The Ford Bronco Turns 40

It is hard to imagine that the bronco has been around since the 70s.

- When Ford introduced the Bronco back in 1966, no one could have imagined it would have the tremendous effect on the off-roading scene that it did. With its chunky good looks, tough construction and outstanding off-road handling, it inspired owners to form clubs that encouraged the preservation and enjoyment of this highly capable sport utility.
Today, many clubs are dedicated to Bronco ownership, and they will celebrate the vehicles 40th anniversary this year. What is it about this sport utility that creates such devotion, despite the fact that the last one came off the assembly line 10 years ago? We talked to some of the most ardent Bronco owners, including rocker Ted Nugent, to learn more about the enthusiasm they share for Ford’s first sport utility.
Ted Nugent is without question the most famous Bronco owner. Throughout his career, he has been a vocal supporter, even singing its praises on his three successful TV shows.
"On all of my shows, whether "Surviving Nugent" "Wanted: Ted or Alive" or "Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild," I always make sure to make my entrance and exit in a Bronco," Nugent says.
Nugents passion for all things Bronco goes back nearly 35 years, when he bought his first one in 1971.
"It was light green with a white top, and I loaded her up with all of the off-road goodies to satisfy my no-road wanderlust," Nugent says. "I had all the heavy-duty options available at the time, even a Warn winch, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was rockin, baby!"
Bitten by the bug, Nugent began buying and modifying a procession of increasingly gonzo Broncos, all in the pursuit of the ultimate off-roading machine.
"I was having the time of my life, penetrating the heretofore inaccessible outback to soothe the savage exploratory beast within," Nugent says.
To Nugent, that is what the Bronco is all about — a way to get back to nature. As a tremendous advocate of the outdoors, a committed hunter and a preserver of natural resources, Nugent spends as much time communing with nature as he can, when he’s not rocking around the world.
"Even with my wild image, though, I have always supported the concept of treading lightly," Nugent says. "When I go off-road with my friends, we are no more disruptive on the trail than a herd of elk. The Bronco represents a powerful force in the huntsman’s life, a way for us to reconnect with the spirit of the wild."

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