Velocity’s 1971 Classic Ford Bronco

 From car shows and cruise-ins to off-road adventures, early Ford Broncos (1966-1977) are the perfect classic car for any adventure. With more than 500 Bronco restomods under its belt, Velocity is the leader in creating world-class builds that balance vintage style and modern performance. This Adventurine Green 1971 Ford Bronco from Velocity is a perfect example, but before digging deeper into this build, here’s a little backstory detailing why the classic Ford Bronco is one of the coolest 4x4s around.

 

Debuting in 1966, the classic Bronco was Ford’s answer to the popular International Scout and Jeep CJ-5. Smaller than the Scout, the Bronco’s compact size made it great for off-roading or farm work, but it was about a foot longer than the CJ-5, allowing for added passenger or cargo space. The Bronco also boasted hard doors, a hard top, and an available V-8 engine, which gave Ford key advantages over Jeep until the larger CJ-7 launched in 1976. While ruggedness and capability were paramount in the Bronco’s design, Ford still focused on comfort, giving the Bronco a coil-sprung front suspension rather than the leaf spring setups found on the Scout and CJ-5.

The trusty first-generation Bronco was rapidly put to work on ranches and farms across the country with factory options that included a CB radio, a factory PTO, a snowplow, a winch, and a posthole digger. Its compact dimensions, rugged suspension, four-wheel drive, and PTO options made it a capable workhorse that could access more remote areas of one’s homestead. Those same tidy dimensions with good approach and departure angles also made the Bronco attractive to off-roaders who used it to explore the rugged terrain of Moab, the Sierras, and Colorado. Showing the broad appeal of the Early Bronco, it was also favored by Southern California surfers and even high-society socialites due to its convertible nature.

Early Broncos also quickly found their way into motorsports. The legendary Bill Stroppe built a Bronco to race in the 1967 Mexican 1000 (the predecessor to the Baja 1000), the Mint 400, and the Baja 500. Two years later, a team of six Broncos entered the Mexican 1000. In 1971, Stroppe sat beside famous road racer Parnelli Jones in “Big Oly.” One of the most iconic Broncos ever built, the tube-frame creation captured the overall win that year and followed it up with another victory in 1972.

The classic Ford Bronco has always been wildly successful among off-road enthusiasts, but as modern SUVs ballooned to ridiculous proportions, these early examples have become extremely sought-after for classic car collectors. First-gen Broncos were built in vast numbers, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find an original first-gen Bronco because so many were worked (or played) hard. As such, you’ll notice that values for these early Broncos have skyrocketed in recent years, with a driver-quality example that commands a $20,000+ price and all-original restorations pushing six-figure prices. Factor in fully modernized restomods, and prices can easily top $200,000—$249,900, to be exact, for a Velocity Ford Bronco.

While the Velocity Ford Bronco is not inexpensive, this price reflects the massive amount of labor and attention to detail that goes into each meticulous build. In staying with tradition, each classic Ford Bronco restomod created by Velocity oozes original style, but behind the rugged-good looks hide modern levels of luxury and performance. The result is a thoroughly modernized Bronco that drives better than the original without losing its vintage pedigree and appeal.

Now let’s take a closer look at this 1971 Ford Bronco reimagined by Velocity, and keep our dreams of owning one alive.

 Exterior

Each Velocity Bronco starts with a completely disassembled donor and is reconstructed with new body panels and components. Four weeks of the build process are dedicated solely to mocking up the new body, perfectly aligning panels, prepping the body, and painting. We love the look of this Velocity 1971 Ford Bronco Signature Series with its custom BASF Glasurit Aventurine Green paint. Molded rear fenders, chrome bumpers, and 17-inch painted steel wheels add to the old-school aesthetics and match how early Ford Broncos rolled off the factory floor. Modern amenities include a six-point roll cage to protect occupants, nighttime illumination provided by JW Speaker LED headlights, AMP Research PowerSteps hidden underneath the body, and custom-machined exterior billet components like door handles, side mirrors, gas cap, and more.

Interior

The inside of the original Bronco was extremely spartan and far from luxurious. Velocity completely changes that by expertly modernizing the interiors of its classic Broncos without losing their vintage charm. This example pampers occupants with Velocity’s Signature Interior, built by its in-house upholstery team with black vinyl front bucket seats. The rear seat folds and tumbles out of the way to maximize cargo room. A BT Digital head unit sends tunes to four Focal speakers and a subwoofer. Further luxury and function come from a Vintage Air air-conditioning system, an Ididit tilt steering column, and a Velocity-exclusive Dakota Digital gauge cluster. The interior also receives billet treatment, with window cranks, door handles, and dash controls.

 Engine

Whereas you’ll find a rebuilt 289 or 302 under the hood of most restorations, Velocity’s classic Ford Bronco is powered by a Ford Gen III 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 crate engine, which, with 460 horsepower, more than doubles the power output of the original 302. The potent powerplant sends its power to a 10-speed Ford Performance 10R80 automatic transmission, allowing the Bronco to cruise comfortably at freeway speeds. Velocity custom builds each exhaust system in-house from headers to tailpipe, and the MagnaFlow mufflers give the engine an aggressive note. Keen eyes can spot the Wilwood brake reservoir and hydro-boost master cylinder. The level of attention to detail and craftsmanship in the engine bay carries over to every facet of the Bronco.

 Chassis

This Velocity Ford Bronco restomod is the ultimate expression of performance and modernization thanks to a brand-new Velocity Exclusive Chassis from Roadster Shop. Roadster Shop is the go-to source for performance frames whether you’re restoring a classic or building a custom ride, and this Bronco chassis accommodates the modern drivetrain while maximizing ride quality and performance (both on and off-road). A 2.5-inch suspension lift provides plenty of clearance for the meaty 265/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires wrapped around Velocity’s 17-inch alloy wheels. Everything on a Velocity Ford Bronco is brand new including the axles: Dana 44 up front with locking hubs and a Ford 9-inch rear. There are Wilwood disc brakes on every corner to provide excellent stopping power, and a custom aluminum fuel tank is tucked between the rear frame rails giving this restomod plenty of cruising range.

You can have a Velocity Ford Bronco built and personalized in just 14 weeks with various colors, upholstery options, and styling packages. Still, the most surprising aspect is that Velocity has an inventory of pre-built Broncos for immediate delivery. The industry-best build process and impressive showroom inventory are the result of utilizing over 150 artisans working in a 135,000-square-foot facility, resulting in extremely high-quality work backed up with a two-year warranty.