From the Classic Ford Bronco to Today

The Ford Bronco has already made a memorable impression on Wichita-area drivers, but it isn’t hard to get noticed when you’re standing on the shoulders of a giant. The classic Ford Bronco immediately brings to mind images of the rugged outdoors, and it really did offer the kind of go-anywhere capability that today’s Bronco fans adore. With its uncompromising style and pragmatic powertrains, the early Ford Bronco made a name for itself that’s never gone away. Learn a little bit about the history of this model, and find out how it set the stage for the sixth-generation Ford Bronco with our team.

The classic Ford Bronco is one of the most iconic vehicles of the last century, and we couldn’t be more excited to share a little early Ford Bronco history with our neighbors near Derby:

• The original classic Ford Bronco was developed as a passenger-friendly off-road vehicle with a completely unique chassis
• Today, with its 92-inch wheelbase, it would fall into the compact SUV class. All models were initially sold with four-wheel drive as standard.
• The original Ford Bronco engine was a 105-hp inline-6, derived from the engine in the Ford Falcon.
• The classic Ford Bronco wasn’t flashy or dressed up, but it stood out precisely for that reason! Customers were eager for a no-nonsense vehicle that could really stand up to the test of the great outdoors, and this model had genuine utilitarian appeal.

In fact, there were several other iterations of the classic Ford Bronco archetype. We’ve covered them all in turn!

In 1978, the old Ford Bronco entered its second generation as a full-size SUV. Although this model retained many styling notes from the first generation, there were more than a few notable changes, including:

• Retiring of the original Bronco chassis, and its replacement with a chassis adapted directly from the Ford F-Series.
• A wheelbase extension of 12 inches, bucking the trend toward downsizing which dominated the American automotive industry at the time. 
• Eschewing the multiple body configurations offered on the first generation, the second-generation Bronco was offered only as a three-door wagon.

Even at the time of the second-generation Bronco SUV’s release, Ford was looking toward the future. A third-generation Bronco–smaller and lighter than the second-generation, but otherwise similar–was already in development. It retained its full-size classification and was still based on a chassis adapted from the F-Series.

Just three years after the release of the third-generation Ford Bronco, Ford unveiled the Bronco II. Make no mistake: this model was the start of a new and unique line, but as a compact SUV, it was more similar to the original Ford Bronco than even the third-generation model described above. It was developed in concert with the 1983 Ford Ranger and shared one of the latter’s engines for the 1984 and 1985 model years. Eventually, however, the Bronco II was replaced by the Ford Explorer.

The fourth-generation Ford Bronco was built on the same chassis as the previous generation but also received a wide range of interior and exterior updates. The 1987 model was also the first Bronco outfitted with standard rear anti-lock brakes (ABS). In addition, fans of the classic Ford Bronco find this generation notable because it included the Silver Anniversary Edition–the very first early Ford Bronco offered with leather seating.

The fifth generation just might be the most recognizable of all the classic Ford Bronco builds, but the changes built into this generation were relatively few and far between. There were some interior updates, as well as changes to safety features, and this generation also saw the effective discontinuation of the classic removable hard-top.

After a 25-year production pause, the sixth-generation Ford Bronco was revived as a mid-size SUV with classic body-on-frame construction, independent suspension, and a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost® inline-four engine. Like the classic Ford Bronco, it features a detachable roof. You can even remove the side doors for a classic open-air touring or trailing experience.

If you love the classic Ford Bronco, we know you’ll feel the same way about the newest version of this fan-favorite model. Keep an eye on our new Ford inventory to be among the first to test drive this model near Andover, and keep up with the Don Hattan Dealerships blog for the latest news and information.