The Ford Bronco was a sport-utility vehicle produced from 1966 through 1996, with five distinct generations.
It was initially introduced as a competitor for the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout. A major redesign based on the Ford F-Series truck in 1978 brought a larger Bronco to compete with the Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Jeep Cherokee, and Dodge Ramcharger. Thus, Broncos can generally be divided into three categories: Early Broncos (1966-1977, full-size Broncos (1978-1979) and full size Broncos (1980-1996). However, no matter which year it was built, four wheel drive and low range were standard on every Bronco built through its thirty year run. The only two wheel drive Broncos were due to modification for street use as after market by their owners. This is especially interesting to note on the 1978 through 1996 Broncos when they were designed on the F-Series pickup truck frame, many of which were two wheel drive with no low range.
The full-size Broncos and the successor Expedition were produced at Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan.
The Bronco permanently entered popular culture on June 17 1994, as the vehicle in which O.J. Simpson, wanted for the murders of his ex-wife and her friend, attempted to elude Los Angeles Police Department in a low-speed chase with himself in the passenger seat and Al Cowlings driving. It was a white 1993 model owned by Al Cowlings.
