This 1966 Ford Bronco Roadster Is One of the Rarest Early Broncos Still in Existence

Ford produced five generations of the Bronco from the 1966 to 1996 model years, with a sixth generation introduced for the 2021 model year. The first-generation Bronco was a compact yet capable off-road vehicle developed on a dedicated chassis not shared with any other Ford. The company's intention was to create an SUV that could serve as both a workhorse and a practical daily driver.

At the time, Ford's General Manager Donald Frey described the Bronco as a mesh-up between a car and a truck "for men and women who seek adventure as well as practical transportation." It was basically designed to venture almost anywhere and do nearly anything.

Designed as a competitor for the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout, the Bronco was offered in three body styles. These were the long-roof Wagon, the short-roof Half-Cab, and the open-top doorless Roadster, the latter of which ended up being the lowest-selling version of the vehicle, despite also being the least expensive since the doors and roof were optional extras.

Given the lackluster performance of the Roadster, Ford decided to discontinue this particular version after the 1968 model year. The American carmaker produced just 212 units of the Bronco U13 Roadster that year, only 26 of which are believed to still be in circulation today, which puts them among the rarest and most collectible of the early Broncos.

The example you see in the picture gallery above is a Ford Bronco U13 Roadster from 1968, the last production run of the no-roof, no-doors version. The seldom-seen classic SUV is scheduled to go under the hammer in mid-August in Monterey, California, so car collectors interested in owning a versatile classic should get their wallets ready.

Featuring a body-on-frame construction, the original Bronco was built on a shortened Ford F-Series truck platform and boasted a rugged appearance with cut-outs for doors, a fold-down windshield, and a canvas-backed vinyl top. Like most 4x4 vehicles of the period, including the Scout, Jeep, and Land Rover, it had a versatile configuration with removable doors and removable hardtop. Moreover, since the Roadster, Wagon, and Half-Cab versions boasted an identical steel body, they could easily be converted into any other version. This is how many Roadster owners ended up morphing their Bronco into the Wagon configuration, which was considered more practical for year-round use.

In terms of performance, the early Broncos came with a 2.8-liter straight-six engine offering 105 hp (106 ps) at 4400 rpm. A 4.7 liter V8 engine was introduced as an option in March 1966, providing more grunt for those who wanted a mightier Bronco. Both mill options were accompanied by a synchronized three-speed manual transmission, a Dana 20 shift-on-the-fly transfer case, live axles front and back, and selectable four-wheel drive.

The vehicle in question here is an original Ford Bronco U13 Roadster that rolled off the factory's doors on January 13, 1968, and seems to be one of the best examples out there. It was sold new at Boyer Ford in Oak Harbor, Washington, and was recently restored from the ground up to bring it to its former glory under the supervision of Andrew Norton of Baja Broncos Unlimited, a Northern California-based Bill Stroppe/Baja Bronco authentication and restoration expert.

This particular unit originally had a Code J Rangoon Red livery, but it now sports a Raven Black exterior with square-end white painted bumpers and is equipped with the desirable Ford 289ci V8 engine and a three-speed manual transmission with a floor shifter. The dark exterior is contrasted by a Parchment white interior.

The car rolls on original Ford white-painted stamped steel wheels wrapped in Super Traxion tires, and there is also an inside tailgate mounted spare tire. The no-frills, spartan interior includes two bucket seats with Rosette inserts, rubber floor covering, a black two-spoke steering wheel, and a rather austere dashboard.

After the recent ground-up restoration, this rare 1968 Ford Bronco U13 Roadster won the prestigious Bill Stroppe Award at the 2016 Fabulous Fords Forever Car Show. Even without this distinction under its belt, this beautiful Bronco is a certain winner wherever it might be shown.

For car collectors who are on the hunt for an original Ford Bronco, this is a great opportunity to fulfill their dream of owning an authentic classic SUV. Standing as one of only 26 known surviving Bronco Roadsters, this 1968 unit is offered with just 154 miles on the odometer and is expected to fetch between $115,000 and $135,000.