The off-road Ford first produced the off-road stallion in 1966. It was available in Wagon, Roadster, and half-cab truck body styles. The last two were discontinued after a few years because they weren’t very popular. Less than 10% of the first-generation Broncos were half-cab trucks, which are very popular with fans right now. Many early Broncos have V-8 engines, enormous fender flares, and other modern features. After repair, this farm vehicle sports a 170-cubic-inch inline-six engine and three-speed manual gearbox. This is funny because the first time someone called a Ford Bronco a “sports utility,” they were talking about this small truck. The first Bronco came in three body styles: Roadster, pickup, and Wagon. It is now generally thought to be Dearborn’s most famous SUV. In 1966, there wasn’t a standard word for SUVs, so Ford’s marketing called the truck version “Sports Utility.” Broncos weren’t really known as SUVs until a long time after they were first made. They were called the Bronco Pickup in 1967. Today, Bronco fans call the pickup the “Half-Cab,” but most people have never heard of it, just like with the Roadster. Only the Wagon was made after both models didn’t sell well and were taken off the market. The 1971 Ford Bronco Pickup for sale on Bring a Trailer, which is owned by Hearst Autos and Invoice Pricing, is interesting for two reasons. First, it gives a rare look into the Bronco’s past. It’s even more special because it’s a used base model that was fixed up. Only 1,502 were made that year. A Ford executive named Don Frey, who also helped build the Mustang, came up with the idea for a “Four-wheel-drive sports car” after seeing how popular the 1961 International Harvester Scout was. In the 1950s, off-roading was limited to simple Jeeps and homemade four-wheel-drive upgrades. The Scout, on the other hand, gave people a more refined choice with features similar to those in a car, which they appreciated. Frey talked to a lot of Jeep and Scout customers to figure out how Ford could make the idea better. The result was the Bronco. After Frey and Lee Iacocca presented their results, they were given 18 months to build the car and a budget of $10 million, which is $35 million less than the Mustang’s. Frey’s in-depth study helped Paul Axelrad’s engineers figure out the basic features of the vehicle. There would be less overhang and a wheelbase of 92 inches. It would have a better break-over position than the Jeep CJ-5 or Scout. It would also be 152 inches long, Because Axelrad had little money, the Bronco was mostly made from off-the-shelf parts, like the Falcon’s 100-hp, 170-cubic-inch Thriftpower six. For extra cost, Ford offered V-8 engines with 289 and, later, 302 cubic inches in size. From 1968 to 1973, every Bronco came with a three-on-the-tree guidebook. It was planned for the Bronco to be strong, light, and have a very small turning radius. McKinley Thompson Jr., Ford’s first African American designer, wrote the study that led to its expertly understated look, which is meant to show that it is simple and useful. Inside the design are both cutting-edge off-road features and comfy on-road comforts. For the first time, a car came with four-wheel drive as standard. It had an open-knuckle Dana 30 front axle. Even though it had bad brakes, its long-travel springs and coil-sprung “mono-beam” front suspension made it a smooth ride. Even though Frey’s study helped make the design look good, it still needed to predict how Bronco customers would act fully. Ford, like International, thought that a lot of people would want pickup trucks. Their first ads showed jobs like ranching and working on building sites. In fact, most people wanted something other than the Bronco Pickup because it was too small and specialized. Bronco Wagons are equipped with a rear seat and a top that can be removed in its entirety. Half-Cabs, on the other hand, have a sloping, bolted-in metal wall behind the front bench seat, a smaller removable top, and a tiny bed that is 46.8 inches long at the top edge. Even though it sold 6,930 units in 1966, the Half-Cab became less and less popular over time. Ford sold ten cars for every truck it made between 1967 and 1972. That year, Ford started importing the Courier truck, which was based on the Mazda, which meant the end of the Half-Cab. Only a few 20,000 were made in total. As a result, early Broncos have become more famous, giving rise to a small business of high-end custom builds and resto-mods. Most of the rebuilt cars have big fender flares, transmissions that work better on highways, V-8 engines, and other modern upgrades. This one goes the opposite way. Using frame-off methods, it was brought back to its former state between 2015 and 2019. Aftermarket audio, a cabin heater, and a small suspension update are the only things that have been added. The dashboard is made of painted metal, and there is a vinyl bench seat inside. There aren’t many things that make this 1971 Bronco stand out. The first owner spent $300 on body-side trims and a radio. This is the closest thing you can find to an original, stock Bronco pickup, and it may be slow, but it would be a lot of fun to drive slowly down the road. The auction ends on May 28 if you want to find the right thing to compare restaurant fever to.
