Ford Bronco
source:flickr
The original competitor to the Chevy K5, the Ford Bronco was introduced in 1966 to critical acclaim, and it remains one of the most sought after classic, short body trucks ever made. Spanning five generations, the Bronco managed to maintain its reputation for being tough as Hell thanks to Ford’s commitment to quality and mashing a robust powertrain into such a small chassis. At just 92”, the Bronco was shorter than most modern sedans, yet it tipped the scales at about 4,500 pounds, dry. Although the Bronco was remanufactured in 1978 with a longer wheelbase, it still maintained one of the shortest bodies available in the American truck market.
source: flickr
The Bronco used the same indestructible axles and brakes that kept the Ford F-100 working on farms for decades prior, while coil springs and radius arm connections provided the truck with a 34-foot turning radius, long wheel travel for off-road excursions, and an anti-dive setup that was perfect for plowing and packing on weight. The original drivetrain boasted a rugged Dana transfer case and lock hubs. The original Bronco motor wasn’t the tough Ford 5-liter that we all know and love today – instead, the first trucks rolled off the production floor with a simple straight-6, measuring just 170 cubic inches.
Although not a big powerplant, the straight-6 used solid valve lifters, a heavy-duty fuel pump, an oil-bath air cleaner and a float bowl-equipped carburetor to provide some pretty impressive reliability. Ford quickly revised the lineup and offered a 289 and a 302 motor that is a favorite in Ford’s newer Mustangs and F-150s today.
Underneath the original Bronco was an overbuilt box ladder frame that could support a truck twice its size, while the exterior was designed to be minimal, simplistic and no-frills. All glass and panels were flat, all corners were turned at 90 degrees, and few features were included that could break or cause issues. The result was a bare-bones truck produced for over 40 years that could take a beating on- and off-road and still roll for hundreds of thousands miles, making it an easy contender on our list of Toughest Trucks.
