absolute majority of superhighway standards . A speed of 60 miles per hour created tight wind of the smallish engine and hearable workings of transmission and transport cases ; 74 mph , dead the upper limit of Bronco progress , was difficult to maintain , wearing and probably clobber the engine unnecessarily .
" Thus it was that the Bronco was take to an region more suited for judgment of its capabilities – the mountainous spine of California , a land of exorbitant canyons and draw , boulders , brush and pine tree , tight and splattered with dapple of evaporate snow and methamphetamine hydrochloride along the sun - scarce northern sides of sharp hogback ridge . "
Here , Car Lifeconcluded , " The Bronco ’s reprieve . . . provides a drive that is tight , to say the least , but not objectively harsh . guidance is very overconfident and casual , though the overall ratio of 24:1 is sometimes too slow for some of the quick boulder - dodge tactical maneuver required of the off - the - route equipment driver . . . . The Bronco is hunky-dory for hombres who do n’t care for horses , but who require to hit the horse cavalry trails .
" The Bronco can tote eats from the general store or pack the young ' uns off to the schoolhouse . In a pinch the Bronco can help with the spring ploughing . Best of all about the Bronco is that West of the Pecos rodeo aura that makes a equipment driver shout,‘Eeeeeaaaaayyhhooo!‘as he plows four - wheel full contention through a mountain stream or breaks airborne over a mountain top . "
The basic Bronco wagon press 3,025 pounds and carried an 800 - Irish punt shipment . With the labored - duty package , load content was about triple .
Standardtireswere 7.35 x 15 shameful sidewall tires , which were not up to even the basic of four - wheel - drive vehicle usance . This was plausibly becauseFordwanted to keep the Leontyne Price down and permit salesmen move the buyer up to a wide choice of high - net optional tyre . ( Car Lifesuggested that the Bronco buyer who wanted both highway and brush role should consider two set of tires and wheel . )
Dealer - installed options admit chrome - handhold rails , inside hand rail , luggage stand for Big Dipper , overburden melodic phrase springs , and even a snow plough , but no air travel conditioning .
Motor Trenddidn’t report on the Bronco’sbrakes , butCar Lifedid and was not impressed . The Bronco was fit with 11 - inchdrumsin the front and 10 - column inch drums in the rear .
There was no explanation for give the Bronco brake system that were borderline adequate . Neither was there an account as to why it was not offered with optional two - cycle drive since a portion of the market seemed to be suburbanite who want the Bronco for show rather than go .
First - year Bronco output came to 4,090 roadsters , 6,930 athletics utilities , and 12,756 wagons .
Go to the next page to learn about change for the 1967 and 1968 model years .
1967 and 1968 Ford Bronco
The 1967 and 1968 Ford Bronco was little changed from the 1966 model . The received railway locomotive in 1967 was still the 170 - three-dimensional - inch six , with the 289 V-8 as an option . The sport utility was renamed the pickup arm in 1967 .
improvement were the addition of varying - speed windscreen wipers , dual master brake piston chamber , self - adjust brakes , and backup lights .
The options tilt expanded to include such items as bodyside and tailgate moldings , a fancier horn ring , and brilliant trimming , for the instrument panel and headlight and taillight bezels . These features and more were include in the Sport Package , a $ 189 dress - up option for the pickup and wagon .
Still , 1967 production decline by more than 9,500 units to 14,230 , including 698 roadsters , 2,602 pickups , and 10,930 wagons .
For 1968 , a new spare tyre carrier was located on the outside . Front bumpers had curved rather than squared ends , and – as Union safety regulations began rent effect – side mark lights were lend to the front fender , reflector to the rearward quarters . rewrite to interior room access and window ironware made them safe for occupant .
destitute - running front hub now had better lubrication sealing and improved surgical process . kingpin were elevate for long life . A heater and deicer were now received .
The slow - sell two-seater was drop after the 1968 manakin twelvemonth , meaning that the most canonic of all Broncos is the rarest and one of the most collectible now .
Underscoring the popularity of the early Bronco were the Baja 500 and Mexican 1,000 race . The first Mexican 1,000 was held October 31 , 1967 . The battleground included motorcycle , elevator car , Jeeps , dune buggies , specialty vehicle , and Broncos on the run from Tijuana to La Paz , which really worked out to about 900 miles .
One Bronco was build by Bill Stroppe , who had prepared the factory Lincolns for the 1952 - 1954 Mexican route races . ( Stroppe had already campaign Broncos at Riverside , California , and by now he was highly skilled at train them . )
The Baja Bronco had a full - batting cage rolling bar , wide wheels with big tyre , prat belts and harness , extra electrical shock , and rally lights for Nox driving . The engine was pull off to the hilt .
Stroppe ’s Bronco was drive by Ray Harvick . He and Stroppe start out in the lead , but were soon entangle in clay after facilitate contender free their Jeep . Later , they flipped and sand worked its way into the timing chain . The chain gave out about 50 mile from La Paz , thus cease Stroppe ’s first Baja race .
Stroppe was unshaken , and Ford was a willing presenter despite the Bronco ’s failure to finish . For the 1968 case , Stroppe had 1963 Indianapolis 500 genius Parnelli Jones as his number one wood .
Jones was not used to off - route racing ; he address Broncos like Indy gondola and crusade them much too hard . He broke a wheel and spindle about 150 miles into the subspecies .
This did not phase Ford , though , view Ak Miller and Ray Brock make headway the two - wheel - drive production class in an F-100 pickup truck .
Off - road racing begin catch on in 1969 . A 500 - miler was added to the Baja agenda . Meanwhile , in Nevada , there was the Mint 400 , patronize by the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas . Stroppe had Jones for the Mint 400 , plus Al and Bobby Unser .
incur more details about the Ford Bronco ’s racing history on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
Ford Bronco Racing
Ford Bronco racing event , using cars build by Bill Stroppe , were underwhelming in 1967 and 1968 . But things were about to get worse , as the 1969 Mexican 1,000 was deflower by disaster .
Although not officially on the Stroppe squad , a youth list Richard Smith repulse a Bronco under the Stroppe banner . His co - pilot light was Steve Smith , no coition to Richard Smith , but the son of Stroppe ’s close associate , Clay Smith , who was kill by a fly wheel while in the pits of an Illinois subspecies track in 1954 .
Early in the race , the Smiths hit a sand dune wacky and flip-flop . Richard Smith was killed straight off ; Steve Smith died in the infirmary a few hours subsequently .
Stroppe was so devastated , he rip out of the airstream . He felt a degree of responsibility because the motorcar was not fit with a sword net shell roof . But since the car was not formally on his team , he could not take this equipment .
Back home in Long Beach , California , Stroppe developed a two - wheel - drive Bronco with much Ford pickup running gear . The rationale for this purpose was Parnelli Jones ’s driving fashion : The Indy - machine driver - turned - Baja - race driver drove the Broncos so hard that the four - roulette wheel - drive front death could n’t take the beating .
At the same time , Ford introduced a like Bronco in outfit form . Somehow , though , the project was check and the one completed kit turned over to Stroppe . It was a 50/50 combining of Bronco and pickup with lots of plastic parts and all - out race - car engineering .
Stroppe called this gondola " Crazy Colt . " He build a 2d one called " Pony . " With Jones drive , Stroppe won the 1970 Baja 500 with the Pony in a record time of 11 hours , 55 minute .
Jones won the 1971 Mexican 1,000 in a machine that looked like a Bronco but was n’t . His " Big Oly " had an all - vacuum tube chassis , plastic body , and advanced suspension .
When the 1972 Baja 500 rolled around , Stroppe entered no fewer than 15 Broncos , F - Series pickups , and compendious Courier pickup . Jones finished third with large Oly , but successfully defended his Mexican 1,000 championship in the same fomite .
Big Oly won the 1973 Baja 500 but was bust up in the process . Stroppe and Jones won the Mint 400 in another fomite .
In the 1974 Baja International ( a renamed Baja 500 ) , Stroppe and Jones entered the rebuilt Big Oly . Somehow , a looker aboard a motorcycle entered the class going the wrong way . There was a dread collision with Big Oly and the motorcyclist was killed .
After that , Jones eventually drifted over to the Chevy Blazer and Stroppe never rode with him again . However , Stroppe hold out on preparing Fords – Broncos , F - Series pickups , and Couriers – and making impressive showings down on the Mexican peninsula .
The Bronco ’s desert racing success came home to the streets in a running of Broncos modified by Stroppe . First offered to the world in 1971 , the " Baja Bronco " come with a special bowl bar ; weighty - duty treble shock absorbers at all four wheels ; unassailable rear springs ; heavy rearward axle ; special tires rise on chrome - plated wheel ; fender flares ; trailer hitch ; 302 - cubic - inch V-8 ; an orangish , down , and clean blusher scheme ; and more . ( A four - barrelful carburetted engine was optional . )
About 650 Baja Broncos were built through 1974 .
To learn about the civilian models of the 1969 - 1973 Ford Bronco , check out the next Thomas Nelson Page .
1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973 Ford Bronco
Arguably , the 1969 model was the most changed of all Broncos through 1977 , but it could n’t prevent a gradual decline in popularity for the 1969 - 1973 Ford Bronco .
There were considerable organic structure changes to the pickup and wagon in 1969 . For exercise , the windshield and bonnet sphere were improved to reduce route noise and the door were changed . ( The fold - down windscreen was stop , but roof remained removable . )
The waggon eubstance had a beefier flavor , peculiarly the door shape , rock ‘n’ roll musician panels , and roof . All of these changes were made to strengthen the vehicle . Parking Inner Light lense , which had previously been clear , were now amber .
The optional 289 - cubic - column inch V-8 was supplant by a 302 - three-dimensional - inch building block . Electric windshield wipers supervene upon vacuum - operated blade as a run change during the manakin year . Production was 2,317 pickups and 18,639 wagons .
For 1970 , there were only small-scale styling change . Side marking luminousness and reflector were reshape and move higher up on the body . Broncos with Sport Package equipment were now considered to be separate models .
Important new selection were G78 x 15B fibreglass tires , " Traction - Lock " limited - case rear derived function , and articulatio humeri harness . ( Through 1977 , Bronco stay the only four - wheeler in its class with limited - slip derived function available both front and rear . ) As in almost every year , the lean of exterior colour was expanded .
Competition in the 4x4 sport - utility athletic field was heating up , with Chevrolet ’s Blazer and GMC ’s Jimmy – both built on shortened pickup truck platforms – having get since mid 1969 . order for 1970 Broncos declined to 1,700 pickups and 16,750 police wagon .
About the only change for 1971 were a new leaden - duty front axle and 12.7 - congius fuel tank . ( The fuel tank had first been used in 1970 on those Broncos fit out with evaporative emission recovery system . )
Standard tire size of it was now E78 x 15 . During the framework year , front pail seating became stock equipment . The phone number of bright - trim accessories again increase .
The pattern of falling getaway sales event and grow wagon sale continued ; 1,503 pickup were produced compare to 18,281 wagons . Base prices were $ 3,535 and $ 3,638 , severally .
The 1972 Ford Bronco realize larger pasture brake front and rear . In mid 1972 , a new Ranger software was offered . This consisted of particular exterior colours with accent disrobe , argent grille , carpeting , deluxe wheel covers , deluxe material - insert bucket seats , swing - away fifth wheel with a tyre cover , woodiness doorway panels , and fiberboard headliner .
Due to smog restrictions , horsepower of the six - piston chamber locomotive engine dropped from 100 to 82 . In California , the 302 V-8 became the only engine normally available , with the six a special - order item only .
The decline popularity of the Bronco pickup arm finally took its toll in 1973 , when only the patrol wagon was offered . Ford ’s seasoned 200 - three-dimensional - column inch six was newly install as the standard locomotive ; tell on H.P. was only 84 .
The tide of competitor in the growing SUV field was rising and Ford attempted to keep the Bronco in the hunt with more comfort and convenience lineament . A three - speed robotic transmission , the C-4 , was available for model equipped with the V-8 .
This transmission system had both fully automatonlike and manual control . With it came a new J - grip transfer case shifter setup that was quite a piece different than the quondam triiodothyronine - grip setup . ( In 1973 , it was still potential to get a stock transmission with either the T - handle shifter or the newfangled J - gear lever for the transference case . )
Also , superpower steerage was offered for the first time , again only with the V-8 . Even with only one body trend left , output was a healthier 21,894 Broncos .
The 1974 - 1977 Broncos marked the end of the tally for this coevals . witness out about those models on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977 Ford Bronco
The piddling bonanza in Bronco demand project in 1973 would n’t last , and the 1974 - 1977 Ford Bronco models would mark the end for the car - based Bronco .
For model - year 1974 ( which began under the cloud of the first OPEC vegetable oil embargo ) , product was 18,786 . Subsequent years would see further declines .
Then , too , there was very niggling new . The robotlike transmission quarter-circle was now lighted . The six and optional 4.11 terminal - drive gear were no longer usable in California , where emission standards were stringent .
The J - shifter was the only frame-up , even with the manual transmittance . The only interior trimming color useable was parchment .
The 1975 Ford Bronco had a revised exhaust system , substantial rear axle , and a higher ride height . The only locomotive offered was the 302 - cubic - column inch V-8 , rated at 125 HP .
The manual transmission became a exceptional - order detail . The six was discontinued due to smog regulations . Anti - smog equipment became standard across the board . ( California - bound Broncos came with a require catalytic convertor . )
Sports and Rangers were give an F - Series motortruck guidance bicycle , and an engine - block heater joined the options inclination . product was down to 11,273 ; base cost went up to $ 4,979 .
advance for the 1976 Ford Bronco were increased front axle mental ability , an optional front stabilizer bar , optional power front disc brakes , and loyal - proportion power direction . upstanding - state ignition was infix during the 1976 mannikin running game , as was a Special Decor Group with a blacked - out grille , wide bodyside mag tape stripes , and other trim accents . Bronco production amend to 13,625 .
For the 1977 Ford Bronco , the Ranger package was changed to include a " sports bar , " which was a fresh style roll bar . phonograph record brakes became standard .
The 302 - cubic - inch V-8 had a redesign combustion bedroom and new pistons . The intake manifold was amend for near cooling . Horsepower was rated at 133 .
The front passenger rear and cushioned dah , formerly standard items , were moved to the option leaning . Production accrue by a few hundred units to 13,335 .
Time and tastes were passing the Bronco by in the late 1970s . When it was introduced , the Bronco had upped the ante in power and ease compare to its direct rivals , the Jeep and the Scout . It drew more motorists into the growing sport - utility fomite food market , but it also pull in new rivals of its own .
Vehicles like the Blazer and Jimmy take care like warm mend at first , but their truck - based design did include lots of interior space , the power to carry expectant engine , and a host of available comfort and convenience features . After a slow start , Blazer production take up to more than 47,000 for 1972 and maintain growing .
When Chrysler entered the SUV field in 1974 , it did so with trim - down trucks , the Dodge Ramcharger and related Plymouth Trail Duster . The same twelvemonth , Jeep released the Cherokee , a detrimmed two - door version of its 4x4 Wagoneer place wagon .
Ford ( which had freeze off a motortruck - base design when first planning the Bronco ) could n’t ignore the direction the off - route fomite market was heading . A whole new era arrived in 1978 with the debut of a big Bronco derived from the F - Series truck and powered by a stock 351 - three-dimensional - inch V-8 locomotive engine .
Production sailplane to more than 70,000 vehicles . But almost overnight , the compact , simple , early Bronco became collectible , and its collectibility has raise with each run year .
get hold information about cabaret for buff of the 1966 - 1977 Bronco on the next pageboy .
