1969 Ford Bronco

On August 11, 1965, Don Frey, Vice President of Ford Motor Business and the General Manager of the Ford Division, presented the Ford Bronco. He mentioned that the company had just added another pony to the stable to join its older sibling, the Mustang. An American icon was created with the introduction of the Ford Bronco, which has the distinction of being the first car to be formally referred to as a “Sports-Utility Vehicle.” This article focuses on the 1969 Ford Bronco.

Performance and Fuel Economy

The 1969 Ford Bronco was initially available in three distinct body styles: the Roadster (an open-air variant), the Sports Utility (a type with a pickup truck), and the Wagon (two doors, tailgate, full top.) The Roadster was the most simple and affordable of the three, including optional additions like doors and a roof. The Sports Utility had a low roof, seating for two or three on a bench seat, and a bed shaped like a pickup. The term “half-cab” eventually came to be used to refer to the Sports Utility Vehicle.

The most popular variant was the station wagon with a full-length hardtop roof, seating for up to five passengers with a rear bench seat, and ample cargo space. All three available versions came standard with four-wheel drive, a manual gearbox with three gears, and a six-cylinder engine with 170 cubic inches and 105 horsepower, even though there was a vast selection of add-ons available as upgrades. The 289-V-8 was introduced as an optional upgrade on March 2, 1966. This increased the horsepower in the Bronco, as well as the torque rating. As a result, it was propelled to the forefront of the sports utility vehicle market.

Design, Comfort, and Quality

The walls are covered in a white tuck-and-roll pattern, and highlights are provided by wood appliqué paneling placed against a background of the color-matched blue metal frame. The front seats are buckets with a low back, and the seat in the back is a bench seat that is in pristine shape. The flooring is covered with black carpet and has black Ford-badged floor mats. These floor mats may be the only real blue ovals in the whole vehicle since we believe they are the only ones with the Ford logo.

The headliner is made of steel painted white and reinforced with additional struts; it also has some paint flaking off it. The original dashboard is white with a black vinyl cover, and it just has a few basic gauges, the radio, and a few pulls. As was just discussed, this vehicle has a 3-on-the-tree transmission, but the floor shifter controls the 4×4 model.

Take The Road Less Traveled

Off-roading was a breeze for the 1969 Bronco because its short wheelbase of 92 inches was designed specifically for the vehicle. It was unique because every component of its body, frame, and suspension had been redesigned. The axles and brakes were from several Ford F-100 trucks lying around. The rear suspension was designed in a Hotchkiss fashion and had leaf springs. The addition of coil springs provided the Bronco with an anti-dive geometry, which proved helpful during snowplowing. Leading arms and a lateral track bar were used to link the front axle to the vehicle. There was an option for a heavy-duty suspension, but it came at an extra expense.

The design was straightforward: square bodies, flat glass, unadorned bumpers, and bumper guards. The front bucket seats, the back bench seat, a CB radio, and a tachometer were all included in the original price of $2194. In addition, there was a selection of campers, overdrive units, snowplows, winches, tow bars, posthole diggers, auxiliary petrol tanks, and tires and wheels in various sizes.

Donald N. Frey, Ford’s product manager and the same person who had a significant role in the development of the Ford Mustang, is credited with the inception of the concept that would later become the Bronco. While Paul G. Axelrad was in charge of the design of the Bronco, Lee Iacocca was instrumental in bringing the vehicle into production.

Specification

• Width: 79.3 in

Engine type: 120 BHP (88.32 KW) @ 4400 RPM

1969 Ford Bronco — Owner’s Manual

When consumers purchase a 1969 Ford Bronco, they get an owner’s manual containing all the required information for future maintenance, vehicle operation, and features.

• Important Safety Instructions
• Introduction
• Overview
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Troubleshooting
• Maintenance Record

While this list is thorough, the Bronco Owners Manual provides more operational suggestions to enhance the user experience. There are also service repair manuals and parts catalogs available for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which years of the Ford Bronco are the most popular?

1974 & 1975

What can someone get for a 1st generation Bronco in good condition?

The classic Broncos are extremely desirable collectibles, and the 1st gen in good condition can warrant upwards of $70,000