Bring Back Bronco: The Untold Story - 3 - Going Downhill – 1979 to 1994

3 - Going Downhill – 1979 to 1994

08/24/20 • 29 min

Who killed the Bronco?

In the third episode of this series the Bronco moves into middle age. This is the decade that it starts taking a series of body blows. There is increased competition from other carmakers, and complacency within Ford.

In the 1990’s the Bronco hit the national headlines for two completely different but equally horrific reasons: The Bronco II rollover controversy, and the OJ Simpson highway chase.

The smaller, more nimble Bronco II was built to be fuel efficient and save drivers a lot of money at the pumps... but it ended up costing Ford at least hundreds of millions in the courts.

Meanwhile the infamous Slow White Bronco highway chase connected the brand to a violent muder case and issues of race and justice. Did OJ Simpson kill the Bronco?

Sonari Glinton looks at the chase from the side of the highway as the Bronco drives past... then checks in with Bronco fans from a parts warehouse in Michigan, and a high school cafeteria in South Carolina.

for more info: broncopodcast.ford.com

Who killed the Bronco?

In the 1990’s the Bronco hit the national headlines for two completely different but equally horrific reasons: The Bronco II rollover controversy, and the OJ Simpson highway chase.

The smaller, more nimble Bronco II was built to be fuel efficient and save drivers a lot of money at the pumps... but it ended up costing Ford at least hundreds of millions in the courts.

Meanwhile the infamous Slow White Bronco highway chase connected the brand to a violent muder case and issues of race and justice. Did OJ Simpson kill the Bronco?

for more info: broncopodcast.ford.com

Previous Episode

2 - Cracks in the Pavement – 1967 to 1978

Was the Bronco built for a good time? Or a long time?

In every crime show, there’s a period of time early in the story where everything seems to be fine, but there’s also an underlying feeling of dread. You feel like something bad is going to happen, even though there’s no obvious sign of it. For the Ford Bronco, that’s 1967.

The first decade of the Bronco is a study in contrasts. The brand was popular, but sales were low. Ford wanted to own the segment, but never updated the vehicle. In the wake of the 1972 oil crisis, customers were demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles, yet the Bronco was losing market share to a bigger, more powerful competitor. This leads many to wonder if the Bronco can survive.

Are these just bumps in the road? Or is this the beginning of the end?

For more details on the obstacles the Bronco faced check out broncopodcast.ford.com

Next Episode

4 - End of the Road – 1994 to 1996

What was happening inside Ford that night?

The OJ Simpson chase happened more than 25 years ago, and yet there are still a lot of questions about its impact. For the first time ever we take you inside Ford to discover what was happening that night: Inside a Ford factory, Inside the Ford Call Center, and inside the Chairman’s office. It’s all in an effort to answer the question, “Why did Ford kill the Bronco?”

It turns out there is one suspect no one ever considered: A group of people that had nothing to do with the Bronco during its first two decades. Is it possible that the biggest threat the Bronco would face during its incredible run would be..... Millennials?

for more info: broncopodcast.ford.com