Have you ever experienced this? You catch the tiniest detail of a vehicle out of the corner of your eye, and instantly you know just what kind of car or truck it is. That’s what happened to me as I cruised through Bloomington, Indiana, one day. My peripheral vision caught four letters barely visible through a row of bushes: FORD. I immediately started looking for a way to get around to the other side of those bushes, because I knew those letters were attached to a first-generation Ford Bronco.
I was amply rewarded for finding my way around to that Bronco, as it appeared to be in all-original condition, save that aftermarket soft top. But dig those unmolested rear wheel arches! And that light patina on the hood! I was double jazzed to see that fuel-filler door, because it told me that this Bronco was from 1977. Previous Broncos had an exposed gas cap. The first-gen Bronco didn’t change much from year to year, so to figure out when one was made you really have to know your details.
Things look pretty original inside, too. I was surprised to find an automatic transmission here.
This was the original Bronco’s swan song; in 1978, the Bronco would ride on a shortened F-150 chassis. That had been the direction SUVs had been going since 1969, thanks to Chevy’s brilliant K/5 Blazer, and Ford would finally catch up.
Read the complete first-gen Bronco CC here and the second-gen Bronco CC here. And check out a heavily modded ’72 Bronco here.
I’ve always liked the first generation Ford Bronco. It looked more attractive than the 1978-80 Bronco. Yes, the 78 Bronco was bigger, but it didn’t look very attractive next to the 77 Bronco.
I always thought that Ford coulda/shoulda skipped the fullsize Bronco entirely. Just use a combination of early Fox and MkI Fiesta parts and a ’79-91 van style grille to update the trim for 1978, and replace with the Bronco II for ’84.
I dunno. My grandparents bought a ’78. I got to drive it when I got my license. I liked it. Its short wheelbase meant you really had to steer it to keep it on the road — that was the only thing about it I found to be at all a problem.
I agree. And when you consider the energy crisis experienced during the 1970s, Ford should’ve kept the compact Bronco, offering the full-sized Bronco for those who need a bigger vehicle.
Not sure I would use the term “catch up”. Like the original much better than the fat one. Knew several sailors who bought them when they were new. YMMV
I love these things. They look like American Land Rovers.
Only with a single body style, which is not insignificant.
They didn’t bring these to Australia or the next model (I think). I saw one of the first-gen full size Broncos on the weekend, but it was attending a car show so it may have been a recent import.
There were 4 “body styles” Roadster(no top), Convertible, Pickup and Wagon.
The original plan was to intro the F-Series Bronco in 1974, but the OPEC embargo monkey wrenched that. It was delayed by 4 years.
Mr. Kimball on “Green Acres” drove one of these. Nice find, stock examples are rare these days. I do wonder if the 78-80 really got much more fuel mileage. They both had inline 6 cyl and V8 engines. These are becoming collector trucks.
I was amazed when I first learned that these were made all the way through 1977 with virtually no changes.
I just leaned this. I am amazed.
The Ford that time forgot, at least for a decade. They would eventually perfect the technique on the E series.
That S-10/S-15?Sonoma next store is interesting as well. Those have pretty much disappeared from the rust belt.
In the side picture of the Bronco, way in the background, next to a red Ranger is what appears to be a J-body Skyhawk station wagon. That would be an amazing find too!