Merriam-Webster defines "Sleeper" as "one who sleeps" or "someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value." On the street, it's a brutal stealth machine; something very non-descript, even sedate looking, that doesn't give away what it's hiding underneath the hood. And woe be the fool that takes it on.
I remember years ago that fool was me! One night while I was on the prowl in my 1971 Ford Mustang BOSS 351, I got my doors blown off by a stock-looking Chevy Monte Carlo. Little did I know that it had a stroked 383 under the hood with a 125 hp nitrous kit! Even as I'm of the opinion that "baby's use the bottle," it didn't change the outcome.
Jay's latest build, a 1968 Ford Bronco, is the perfect sleeper. Looking at it from the outside there's hardly anything that gives away what's under the hood. But oh boy does it pack a punch. How's 760 hp courtesy of the new 5.2 liter blown GT500 "Predator" motor for you? Yowsers!
What's great about this car, however, is how true Jay stayed to the stock look. All too often, builders will get carried away with embellishments and bolt-ons which detract from rather than add to the classic looks of the car they're working on. The car itself was a joke gift from fellow comedian and Late Night host Craig Ferguson. I bet he ain't laughing now!
Jay had LGE-CTS Motorsports do the paint and bodywork returning the old girl to her former glory with replacement body panels, both hard tops and soft tops, tucked but stock looking front and rear bumpers, steel wheels, and that fabulous blue paint.
In order to handle all that extra oomph, and the girth of the motor itself, the engine bay and chassis were gone over and strengthened in critical areas by Kincer Chassis who are no strangers to vintage Broncos. It's their bread and butter. They used 2 x 4 mandrel built 3/16th inch steel stock for the frame rails which served as a solid foundation to hang an Atlas transfer case, Eaton Detroit TrueTrac differential, Dutchman Motorsports 35 spline axles, Fox coilovers, Wilwood brakes, and a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission.
The finished product is a sight to behold and Jay seems genuinely impressed with how it came together. Check him out and the Busting Bronc' below. Buckle up.
(via Hemmings Motor News)