Mountain top with hills of uneven terrain and bronco logo

Ford Bronco: A Wild History

While the 2021 Bronco makes for one thrilling adventure partner, this isn’t its first rodeo. In 1966, this new breed of off-road vehicle stampeded onto the scene and into wild hearts everywhere, setting the mold for the modern SUV.

Back to Bronco Family

      Generation 2: Bronco Goes Bigger

      1978-1979

      Information on this page was sourced from “Ford Bronco: A History of Ford’s Legendary 4x4” by Todd Zuercher.
      1979 Ford Bronco in Light Sand with Combination Tu Tone option

      Bronco Grows Up

      Following its successful debut, Bronco sales reached record levels after the launch of the 2nd generation Bronco in 1978. The first two years of the larger and more luxurious Bronco were some of the most popular 30-year production run. Bronco shifted to a larger platform and body-style sharing components with the F-Series truck while maintaining key off-road capabilities including maneuverability, and approach, departure, and breakover angles.

      BRONCO HISTORY GALLERY

      1978 Ford Bronco in Candy apple Red
      1979 Ford Bronco Ranger X L T in Dark Brown Metallic
      1979 Ford Bronco in Wimbledon White with Combination Tu Tone Option
      1978 Ford Bronco Ranger X L T in Raven Black with free wheeling package
      1978 Ford Bronco with special hood and roof tu tone
      1978 Ford Bronco Ranger X L T in Castillo Red
      1978 Ford Bronco with free wheeling package
      1979 Ford Bronco in Light Sand with Combination Tu Tone option

      Rugged Adventurer

      Second Generation Bronco upped its toughness game with off-road-ready features including optional dual shocks for the front suspension, heavy-duty rear shocks and front and rear sway bars to improve ride and handling. The front and rear axles, along with other key components, were carried over from the F-Series, and horsepower was amplified with two standard V8 engines.
      • 1978 Ford Bronco Ranger X L T in Raven Black with free wheeling package

        Untamed Style

        Generation 2 offered new exterior styling terrain with a wide assortment of bold two-tone paint treatments. A Ford truck-inspired grille and fiberglass top added to its ruggedly handsome—and seriously capable—good looks.
      • 1979 ford bronco ranger x l t with tu tone option

        Engineered for Ease

        Several key updates made life on the road (and trail) more convenient than ever. An automatic transmission, along with a part-time and full-time 4x4 system, let Bronco adapt to different road conditions on the fly. Standard power tailgate glass could be operated from the driver’s seat or liftgate area, making loading and unloading gear a breeze. Bronco also offered a total of five radio options—which were three more than its leading competitor.
      • 1978 Ford Bronco in Candyapple Red with Free Wheeling Package

        1978 Four Wheeler of the Year

        The introduction of the ’78 Bronco was heralded in off-road vehicle publications and landed a variety of awards. Touted in ads as the “first 4-wheeler that puts it all together,” the vehicle boasted an Big cube 5.8L (351) V-8 standard engine, Choice of part-time 4 WD with optional automatic, Rear foot-well for seating comfort, Four-speed transmission, Front quad shock option, Free Wheeling package option, Off-road handling package option, Front stabilizer bar, and more.
      • 1978 Ford Bronco Ranger X L T in Castillo Red

        Luxury Bronco

        The latest “luxury Bronco” added chrome bumpers, window and body moldings plus plush cut-pile carpeting. It also featured exclusive vinyl upholstery and spare tire cover, additional insulation for a more comfortable cabin and sleek wood-tone accents on door panels.

        Bronco-worthy style, Inside and Out

        Interior amenities and standout package options leveled up life on the trail.
        1979 Ford Bronco optional high back captains chairs

        Interior Choices

        Front seats came in several configurations: low-back bucket seats, a bench seat, high-back buckets and, in 1979, captain’s chairs. In back, a flip/fold seat offered room for three and plenty of cargo area versatility, while a footwell upped the comfort factor. Other standouts included optional sliding rear windows and a padded “GT” bar.
        1979 ford ranger x l t shown with free wheeling package

        Free-Wheeling Package

        Available on the Custom or Ranger XLT Broncos was the Free Wheeling Package. This package featured tri-color striping available in orange/tan/cream or blue/white/green depending on which of the 18 base colors were selected. Black bumpers adorned the front and rear, and the low-mount side mirrors were also blacked out. Optional wheels included a 15x6-inch white-spoke wheel with raised-white-letter tires, 15x8-inch white-spoke steel wheels, or yellow-painted wheels.

        OLD SCHOOL ENTHUSIASTS

        Dig deep into some historical, all-purpose Bronco specifications.
        1979 Ford Bronco in Light Sand with Combination Tu Tone option