Ford Bronco History
Ford's iconic off-roader — a classic 1966–1996 4x4, revived for 2021 after a 25-year hiatus.
Photo: “1966 Ford Bronco (6098504018).jpg” by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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37 detailed year guides available. Select a year or open the model history.
Browse this model's history and yearsModel-year archive
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Browse the Ford Bronco year by year, or narrow the archive by generation, body style, engine, and highlights. Coverage varies by year and configuration.
- Model years
- 37
- Generations
- 3
- Archive span
- 1966–2026
Photo: “1966 Ford Bronco (6098504018).jpg” by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “1996 Ford Bronco XLT in Oxford White, front left.jpg” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second–fifth generations · Full-size F-Series-based
1978–1996
A full-size SUV closely derived from the F-Series pickup; the white 1993 Bronco of the O.J. Simpson freeway chase is its most famous example. (Summarized as one block here; the full-size sub-generations run 1978–79, 1980–86, 1987–91, and 1992–96.)
Photo: “2021 Ford Bronco Big Bend, Front Left, 07-11-2021.jpg” by SsmIntrigue / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The original Bronco (1966–1977) was a compact, purpose-built 4x4 that helped define the rugged-SUV idea; it grew into a full-size, F-Series-based SUV for 1978 through 1996.
After a 25-year hiatus the Bronco returned for 2021 as a retro-styled, off-road-focused mid-size SUV in two- and four-door forms, reviving one of Ford's most beloved nameplates.
Generations
First generation · Classic compact 4x4
The original compact, purpose-built off-roader that helped define the rugged-SUV idea — now a prized collectible.
Second–fifth generations · Full-size F-Series-based
A full-size SUV closely derived from the F-Series pickup; the white 1993 Bronco of the O.J. Simpson freeway chase is its most famous example. (Summarized as one block here; the full-size sub-generations run 1978–79, 1980–86, 1987–91, and 1992–96.)
Sixth generation · Modern revival
A retro-styled, off-road-focused mid-size body-on-frame SUV in two- and four-door forms, with removable doors and roof panels.
Famous Bronco variants
The nameplates that define the Bronco — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.
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