Back in the mid to late 1960s, Ford was on a quest to roll out a new build that would continue to ride on the Mustang wave. It was during this time that Ford realized that many people were buying World War II Jeeps. However, these people were still not getting their money’s worth when it came to comfort.
This realization was the inspiration behind one of the most popular 4X4 vehicles that were not military-oriented, the Ford Bronco. The Ford Bronco was built to deliver as a family car that could perform both on-road and off-road without compromising on comfort.
Under today’s standard, the Ford Bronco is not far from the Jeeps it was trying to beat. This is because of its rugged design and interior. Nonetheless, back in the day, this ride was closer to comfort than most options available on the market.
While this vehicle is a classic not many consider it a favourite. But still, there are a few people who can pinpoint a few things they like about the car. We are among those few.
For us, this is the best feature of the 1966 Ford Bronco.
Best Feature: The Powertrain
If you have taken the time and followed up on Ford’s history with engines you know how the evolution of these American engines have shaped the automotive industry. This is from the Ford Model A to the latest Mustang.
The Ford Bronco is no exception in this. The Ford Bronco was unveiled in 1966 as a full-size SUV. Since it first launched this vehicle has been in production for six generations. This has gone on for a span of 56 years. During these 56 years of production, the Ford Bronco engine has seen its fair share of change and evolution.
With the 1966 Ford Bronco being the first generation Bronco it is safe to assume that there were tons of experimentation to find the best powertrain. Under the hood of the first generation of Ford Broncos Ford offered four different powertrains that were paired with two transmission choices.
These engines were a 2.8-liter straight 6, a 3.3-liter straight 6, a 4.7-liter small-block V8, and a 4.9-liter small-block V8. These engines were paired with either a 3-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The most popular powertrain was the 2.8-litre straight 6 engine. This engine pushed 105 horsepower. It was a modified engine that featured solid valve filters, a 6-litre oil pan, a carburettor that featured a float bowl that compensated against any tilting, an oil-bath air cleaner, and a heavy-duty fuel pump.
Final Thoughts On The 1966 Ford Bronco
This engine was paired with the three-speed manual transmission. The power from this engine was pushed to the Ford Bronco's four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
If you get your hands on a 1966 Ford Bronco with this engine then you are among the few with this ride. The engine specs of the 1966 Ford Bronco see it command premium resale value in the classic car market. This car indeed changed the perception and approach to SUVs.