How’s this for an automotive product planning brief: “Replace the horse”.
That’s what International Harvester (IH) designer Ted Ornas was tasked with achieving back in 1958 when his bosses decided to “out-Jeep” Jeep.
IH’s market research had concluded there was a market for a basic, inexpensive, go-anywhere farm and off-road vehicle to rival the Willys CJ-5 Jeep.
Released in 1961, the Scout’s success, along with that of the Jeep, attracted the attention of Ford’s boss, Lee Iaccocca.
What Iacocca saw was gap in this expanding “recreational/rural” market for a vehicle that combined the off-road ability of the Scout and Jeep with greater comfort, power, manoeuvrability and practicality.
In other words, a small SUV.
Iacocca, and his product planning chief Donald Frey, also wanted to exploit the weaknesses of the Jeep and Scout, especially their poor sidehill stability, narrow track, less powerful four-cylinder engines and large turning circles.
Enter the 1966 Bronco.
It featured a 92-inch wheelbase and a 33.6-foot turning radius, making it highly manoeuvrable.
Its wider track and “Mono-Beam” front suspension improved stability and ride quality.
It boasted Ford’s 170-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine, taken from the Falcon, giving it a power advantage, while its fully synchronized three-speed manual transmission was a first among US 4x4s.
The Bronco was also better equipped than its rivals, offering doors with roll-up windows, seatbelts, a padded dashboard and full-width tailgate.
Buyers could choose from a Roadster, Sports Utility pickup or Wagon.
In mid-1967, Ford’s 289 cubic inch V8 was added to the option list.
Changes during the late 1960s were gradual.
Safety equipment, self-adjusting brakes and additional fuel capacity were introduced in 1967, followed by standard free-wheeling hubs and other refinements in 1968.
What did not change was the sheet metal.
In 1969, the 289 V8 was replaced by the more powerful 302.
The Bronco continued to evolve through the early 1970s with an optional C4 automatic transmission and power steering.
In 1975, the six-cylinder engine disappeared, leaving the 302 V8 as the only engine.
The 1977 model was the last of the first series.
From there on it was upsized and based on the F-truck sheet metal.
The model was discontinued in 1996, but made a comeback in 2021, underpinned by the Australian-developed frame platform that is also used in the Ford Ranger and Everest.
There’s talk of the Bronco arriving here in 2027.
David Burrell is the editor of retroautos
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