Car Model History

Second–fifth generations · Full-size F-Series-based · 1978–1996

1980Ford Bronco

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.)

Second–fifth generations · Full-size F-Series-based

1980 Ford Bronco, redesigned full-size SUV — front three-quarter view

Photo: “1980 Ford Bronco” by aldenjewell / Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Factory-brochure cover cropped to isolate the vehicle photograph at 16:9.

The 1980 model year

Overview

Ford redesigned and downsized the full-size Bronco for 1980 while retaining Custom and Ranger XLT models. The new engine range comprised a standard 4.9-liter inline-six plus optional 5.0- and 5.8-liter V8s, with manual, manual-overdrive, and SelectShift automatic choices.

Specifications

Engines
  • 4.9L inline-six
  • 5.0L V8
  • 5.8L V8
Transmissions
Four-speed manual, Four-speed manual overdrive, SelectShift automatic
Body styles
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Year over year

What changed

  • A smaller full-size body and Twin-Traction-Beam independent front suspension debuted.
  • The 300-cubic-inch six became standard, joined by optional 302 and 351 V8s.
  • Custom and Ranger XLT remained the model hierarchy; Free Wheeling was an option package.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • Ford promoted automatic locking front hubs as a 1980 option.
  • The removable fiberglass rear roof was offered in six colors.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Identify the engine and transmission before ordering service parts because the 1980 brochure lists three of each.
  • Confirm front-axle, hub, and transfer-case equipment before chassis service.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1980 Bronco on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1980 Ford Bronco. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
5
Scheduled topics
5
Applicability stated
5
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oilView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1980 · United States · Ford assigns every US 1980 Bronco unleaded-fuel engine to Maintenance Schedule B.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 12 months · Whichever comes first; severe service is 3,000 miles or 3 months.

    Source: Ford — 1980 Truck Shop Manual, pre-delivery, maintenance, lubrication and emissions volume (preserved scan) · Parts 50-02 and 50-29, pages 50-02-25 and 50-29-4 — all-US-Bronco applicability and Schedule B oil notes · checked

  • Engine oil filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    Motorcraft FL-1; Ford C1AZ-6731A

    Applies to: 1980 · United States · Ford assigns every US 1980 Bronco unleaded-fuel engine to Maintenance Schedule B.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · Replace at the first oil change and alternate oil changes; replace every oil change if annual mileage is below 15,000.

    Source: Ford — 1980 Truck Shop Manual, pre-delivery, maintenance, lubrication and emissions volume (preserved scan) · Part 50-29, page 50-29-4 — Schedule B oil-filter row and note 3 · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Spark plugs and carburetor air-cleaner elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs and carburetor air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1980 · United States · Ford assigns every US 1980 Bronco unleaded-fuel engine to Maintenance Schedule B.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km · Schedule B replacement interval; service the air cleaner sooner in severe dust.

    Source: Ford — 1980 Truck Shop Manual, pre-delivery, maintenance, lubrication and emissions volume (preserved scan) · Part 50-29, page 50-29-4 — spark-plug and air-cleaner rows · checked

  • Engine coolantView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1980 · United States · Ford assigns every US 1980 Bronco unleaded-fuel engine to Maintenance Schedule B.

    Published interval: 52,500 mi / 84,000 km / 36 months · Whichever comes first; inspect coolant condition/protection and hoses annually.

    Source: Ford — 1980 Truck Shop Manual, pre-delivery, maintenance, lubrication and emissions volume (preserved scan) · Part 50-29, page 50-29-4 — coolant row and notes 5–6 · checked

  • Chassis and driveline lubricationView intervals, applicability and sources

    Chassis and driveline lubrication

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1980 · United States · Ford assigns every US 1980 Bronco unleaded-fuel engine to Maintenance Schedule B.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 12 months · Schedule B; off-highway and mud/water operation require earlier service.

    Source: Ford — 1980 Truck Shop Manual, pre-delivery, maintenance, lubrication and emissions volume (preserved scan) · Part 50-02, page 50-02-27 — Schedule B slip-yoke, spindle-pin, steering-linkage and clutch-linkage rows · checked

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Ford — 1980 Bronco factory brochure
  2. Ford Motor Company — The Ford Bronco

Other Second–fifth generations years

All Second–fifth generations · Full-size F-Series-based years →

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 1980 Bronco

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

18factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory body/series roster and brochure-supported engine/transmission combinations. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from Ford — 1980 Bronco factory brochure.

18versions shown
Browse 18 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Custom, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
Four-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic

Body
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Gearbox
SelectShift automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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