1968 Ford Bronco
Ford’s answer to the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout established the blueprint for compact American SUVs with rugged capability and practical versatility.
The company conducted extensive research, consulting with thousands of off-road vehicle owners to create a purpose-built utility vehicle that could handle both work and recreation duties.
The squared bodywork featured peaked front fenders that allowed drivers to see the vehicle’s corners. While the windshield was still designed to fold forward, by 1968 Ford no longer promoted it as an open-air feature, and most owners left it upright except for service access.
Notable changes for 1968 included federally mandated side marker lights on the front fenders, reflectors on the rear quarter panels, and a standard heater/defroster. The open-body Roadster was discontinued after this model year due to poor sales.
Engine options included a 170-cubic-inch inline-six producing 100 horsepower and a 289-cubic-inch V8 generating 195 horsepower (slightly reduced from earlier years due to a lower 8.7:1 compression ratio). The standard three-speed column-shifted manual transmission paired with a floor-mounted two-speed transfer case shifter that allowed shifting between 2WD and 4WD on the fly.
The solid front axle with coil springs (not independent) and rear leaf springs provided a foundation for both on-road comfort and off-road capability, establishing the Bronco as America’s first purpose-designed compact SUV.
Source
