1975 Ford Bronco

The Story

By 1975 the original Ford Bronco was nearly a decade old, and it had quietly become an icon. Conceived to challenge the Jeep CJ and International Scout, the first-generation Bronco paired rugged 4x4 underpinnings with a friendly, boxy shape that looked equally at home on a ranch or a suburban driveway.

The 1975 model year brought emissions-era changes: a catalytic converter, unleaded-fuel calibration, a redesigned combustion chamber and a stronger rear axle. The 302 V8 was rated at a modest 125 net horsepower, but the Bronco's appeal was never about straight-line speed. It was about go-anywhere capability and an upright, honest character.

Just 13,125 Broncos rolled out in 1975, the lowest total of the entire 1966-1977 run, which makes survivors especially prized today. With a base price under $5,000 when new, it was an attainable adventure machine for working families and weekend explorers alike.

Decades later, clean first-generation Broncos have become blue-chip collectibles, with restored trucks commanding prices that would have stunned their original owners. For anyone who remembers fishing trips, hunting weekends or just bombing down a gravel road, the 1975 Bronco is pure nostalgia on four wheels.