Ford Bronco

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ford Bronco
Production period: 1966–1996,
from 2021
Class : SUV
Body versions : Station wagon
Successor: Ford Expedition
Ford Bronco XL (1992-1996)

The Ford Bronco is an off-road vehicle that was initially manufactured by Ford from 1966 to 1996 in five model generations, predominantly as a three-door station wagon , and in later years it was included in the sports utility vehicle ( SUV ) class. In 2020 Ford presented a new edition of the series.

It was introduced to compete primarily with the established Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout models in the USA . Since 1978 it has been based on the Ford F-series trucks and now competed against the larger Chevrolet Blazers , Jeep Cherokee and Dodge Ramcharger . The Bronco models can be divided into the more compact early Bronco (1966–1977), the four generations of large Broncos (1978–1996) and the less large Bronco II . Every Bronco built by Ford in these 30 years had a rigid rear axle and - except in the Bronco II, where four-wheel drive was the mere option - four-wheel drive and an off-road reduction.

The large Broncos and their successor Expedition were manufactured at the Ford truck plant in Wayne, Michigan .

1966–1977 (formerly Bronco)

1st generation
Ford Bronco (1974-1977)

Ford Bronco (1974-1977)
Production period: 1966-1977
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Petrol engines : 2.8-5.0 liters
Length: 3848 mm
Width: 1740 mm
Height: 1819 mm
Wheelbase : 2337 mm
Empty weight :

The first Bronco was an off-road vehicle that was primarily intended to compete with the Jeep CJ and the International Harvester Scout. The small size with 2,337 mm wheelbase predestined it for off-road use and other special applications. It was less suitable as a towing vehicle. It was Ford's first compact SUV ; in this segment he was followed by the Bronco II (1984-1990) and the Escape (since 2001) after interruptions .

The first idea for such a vehicle came from Ford product manager Donald N. Frey , who also designed the Mustang . The vehicle was realized under Lee Iacocca .

The Bronco was designed under Paul G. Axelrad . Axles and brakes came from the F-100 with four-wheel drive, the front axle was differently guided by a Panhard rod and two thrust struts, which were suspended from the frame near the rear end of the gearbox. That is why coil springs could be used instead of leaf springs, which is why the Bronco had a small turning circle (10.4 m) and an anti-dive geometry that was particularly practical in snow. The rear suspension was conventional and consisted of a rigid axle with a cardan shaft (" Hotchkiss system") guided on longitudinal leaf springs . A Dana transfer case and freewheel hubs were part of the basic equipment; a reinforced wheel suspension was available at an additional cost.

Initially, the Bronco was powered by a Ford inline six-cylinder with overhead valves and 2.8 liters displacement, which was equipped with a larger oil pan, a more powerful fuel pump and a carburetor with a tilt-compensated float chamber.

The styling has been disorganized for practicality and economy. Therefore, none of the panes were bent, the bumpers consisted of simple U-irons and the vehicle frame was a simple ladder construction with rectangular tubes. The door leaves were identical with the exception of the assembly openings.

The Bronco was initially offered as a closed box van, a flatbed or an open wagon. The little popular open version soon disappeared from the model range. Instead, a sports package was offered that later became a separate model range.

The base price was only US $ 2,194. The long options list contained single seats in front, one rear seats, a tachometer and CB radio and practical accessories like a tow bar, a jerry can, a power take-off , a snowplow, a winch and an auger. Other suppliers offered residential structures, overdrive and accessories such as wheels or chassis and engine parts to increase performance.

The Bronco sold well in the first year. 23,776 copies were made. It stayed in second place behind the CJ-5 until the larger Chevrolet Blazer was introduced in 1969. The Blazer had more space, performance and equipment and a larger selection of optional equipment such as automatic transmission and power steering and was therefore more popular.

Ford countered this with an enlargement of the optional V8 engine from 4,736 cm³ / 200 bhp (147 kW) to 4,949 cm³ / 205 bhp (151 kW), but achieved the performance values ​​of the Blazer with 5,735 cm³ / 255 bhp (187.5 kW) not. From 1973 there were automatic transmissions and power steering for a surcharge, and sales rose to 26,300 units. At that time the blazer was selling twice as often and International Harvester brought out the Scout II , which was the same size as the blazer. From 1974 onwards, a bigger and more comfortable car like the Jeep Cherokee made more sense for the average American driver than the more rustic Bronco. The low sales of the Bronco (230,800 copies in twelve years) left no financial leeway for revisions. It remained basically unchanged until the presentation of the larger successor and its sales fell to 14,546 units in the last year of production in 1977.

Competitive successes

In 1965, racing car maker Bill Stroppe built a range of Broncos for Ford for long off-road competitions. In collaboration with the Holman-Moody racing team , which was often preferred by Ford , the Stroppe / Holman / Moody (SHM) Broncos dominated the Mint 400 , Baja 500 and Mexican 1000 (which was later renamed Baja 1000 ). In 1969, SHM again started six Broncos at the Baja 1000. In 1971, Ford dealers offered Broncos with a so-called "Baja Bronco" package, which was partly derived from Stroppe's design. It comprised very direct power steering, an automatic transmission, flared fenders that covered the Gates Commando tires, a stabilizer, reinforced bumpers, a padded steering wheel and a special red and white or blue and black paintwork. At a price of US $ 5,566 (compared to US $ 3,665 for a normal Bronco with a V8 engine), however, only 650 copies of this version were sold in the following four years.

In 1966, a Bronco dragster built by Doug Nash covered the quarter mile in 9.2 seconds at a top speed of 150 mph.

1978–1979 (Great Bronco)

2nd generation
Ford Bronco (1978-1979)

Ford Bronco (1978-1979)
Production period: 1978-1979
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 5.75–6.55 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :

The 1978 revision of the Bronco was based on the F-100 . Many components of the chassis, drive and body were taken over from him and the front end was visibly derived from this truck. It was available with round or rectangular sealed beam headlights. Ford had started development in 1972 under the name Short Horn ; however, its introduction was delayed by discussions of the oil crisis in the mid-1970s. Due to the increased size, the car has since competed with vehicles such as the Chevrolet Blazer / GMC Jimmy , the Dodge Ramcharger / Plymouth Trailduster , the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and the Toyota Land Cruiser . The base engine was the 351M (5,752 cm³), on request there was also a 400 (6,555 cm³). A "Ford 9" rear axle and a Dana 44 front axle in connection with the "indestructible" vehicle frame of the F-100 evoked fantastic press coverage. In 1979, a catalytic converter and other emission-reducing measures were introduced.

Today it is difficult to find a Bronco from 1978 or 1979, as these are based on the F-series delivery vans (1973–1979), which represent the transition generation from the small to the large Broncos. It is one of the most wanted large broncos because of the front rigid axle, which makes it particularly suitable for off-road use and as a towing vehicle.

1980-1986

3rd generation
Ford Bronco (1980-1982)

Ford Bronco (1980-1982)
Production period: 1980-1986
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 4.9-5.75 liters
Length: 4579 mm
Width: 2014 mm
Height: 1917 mm
Wheelbase : 2641 mm
Empty weight :

In 1980 the Bronco, like its base, the F series, was fundamentally revised and remained unchanged in terms of body, drive and chassis until 1986. This generation was shorter and had some cosmetic changes, as well as changes to the drive and chassis. On the chassis, the two trailing arms and the independent suspension stood out at the front. At the rear - as with all Bronco - the rigid axle remained.

Due to the smaller dimensions of the model and to save fuel, Ford offered an in-line six-cylinder with 4,916 cm³ displacement as the basic engine. Although this engine produced more torque than the 5.0 liter V8, the use of a single carburetor and a single exhaust manifold limited output. An electronic emission control reduced its performance again from 1984. Ford built the still existing 351M engines into the models before switching to the 351W in the middle of the 1982 model year. A high-performance version of the 351W was available on request from 1984 up to model year 1987. It made 210 bhp (157 kW) at 4,000 rpm, while the standard engine with single carburettor only delivered 156 bhp (116 kW) at this speed. The 5.0 liter engine was the first to be offered with manifold injection from model year 1986 .

In 1982 Ford reintroduced the “Ford plum” as a logo. It replaced the word FORD on the bonnet. In the mid-1980s, Ford offered an Eddie Bauer edition with brown paintwork and a brown interior. In 1986 the classic rectangular exterior mirrors were discontinued.

This generation of Bronco was sold briefly in the Federal Republic of Germany by Ford-Werke AG Cologne through interested dealers. In 1981 a model with the 4942 cm 3 V8 engine was offered for which a length of 4.51 m, a width of 1.99 m, an output of 104 kW (142 hp; 140 hp) at 3600 / min and a top speed of 145 km / h, the standard equipment with automatic transmission and power steering was highlighted and a towing hitch for a tensile load of up to 2.7 tons and a tank for 121 liters were available on request.

1987-1991

4th generation
Ford Bronco (1987-1991)

Ford Bronco (1987-1991)
Production period: 1987-1991
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 4.9-5.75 liters
Length: 4585 mm
Width: 2009 mm
Height: 1880-1892 mm
Wheelbase : 2659 mm
Empty weight :

In 1987 the body and drive of the large Bronco were redesigned as they were still based on the F series. A new, more aerodynamic style was evident on many Ford vehicles of this model year. From 1988 onwards, all Bronco models were sold with electronic fuel injection, which was first introduced in the 5 liter engine in 1986. From 1990 Ford offered the new, reinforced E4OD transmission. In 1991 there was a special 25th Silver Anniversary Edition with special company emblems, in red paintwork and with gray leather interior. All vehicles were built at the Ford truck plant in Wayne, Michigan on the same production lines as the F-150.

1992-1996

5th generation
Ford Bronco (1992-1996)

Ford Bronco (1992-1996)
Production period: 1992-1996
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 4.9-5.75 liters
Length: 4663 mm
Width: 2009 mm
Height: 1890-1892 mm
Wheelbase : 2659 mm
Empty weight :

In 1992 the Bronco, like the F series, was revised again, especially with a view to its safety. It received an improved crumple zone at the front, shoulder straps at the rear, a third brake light on the detachable body and, in 1994, airbags on the driver's side. Cosmetic changes included a sloping front end on the outside and a new dashboard on the inside. Electrically adjustable exterior mirrors were also offered for the first time. In 1996 the Bronco was the first car in the world to have indicators in the side mirrors.

Bronco Centurion

Since the 1980s, there was the Bronco in the USA with five doors similar to the Chevrolet Suburban . To do this, Centurion Vehicles in White Pigeon (Michigan) converted the Ford F-Series flatbed trucks with a double cab: They received the tailgate from the Bronco and a body made of GRP and had more space in addition to the third row of seats. The Centurion was also available on the basis of the F-350 with the 7.3-liter PowerStroke turbodiesel or the 7.5-liter V8 gasoline engine; that made it interesting for people who needed a comfortable, stronger towing vehicle.

The Bronco Centurion was a special model on customer request. For example, it could be ordered with a third row of seats, individual seats in the second row, a television with a video recorder and a built-in radar. These versions have become rare and too expensive, apart from some of the cars used in the north, which suffer from rust perforations in the tailgate due to their poor paintwork.

In 2000 Ford introduced the Excursion located above the Expedition , which corresponded to the dimensions of the Centurion-Bronco.

Ford Bronco II

The Ford Bronco II was a compact SUV that Ford offered from 1984 to 1990.

Interim end of production

Ford discontinued the Bronco in mid-1996. On Wednesday, June 12, 1996, the last Bronco escorted from the assembly line escorted by Jeff Trapp's 1970s Bronco. It was followed by the Ford Expedition model, which competed with the Chevrolet Tahoe .

Concept car 2004

At the North American International Auto Show 2004, a concept car named Bronco was introduced. The box-shaped roof line, the short wheelbase and the round headlights were reminiscent of the first Bronco. However, it had a 2.0 liter turbo diesel engine and a six-speed gearbox. In March 2007, Ford was still thinking about series production. Then it would have been classified below the Ford Escape ( Ford Maverick 2001 in Europe ) in the model range.

From 2021

6th generation

Image does not exist
Production period: from 2021
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 2.3–2.7 liters
(201–231 kW)
Length: 4440-4839 mm
Width: 1928-2014 mm
Height: 1783-1814 mm
Wheelbase : 2550-2949 mm
Empty weight :

At the North American International Auto Show 2017, Ford announced that it would include the series in the model range again in the future. The production version was finally presented as a three- and five-door model on July 13, 2020. Series production is scheduled to begin in spring 2021. It is unclear whether the series will be sold outside of North America.

In addition, on July 13, 2020, Ford also presented the Ford Bronco Sport compact SUV based on the Ford Escape .

Trivia

  • Larry the Cable Guy drives a Ford Bronco (1992 or 1993) in his film Witless Protection .
  • On June 17, 1994, when OJ Simpson was wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department for the murders of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, the latter escaped from his pursuers in a 1993 model, which was driven by owner Al Cowlings and in the passenger's seat Simpson sat.

Web links

Commons : Ford Bronco  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Production figures of the early Bronco ( Memento from March 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ Jeep Production Dates, Models, & Numbers 1945–1986
  3. ↑ The Baja Bronco Package
  4. ↑ History of the 2nd generation Bronco (English)
  5. ↑ Engine data of the Ford delivery van
  6. ↑ History of the Great Bronco (English) ( Memento of 3 February 2009 at the Internet Archive )
  7. ^ Sales prospectus of Ford-Werke AG Cologne "Ford US vehicles 1981", as of October 1980.
  8. ↑ Bronco Concept Explores New Power in Classic Style (English) ( Memento from March 23, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ Atlanta Auto Show Preview (English) ( Memento of 31 January 2008 at the Internet Archive )
  10. ↑ Roland Hildebrandt: Ford Bronco: Comeback with cult factor from 2020. In: de.motor1.com. January 11, 2017, accessed July 14, 2020 .
  11. ↑ Stefan Wagner: Ford Bronco (2021): All details, dates, prices and pictures. In: de.motor1.com. July 14, 2020, accessed July 14, 2020 .
  12. ↑ Brandon Turkus: 2021 Ford Bronco Sport: Details, Pricing, Specs, And Pictures. In: motor1.com. July 13, 2020, accessed on July 14, 2020 .