The Ford Bronco has come a long way over the past half century. From workhorse to a now-luxury vehicle, this storied car is one of the more interesting stories in the automotive industry. Across six generations, we’ll tell you the story of the rise, fall, and second coming of the iconic Bronco.
To start, the life of the Ford Bronco started long before the age of the backup camera. While the Bronco didn’t originally come with this advanced safety feature, it doesn’t mean you can’t install one now. Backup cameras can be easily retrofitted to your older Ford models, as well as integrated into modern dashboard displays. Start browsing Ford OE fit backup cameras to upgrade your Bronco now, or continue reading to find out more about the generations of the Bronco.
What was the Ford Bronco?
A SUV/Truck hybrid that is often prized and restored by collectors, the Bronco saw production for 30 years (and will be produced again soon). Over that time, it had many forms: as a roadster, a proto-SUV, a station wagon, and as a pickup truck. It was the model that eventually grew into other Ford SUVs. Its wheelbase expanded from 93 inches to 104 inches over its lifespan, and the vehicle itself got bigger. Most Broncos you see these days are one that have had extensive work to extend their lifespans.
First Generation Ford Bronco (1966-1977)
The base roadster hit the market in 1966 at a list price of $2,400 which now sits at around $19k adjusted for inflation. The Bronco Roadster was designed to be a more luxury sort of vehicle, with optional doors and roof with the option to become a convertible.
The half-cab ($2,480) pickup truck left the field in 1972, leaving the three-door wagon ($2,625, or $20,800 adjusted for inflation) as the sole model for the time.
In a 1975 interior revision, the Bronco Sport and Bronco Ranger adapted the two-spoke steering wheel from the F-Series, and these models carried over into the second generation.
Second Generation Ford Bronco (1978-1979)
In 1978, Ford entered the Bronco into the full-size SUV segment to compete with the Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Dodge Ramcharger, and Jeep Cherokee. Second generation Broncos sat at around $6,500, or $25,560, adjusted for inflation.
Third Generation Ford Bronco (1980-1986)
The Bronco really came into its own this year, coming equipped with an inline-6 as well as a trio of V-8s. The Eddie Bauer trim package was released in 1985, offering two-tone exteriors and colorful interiors. The list price for these started at $8,400, or $26,100 in today’s dollars.
Ford Bronco II (1983-1990)
A spin-off of the Bronco, the Bronco II was a Compact SUV derived from the Ford Ranger compact pickup truck, produced as a three-door wagon, competing against the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and the Jeep Cherokee.
The 1984 and 1985 models were equipped with the German-built carbureted 2.8 L Cologne V6 with 115 hp (86 kW) at 4600 rpm, which was also used in the 1984 and 1985 Ford Ranger, and originally exclusively available with four-wheel drive.
The 1986 model year introduced the 140 hp (104 kW) fuel injected 2.9 L Cologne V6 engine. Mitsubishi 4-cylinder 2.3 L turbo diesel was optional during the 1986 model year, but it delivered poor performance and had low sales.
Additionally, eight months before production began, Ford's Office of General Counsel collected 113 documents concerning the new vehicle's handling problems. 53 of these related documents and reports about the stability of the Bronco II "disappeared" in an "unusual document handling procedures, “foreshadowing the lawsuits against Ford starting in the late-80s. It’s estimated that 260 people died in Bronco II rollover crashes, a rate that is several times more than in any similar vehicle, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Ford ended production of the Bronco II in 1990, and by 1995, Ford had paid $113 million to settle 334 injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
Fourth Generation Ford Bronco (1987-1991)
The fourth generation started under $14,000, which is the equivalent of $31,600 today. One ‘91 Bronco in particular has a special story attached with it. A sort of nostalgic icon, one of these with just 29 miles on it sold recently for $90k! Not bad for a Clinton-era vehicle.
Fifth Generation Ford Bronco (1992-1996)
Listed at just under $19,000, which is about $34,700 today, the ‘92 Bronco started implementing new safety systems such as front crumple zones and three-point seatbelts for the rear seats, and a driver-side airbag. Additionally, during this time there was the production of the Centurion Classic (1987–1996) a four-door version of the fourth- and fifth-generation Bronco. This leads us to 2021, with the Bronco coming back after a 24-year hiatus.
The Sixth Generation of Ford Bronco (2021)
The 2021 Bronco is going to be something else. Unlike the previous generations, it will not only come with a backup camera, it comes with a 360-degree camera with spotter view for easy navigation when rock crawling. Even more luxurious, and geared for off-road adventures, the base model MSRP starts at $28,500, with models ranging up to $57,410 MSRP for the First Edition.
The standard engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-four that makes 270 hp (274 PS; 201 kW) and 310 lb⋅ft (420 N⋅m; 43 kg⋅m) of torque.
A 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 is optional; this engine makes 310 hp (314 PS; 231 kW) and 400 lb⋅ft (542 N⋅m; 55 kg⋅m) of torque.
The 2.7-liter V6 will only be available with a 10-speed automatic transmission while the 2.3-liter will be mated with either the 10-speed automatic or a standard 7-speed Getrag manual.
Did we get you excited for the new Ford Bronco? Might be time to consider trading up. Given the value that a backup camera adds to a vehicle, now is the time to add one to your car or truck. At Camera Source, we make some of the most reliable and highest-quality backup cameras around. Get in touch with us to discover what we can do for you.
