Ford Bronco I gallery (1966–1977)
The first generation of the compact Ford Bronco SUV was produced from 1966 to 1977, designed as a direct competitor to the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout.
The first-generation Ford Bronco was introduced in August 1965 for the 1966 model year, developed under the direction of Donald Frey and Lee Iacocca. Built on a dedicated body-on-frame chassis with solid Dana live axles front and rear, coil-sprung front suspension, and leaf-sprung rear suspension, the vehicle featured full-time rugged capability with part-time four-wheel drive and a short 92-inch wheelbase. Ford offered the original Bronco in three distinct body styles: a three-door wagon (SUV) with a removable hardtop, a two-door pickup with a half-cab, and an open-body roadster (cabriolet) without doors or a roof. Low sales led to the cancellation of the roadster in 1968, while the half-cab pickup remained in production until 1972.
Initially powered by a 2.8-liter inline-six gasoline engine producing 105 horsepower, the powertrain lineup expanded to include a 3.3-liter inline-six as well as 4.7-liter (289 cu in) and 4.9-liter (302 cu in) V8 engines generating up to 205 horsepower. Power was initially transmitted exclusively via a column-shifted 3-speed manual transmission, with a 3-speed C4 automatic option and power steering introduced for the 1973 model year. Over its 12-year lifecycle, the Bronco received key upgrades including front disc brakes in 1976, heavier-duty Dana 44 front axles, and special packages such as the Sport trim and the factory-backed Stroppe Baja Bronco. Production ended in 1977 with total sales exceeding 225,000 units.
