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When it comes to sport/utility vehicles and crossovers, Ford is well represented with seven models. But Ford's history in this segment can be traced back by several generations and includes the Ford Bronco, an SUV initially designed to compete against International Harvester's Scout and the Jeep CJ-5.

For thirty years the Bronco dominated Ford's big SUV line up, eventually ceding sales to the Explorer and then ceding its position to the Expedition and Excursion. Today, the Excursion is gone, but the Expedition soldiers on where the Bronco once roamed. And, for history buffs, there was a Bronco II, a compact, top heavy SUV that was underpinned by the platform powering the Ford Ranger.

But enough about the other models! The Bronco stuck around for thirty years and morphed from a medium sized model in its first twelve years to a full sized SUV based on the Ford F-150 truck platform from 1978 until it was canceled in 1996. It is those larger, heavier models most people are familiar with, the same SUV involved in the chase of O.J. Simpson in 1994.

We're not talking about Simpson, however. Rather the Ford Bronco and what it offered to its owners: lots of storage capacity, a beastly off road presence, sloppy on road handling, a propensity to rust out. Oh, yeah, most models returned abysmal gas mileage but these Broncos were sold when gas was cheap and people really needed a burly beast to help navigate snow berms and mud holes.

Despite its beefy size, the Ford Bronco always remained a two door SUV with generous sized rear side windows offering plenty of light and views for rear seating passengers. Those rare four door versions you see here and there were not built by Ford, rather they were the work of Centurion Vehicles, an aftermarket truck modifier. You would think Ford would have responded to customer demand by building a four door Bronco, but they left that niche up to an aftermarket modifier.

As the years moved on, the Ford Bronco acquired the same engine and transmission choices found in the Ford F-150. The first of the larger Broncos offered the two largest engines ever stuffed under the hood of the big SUV: a 351 cubic inch V8 or an optional 400 cubic inch engine. A Ford 9" rear axle and a Dana 44 front axle were stock, with leaf spring rear suspension and coil spring, laterally stabilized front.

From 1980 on, Ford was caught up with satisfying tougher EPA emissions regulations and ended up going with the 4.9L I6 engine as standard. Also offered in the F-150, that engine was joined by a pair of V8s and would continue as the base engine for the Ford Bronco until the line was discontinued.

Among the key highlights and lowlights of the Ford Bronco was its ability to push snow, rear bumpers which rusted out, powerful engines, oil leaks, terrific low end torque with the Windsor engine, comfortable interior, and brakes that need frequent replacing. Still, the Ford Bronco is what you have of it - a big SUV that isn't afraid to work the trails and take you where you need to go.