Ford Bronco
The body-on-frame four-wheel drive launched for 1966, enlarged through five generations and revived in 2021.
Overview
Ford revealed the Bronco in August 1965 for the 1966 model year, describing it as a new line of “sports-utility” vehicles. Product manager Donald Frey set the brief for “go anywhere roadability”, and designer McKinley Thompson Jr.’s early proposals helped establish the upright body, short overhangs and wheels placed near the corners.
The first Bronco used a separate frame, short wheelbase and four-wheel drive. Ford offered three bodies: an open roadster without a roof or doors, a short-roof Sports Utility pickup and a fully enclosed wagon. The simple dimensions and high ground clearance made it manoeuvrable off road, while coil-sprung front suspension gave it more compliant road behaviour than many contemporary utility vehicles.
Ford enlarged the Bronco for 1978 and based subsequent versions on shortened F-Series truck platforms. Five generations were produced before the two-door model ended in 1996. A sixth generation revived the Bronco name for 2021 after a 25-year absence.
Generations
First generation (1966–1977)
The original compact Bronco launched with a 170-cubic-inch inline-six, with V8 power added during its first model year. Roadster, Sports Utility and wagon bodies shared the same basic chassis, although the roadster disappeared after 1968 and the pickup after 1972. Competition-prepared Broncos also established a successful record in North American desert racing.
Second generation (1978–1979)
The second Bronco was a much larger vehicle derived from the contemporary F-Series pickup. It used a removable rear roof over a full-size two-door body and was offered with V8 engines. Despite lasting only two model years, it set the format followed by the next three generations.
Third generation (1980–1986)
A redesigned Bronco arrived for 1980 on a shorter F-150 platform. It was lighter than its predecessor and introduced Ford’s Twin-Traction-Beam independent front suspension. Six-cylinder engines returned alongside V8s. The smaller Ranger-based Bronco II launched separately for 1984 and was not a direct generation of the full-size model.
Fourth and fifth generations (1987–1996)
The 1987 redesign brought smoother front styling, electronic fuel injection and updated transmissions. A further revision for 1992 added more integrated bodywork and new safety equipment while retaining the two-door, removable-roof layout. Production of the fifth generation ended in 1996.
Sixth generation (2021–present)
The revived Bronco returned as a body-on-frame four-wheel drive with separate two- and four-door bodies. Both use removable doors and roof panels, while low-range transfer cases, locking differentials and specialised off-road variants extend the original model’s functional theme. The related Bronco Sport is a smaller unibody model rather than another Bronco generation.