The Ford Bronco debuted in August 1965 as a 1966 model, built to compete with the Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout in America's growing off-road market. It ran five generations over three decades, disappeared in 1996, and came roaring back in 2021 as one of the most successful nameplate revivals in automotive history. In 2026, the Bronco turns 60, and Ford is celebrating with a 60th Anniversary package.
Here is the whole story, generation by generation.
Why did Ford build the Bronco in the first place?
By the early 1960s, Jeep's CJ and the International Scout had proven Americans would buy rugged 4x4s for fun, not just work. Ford product planners wanted in, and the result was a purpose-built compact 4x4 on its own frame, not a modified truck. Ford marketed it as a G.O.A.T., short for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain, a phrase that later returned as the name of the modern Bronco's drive mode system.
The classic generations, 1966 to 1996
| Generation | Years | What defined it |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1966-1977 | Compact original; roadster (U13), half cab (U14) and wagon (U15) bodies |
| Second | 1978-1979 | Grew to full size on the F-100 platform; V8 power |
| Third | 1980-1986 | Lighter full size, new front suspension, better economy |
| Fourth | 1987-1991 | Aero restyle, fuel injection, more refinement |
| Fifth | 1992-1996 | Final full-size era; safety updates; end of the line in June 1996 |
The first generation is the icon: simple, boxy, and now a six-figure collector vehicle in restored condition. The body style codes of that original truck, U13, U14, and U15, are literally hidden inside the modern Bronco's gas door as an Easter egg (we cataloged all of them in our Bronco Easter eggs guide).
The fifth generation carries one more chapter that has nothing to do with sales figures. On June 17, 1994, a white 1993 Bronco carried O.J. Simpson down a Los Angeles freeway in a low-speed police chase broadcast live and watched by an estimated 95 million people, one of the most watched moments in American television history. Ford never asked for it and could not have planned it, but it remains the single most famous Bronco ever built.
A cheeky nod to the Bronco's strangest chapter, cut for laptops, water bottles, or the truck itself.
Why did Ford kill the Bronco in 1996?
Buyers were moving to four-door SUVs, and the two-door, full-size Bronco couldn't keep up. Ford replaced it with the four-door Expedition, which sold in numbers the Bronco never touched. It was the right business call, and it still left a hole: for 25 years, the Bronco existed only in classifieds, restoration shops, and memories.
The comeback: 2017 announcement, 2021 truck
Ford confirmed the Bronco's return at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, and the sixth-generation truck arrived for 2021 after pandemic-era delays: body-on-frame, solid rear axle, removable doors and roof, and aimed squarely at the Jeep Wrangler, just like 1966 all over again. Demand crushed expectations, with reservation banks in the six figures and dealers marking up early builds.
The modern lineup has since grown to seven trims from Base to Raptor, plus heritage callbacks like the Heritage Edition's white roof and grille and 2026's 60th Anniversary package. For a full breakdown of today's range, see our Bronco trim levels guide, and for how the revival stacks up against its old rival, our Bronco vs. Wrangler comparison.
An American icon deserves one on the hood. Matte blackout with a subtle flag, cut precisely for the modern Bronco.
Why the Bronco story matters to owners
Sixty years of history is exactly why the modern Bronco community behaves like a heritage club, not a customer base. Owners restore first gens, hunt hidden Easter eggs, name their trucks, and personalize them the way the originals were: with paint, patches, and vinyl. The horse on the grille carries 1966 with it everywhere it goes, and every build adds a chapter.
Sixty years of pointing off the pavement. A classic compass mark for the hood of any adventure rig.
Frequently asked questions
What year did the Ford Bronco come out?
The original Bronco went on sale in August 1965 as a 1966 model. The modern revival arrived in mid 2020 as a 2021 model.
Why was the Ford Bronco discontinued?
Buyers shifted to four-door SUVs in the 1990s, and Ford replaced the two-door Bronco with the four-door Expedition after the 1996 model year.
How many generations of Bronco are there?
Six: five classic generations from 1966 to 1996, and the current sixth generation that began in 2021.
Is 2026 really the Bronco's 60th anniversary?
Yes. Counting from the 1966 model year, 2026 marks 60 years, and Ford offers a 60th Anniversary package on the current truck to celebrate.
Add your chapter to the story
Precision-cut Bronco decals and graphics from a veteran-owned shop in South Carolina, cutting decals since 2009.
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