The 1966-1977 Ford Bronco 4x4 may share the drop-top configuration of typical small sporty roadsters but it would seem the similarities end there. The tall and top-heavy Bronco convertible has a short wheelbase for its length and heft and would be anything but entertaining on the type of twisty roads where one pictures an MG, Triumph or Miata cruising along.
The term ‘roadster’ is usually reserved for low-slung sports cars with a convertible top. As a matter of fact, I had never heard the term applied to anything BUT that type of car until today. I was reading up on the first-generation Ford Bronco after seeing one in New York City recently. The Bronco I saw was a 2-door model with a rear hatch, the most popular of the Bronco body styles, but apparently two other models existed: a pickup and a ‘roadster’. The 1966-1977 Ford Bronco 4x4 may share the drop-top configuration of typical small sporty roadsters but it would seem the similarities end there. The tall and top-heavy Bronco convertible has a short wheelbase for its length and heft and would be anything but entertaining on the type of twisty roads where one pictures an MG, Triumph or Miata cruising along. The Bronco was Ford’s first ‘compact’ utility vehicle (this is another term that made me chuckle when I read it; if THIS vehicle was compact for its era, I’d love to see how large a fullsize was!) and was built on a unique platform with a 4x4 drivetrain. Large 6- and 8-cylinder engines moved the Bronco well enough for its intended purpose as a vehicle for hauling gear, plowing or going off-road, but there really wasn’t any sporting pretension in your average first-generation Ford Bronco. This roadster version I came across in Vancouver, British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada caught my attention from far away. Its bright red color really made it stand out and the tall, blocky design contrasted with all of the modern vehicles passing by. The great chrome detailing was nothing like the previous rather dull Bronco I had seen in NYC, so Ford clearly saw a different mission for the topless version of their 4x4. I always assume that the term ‘roadster’ came from the idea of a car mastering the road and making it entertaining to drive with the wind in one’s hair. In that respect, perhaps this red Bronco IS a roadster. The call of the open road isn’t just for road-hugging sports cars. A vehicle like this, when loaded with friends and gear for a weekend of camping or trip to the beach, would certainly provide a while lot of fun. And the 4x4 configuration means you can take this vehicle off-road to places that a typical roadster couldn’t even dream of going. Maybe we can agree to a new designation for the convertible version of a 4x4 vehicle: an off-roadster? It seems to me that this term covers the dual-nature of the topless Bronco version: you get sun and breeze on the open highway in an albeit clunky and cumbersome truck but can also enjoy heading to remote and private areas well off the beaten path. Unless someone has a better term, I think I’m going to stick with off-roadster for this lovely red classic Bronco!
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AuthorWelcome! My name is Paul, and I am an old-fashioned, low-pressure, low-buck car fan with lots of automotive stories to tell! Archives
February 2020
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