Ford Bronco History

The Ford Bronco lineup has been a fan favorite for many years. Known for its rugged look and the perfect SUV for outdoor adventures, the Bronco can take you anywhere you want to go in West Union. Before this Ford SUV evolved into the latest models, including the Ford Bronco Sport, that many drivers adore, it started its roots in the 1960s. Curious about its origins as you are doing research on your next Postville ride? Let’s rewind to the classic Ford Bronco as well as other early Ford Broncos to see how the legend all started with Birdnow Dealerships!

Classic Ford Bronco: First Generation From 1965 to 1977

This Ford legend all began with the classic Ford Bronco in the last century. See some highlights of the history:

• The original classic Ford Bronco was designed to be passenger-friendly for off-road driving using a one-of-a-kind chassis.

• The original Ford Bronco used a 105-hp inline-6 engine, which was derived from the engine in the Ford Falcon.
• The classic Ford Bronco didn’t stand out as much as the current models. Off-road drivers just wanted a vehicle that can handle the roughness of the outdoors and the Bronco did exactly that! 
• Currently, the Bronco is considered to be a part of the compact SUV class. In the beginning, all models were sold with standard four-wheel drive.

Other Early Ford Bronco

The classic Ford Bronco had other iterations that are considered to be the other early Ford Broncos. Take a sneak peek at each of them below. 

Second Generation (1978 to 1980)

The Bronco was a full-size SUV in 1978, maintaining many styling notes from the first generation while changing some details, such as retiring the original Bronco chassis and extending the wheelbase to 12 inches! 

Third Generation (1980 to 1986)

Smaller and lighter than the second generation, the third-generation Bronco was based on the chassis derived from the Ford F-Series. 

Ford Bronco II (1983 to 1990)

Shortly after the release of the third-generation Ford Bronco, Ford returned with the Bronco II. Instead of a full-size SUV, the Bronco II is a compact SUV and was more similar to the original Bronco than its previous generation. 

Fourth Generation (1987 to 1991)

Using the same chassis as the third generation, the fourth-generation Ford Bronco had many interior and exterior upgrades. This generation also included the Silver Anniversary Edition, which offered leather seating in the first early Ford Bronco.

Fifth Generation (1992 to 1996)

Most Fayette drivers will probably recognize the fifth generation though there were few changes, especially on the interior and safety features. One of the most notable changes was discontinuing the removable hard top. 

Sixth Generation (2021 to Present)

Returning after two decades, the sixth-generation Ford Bronco is now a mid-size SUV with classic body-on-frame construction, independent suspension, and a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost® inline-four engine. This generation also bought back the detachable roof and introduced removable doors as well as the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport for drivers who want stronger performance off-road! 

Explore the Ford Bronco at Birdnow Dealerships

Stop by Oelwein to learn more about the Ford Bronco and to see what we have in our Ford inventory! You can even find a Ford Bronco Sport for sale. Be sure to check out our new vehicle specials and ask our friendly finance center for help if you need some advice!