Читать книгу Ford Bronco: A History of Ford's Legendary 4x4 - Todd Zuercher - Страница 13

Ford introduced the 1966 Bronco to the buying public at a press conference in Dearborn, Michigan, on August 11, 1965. On that warm, humid Wednesday, Ford Division president Donald Frey announced the Bronco to the press, stating, “We think of the Bronco as neither a conventional car nor a truck, but as a vehicle which combines the best of both worlds. It can serve as a family sedan, a sports roadster, a snow plow, or as a farm or civil defense vehicle. It has been designed to go nearly anywhere and do nearly anything.” Adding the Bronco name to the line that already included the Mustang, Frey wryly remarked, “We wanted a new ‘in’ car to add to our ‘horse stall,’” referring to the Mustang as Bronco’s “big brother.”

The Bronco was heavily advertised in its initial year. Smiling, happy passengers in a variety of models were shown enjoying their new Fords, particularly the roadsters. While her well-dressed parents look on in glee, a small child seems to be traumatized by a small blue creature in front of the new blue Bronco wagon (top).

This July 1965 photo shows Frank Debono, a sculptor in the Ford Styling office, creating the Bronco emblem prior to the model’s introduction a month later. (Photo Courtesy Ford Motor Company, Tim Hulick Collection

This September 1965 Ford publication cartoon bears witness that Ford designed the Bronco to be attractive to hunters. No deer were harmed in the Bronco’s development, but there were likely many brought home in Broncos over the years following its introduction.(Photo Courtesy Ford Motor Company)

It’s the fall of 1965 and Bonnie Dykes, executive secretary at Don Sanderson Ford in Glendale, Arizona, finds herself behind the wheel of a brand-new 1966 Bronco roadster while a group of salesmen check out the various features of the new bobtail. (Photo Courtesy Sanderson Ford)

This large banner is the only one of its kind known to exist. The late Dave Metz, who owned the banner, had given it to his friend, Tim Hulick, who proudly displays it at events and shows throughout the country. (Photo Courtesy Tim Hulick)

Fry continued, “We think the small utility vehicle will be one of the new ‘in’ cars. It will be popular with the college crowd, with the active lively people who can go places and do things, and with families as a second or third car … with the Bronco, we expect to attract into the market a sizable number of persons who have never been utility vehicle owners–people who have succumbed to the lure of the great outdoors, skiers, hunters, fishermen, and ‘fun’ families who have been bitten by the camping bug or who just enjoy doing different things together … We also expect it to appeal to people in hundreds of service industries.”

Fry also noted that the Bronco could be easily serviced at nearly 6,400 Ford dealerships throughout the country, offering quick repairs and easy access to parts. This was a not-so-subtle dig at the competition in the market segment; International dealers numbered 4,764 and Jeeps were available at only 2,152 locations.