After a pause of 25 years, Ford reintroduced its Bronco lineup in 2021, offering all modern styling and off-road capability. Now available for the 2023 production year, the Ford Bronco is a stunning SUV that provides various exciting packages to meet the needs of different customers.

But while the styling changed over the years, the base premise of off-road excellence remained in the sixth-generation Ford Bronco. Introduced as a sport utility vehicle in 1966, the Bronco was built "tough" and spoke to customers looking for compact but capable rides, competing with the likes of the Jeep CJ-5 and the International Harvester Scout.

Still, the Ford Bronco grew in size over the years to accommodate shifting customer needs in the 70s. It also received more than a few updates to battle the oil crisis, staying off-road ready but becoming lighter and more fuel efficient throughout the third and fourth generations.

As the changes from the 70s and 80s were significant compared to the previous years, today we want to take a closer look at the third generation of this SUV, or more specifically, the handsome 1986 Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco II. These two variations had loads of things to offer to customers — and still do.

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A Brief Overlook Of The Predecessors To The 1986 Ford Bronco And Bronco II

The 1981 Ford Bronco goes over a challenging terrain.
Via: Ford

The 1966 Ford Bronco received an all-new chassis with a 92-inch wheelbase at the start of the lineup, and all models got a four-wheel drive to tackle off-road conditions. The power came from an inline six that produced 105 horsepower or a V8 that delivered 200 horsepower. A three-speed manual transmission was the only option back in the day, but the automatic one also became available later on, as well as a more potent inline-six.

Overall, the first-generation Ford Bronco was simple and economical, coming as a two-door wagon, a half-cab pickup, or an open-body roadster. However, customers could also get many optional features at dealerships to make their rides better equipped and more stylish.

Things didn't change that much until 1978 when the second-generation Ford Bronco arrived on the market. One of the notable things that happened was the introduction of the Sport package for the wagon and the rollout of the roadster. Otherwise, it was the 1978 model year that received a complete facelift to enter the full-size SUV segment.

The 1978 Ford Bronco grew 28 inches in length, 11 inches in width, and four inches in height. The total weight also increased as well as the power output that came from two V8 engines named the 351M and the 400. Both delivered a similar number of ponies (156 and 158), but the latter had an extra 15 lb-ft of torque (277 vs. 262 lb-ft).

The second generation of the Ford Bronco, based on the large F-100 platform, added a few comfort features to the lineup, such as air conditioning and a tilting steering wheel column. With a new design, it paved the road for the third generation that arrived in 1980.

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What's There To Know About The 1986 Ford Bronco And Bronco II

The interior of the 1982 Ford Bronco.
Via: Ford

Two important things happened with the Ford Bronco during the third generation between 1980 and 1986. Firstly, the SUV became a little shorter and lighter and welcomed a more efficient powertrain. Secondly, the Ford Bronco II debuted as a compact variant based on the Ranger pickup truck.

After playing back and forth with the curb weight of the SUV during the early '80s, engineers at Ford finally opted for a more rigid body over a more lightweight but weaker one. Equipped with the independent front suspension and other niceties, this generation was the first to offer an inline-six engine as standard since 1977.

Still, the 115-horsepower inline-six was not that appealing to customers, so most buyers chose the 1986 Ford Bronco with optional V8 engines during the build. The mid-range V8, with a power output of 190 horsepower, recorded the most sales, closely followed by the larger sibling that produced 210 horsepower.

To cover the entire market (just in case), Ford also developed a smaller Bronco with the II nomenclature, which pretty much resembled the first lineup models from the '60s. Introduced first in 1984, the 1986 Ford Bronco II was a four-passenger SUV with a 2.9-liter V6 engine that used a new computer-controlled multi-port EFI system to increase the engine output to 140 ponies and boost fuel economy. This smaller Bronco variant also allowed customers to choose between a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, depending on their needs.

Essentially, both these SUVs were highly popular back in the day, coming in several attractive trims. The Eddie Bauer package was particularly appealing with its two-tone paint, privacy glass, and bucket seats. But in any configuration, the 1986 Ford Bronco and Bronco II delivered stable performance on and off-road, loads of comfort niceties, and stunning rugged looks.

Unfortunately, the Bronco II was the first to record decreased sales as the larger SUVs again became more popular toward the '90s.

Can You Find The 1986 Ford Bronco For Sale Today, And At What Price?

The 1985 Ford Bronco for sale.
Via: Ford

If you like the rugged styling and capability of the 1986 Ford Bronco and Bronco II, you'll be pleased to hear these vehicles are still available for sale these days. However, due to their popularity and quality build, you can expect to pay at least $20,000 to acquire the 1986 Ford Bronco and Bronco II in good condition.

Sources: Ford, Hemmings