Ford introduced the original Ford Bronco for the 1966 model year.
The first Bronco was designed as a compact off-road vehicle to compete with models such as the Jeep CJ and International Harvester Scout. Ford offered it in several body styles, including a two-door wagon, roadster, and pickup-style version.
The Bronco used a short wheelbase and a simple rugged layout suited to recreational driving and utility work. Its first-generation design lasted through 1977, when Ford replaced it with a larger second-generation model based on the F-Series platform.
The original Bronco should not be confused with the Bronco II, a smaller vehicle introduced for the 1984 model year. Ford revived the Bronco name for a new full-size and midsize off-road family beginning with the 2021 model year.