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Perhaps when Mt. Rushmore artist and creator Gutzon Borglum chose the four U.S. Presidents to adorn his masterpiece, there were no objections to the selections.

But we like to think there was some debate.

When we threw out the question: What is the best off-road vehicle?, we frankly expected the (totally awesome and worthy) Jeep Wrangler to mop the floor with the field.

But then the Ford Bronco drove all over our expectations and claimed its place on the mountain.

The Ford Bronco was produced from 1966-1996. Thirty years. Five generations, culminating with the full-size fifth generation.

History

Ford launched the Bronco in 1966 to compete with Jeep CJs and International Harvester Scouts. It was Ford’s first foray into the compact SUV market.

The Bronco is lauded as one of the most original designs in Ford’s history as it had a frame, body and suspension not shared by any other vehicle.

The Ford Bronco was a major part of the American automotive story that saw the SUV category spring from the void between car and truck—a vehicle category that is now an integral part of the automotive fabric of our country.

Popular upgrades for the Bronco include distributors, spark plug wire sets, light bulbs, starters, and shocks and struts.

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Author: Matt Griswold

After a 10-year newspaper journalism career, Matt Griswold spent another decade writing about the automotive aftermarket and motorsports. He was part of the original OnAllCylinders editorial team when it launched in 2012.