​​Fun Facts About the Ford Bronco that Enthusiasts Should Know​

The Ford Bronco has a very rich history as both a popular Jeep competitor and an accomplished racer. These days we know it more as an icon that’s been reborn with fun easter eggs, great styling, and an available manual transmission. While it’s easy to know everything about the current sixth-generation Bronco, do you know the odd history of the vehicle? Let’s find out. 

Born from the Same Man 

Believe it or not, the original Ford Bronco that debuted in 1965 for the 1966 model year was an idea born from Don Frey, who was one of the main guys that created and planned the Mustang. Frey was an Army veteran who served in World War II, working on engines for British Hurricane and Spitfire airplanes. After the war, he returned to college to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgy at Michigan University’s College of Engineering and later a master’s in systems engineering. He then earned a Ph.D. in metallurgy engineering while working at Ford. In 1964 Frey became the Vice President and Chief Engineer of Ford Motor Company, which allowed him to have even more creative control of new vehicles for the company. While Don had the idea for the Bronco well before the 1965 introduction, he was a tad busy making sure the Ford Mustang wasn’t a flop. Once that proved successful, he could focus on new stuff.  

An Answer to Jeep’s International Harvester  

Before WWII, people weren’t really used to off-road vehicles or trucks. However, once people saw how useful the Jeep was during wartime, they wanted a piece of the action. During the war, even though the Jeep was a product from Willys, Ford actually had a license to build its own version (called the Ford GPW), producing more than 250,000 of the 4x4s. Once the war ended Ford went on to produce many successful cars, but Don Frey saw an opportunity, especially after he bought some International Harvester Scouts and Jeep CJs for Ford engineers to take apart and understand. This is when he felt confident the automaker could make the best 4×4 off-roader the world had yet to see. 

The 1966 G.O.A.T.  

While it would seem easy to believe that because Ford already had a horse-themed car called the Mustang it was a no-brainer to name the next project after a Bronco horse, that’s not really what happened. The company didn’t know what to call this ultimate off-roader at first, but an internal memo nicknamed the project the “1966 G.O.A.T.” (Goes Over All Terrain). The Bronco was a completely unique vehicle, sharing no major parts with any other Ford vehicle. It used either a straight-six engine or a V8. The term Goes Over All Terrain, or G.O.A.T., is actually part of the new vehicle’s Terrain Management System.  

An Idea not Totally Understood 

No one knew whether or not the first-ever Bronco was going to be a true success. First off, Ford was never a builder of off-road vehicles for non-military use, so no one knew what would happen. Ford was riding higher than an eagle could fly thanks to the Mustang’s success, but the Bronco’s success was not guaranteed. It could have been a bust and taken down quite a few great engineers and project managers with it. But that didn’t happen, as the Bronco managed to move 23,776 in its first year on the market in 1966. While that may not seem like a lot, the Bronco took 40% of all sport utility sales in its first year. Where the Mustang created its own car category, the Bronco was heading on to the streets with multiple competitors from Jeep, International, Toyota with the Land Cruiser, and Nissan with the Patrol (that sold around 40,000 vehicles in 1965). The Bronco had three main models available: U13 Roadster, U14 Sports Utility, and the U15 Wagon. The Wagon was the best-selling with 12,756 models sold, followed by the Sport Utility at 6,930 sold, and finally the Roadster with 4,090 units moved. Buyers could even opt for a camper to be fitted to certain models.  

One of the Greatest Off-Road Racers Ever 

Beginning in 1967 with its win at the Riverside Four-Wheel Drive Grand Prix, the Bronco was an off-road racing icon thanks to Bill Stroppe, who took the Bronco and made it the most capable off-road machine around. With drivers like himself and the legendary Parnelli Jones (a fantastic racer of anything with wheels), the Ford Bronco became a household name among 4×4 enthusiasts after winning events like the Baja 1000 in 1969. Those who wanted their own hardcore racer could order a Bronco specifically from Bill Stroppe that Ford claimed could go straight from the factory to the Baja. The Bronco was such an accomplished racer that Ford made a commemorative 2025 Bill Stroppe Edition Bronco.  

Six Gens of the Bronco 

Believe it or not, the current-generation Bronco that debuted in 2020 as a 2021 is the sixth generation of the Bronco, with the first generation running from 1966 to 1977, the second generation from 1978 to 1979, the completely new third generation from 1980 through 1986, and finally the fourth- and fifth-gen models sold from 1987 to 1991 and 1992 until the final production car left the factory in 1996.  

A Fantasy Concept that Almost Became a Reality 

In 2004 Ford showed off a special concept Bronco that had people feeling sad and nostalgic for what once was. It was a retro-styled version of the original 1966 model and was built on a Ford Escape chassis. While it ran and drove, it only had a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine that produced 128 horsepower. But, like The Fast and the Furious boys, it did have nitrous to increase power when you needed it. The Bronco Concept almost became a reality, but Ford was focused on competing against the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban at the time. So, the Bronco was temporarily shelved.  

Built In the Same Place as the Original Bronco  

What makes the 2025 Ford Bronco so special is the fact that it is still built in the original Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. This state-of-the-art production facility opened its doors in 1957 and currently employs over 4,000 people in its 5,000,000 square-foot building that takes up nearly 400 acres. They say they don’t make ‘em like they used to… but in the case of the Bronco, they actually do—just with more technology and better techniques.  

Time to Test Drive your own G.O.A.T. 

There has never been a vehicle quite like the Bronco. It is both a style icon as well as a picture-perfect off-roader that can do almost any task you ask of it. And when you need a vehicle to handle a task, there’s no better way to learn what vehicle you need than by working with an expert at Dick Smith Ford of Columbia.  

Why Choose Dick Smith Ford of Columbia  

At Dick Smith Ford of Columbia, we value our customers and offer some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.