Whatever Happened to the First Bronco?

by Todd Zuercher

A fair question, indeed. The first production Mustang has been located and restored, as has the first production Thunderbird. Well then, whatever happened to the first production Bronco? Did it rust away in some farmer's field? Did it get parted out after a rollover? Is it safely tucked away in someone's climate-controlled automotive museum?

First Bronco Found!

The answer to all three questions is no. Production Bronco number one, with its VIN number ending with digits 732,000 is resting comfortably in a covered structure in Texas. It no longer has its original engine or its original paint, but it's still the first one.

The story of the first production is a bit sketchy, but here is what we know. The first Bronco was built on the prototype Bronco production line at the Allen Park, Michigan plant in August, 1965. It was originally Rangoon Red, had a 170 six cylinder engine, a 3 speed manual transmission, and it was a half cab. The current owner bought the truck in 1975 or 1976. By that time, it had been repainted and had a 1965 Mustang HP289 engine in it. The rear fenders had been cut. It had also had the Bronco Sport package added to it, which sharp Bronco fans know didn't appear on Broncos until 1967.

So who added all these goodies? That's where the story gets interesting. The current owner purchased the truck from the Christmas Mountain Land and Cattle Company in Telingua, TX. And who owned the Christmas Mountain Land and Cattle Company? Why none other than that little ol' chicken farmer himself, Carroll Shelby. We have been unable to determine the exact history of the truck prior to the current owner's possession of it, but it can easily be hypothesized that Carroll Shelby received the first production Bronco and promptly stuffed a HP289 in it. Perhaps the truck was used as the prototype for the 289 V8's which appeared in the Broncos beginning in March of 1966. Perhaps the truck was used as a development mule for the Sport package as well. These are just guesses at this point and more research is needed to validate or repudiate these hunches.

So Now What's In Store?(pun intended)

The truck is currently resting comfortably on the owner's property along with his other two Broncos-a '66 roadster and a '96 wagon. It doesn't get driven much and the transfer case is currently being rebuilt. Perhaps someday the truck will be restored and the rest of its story will be known. But for now, the first production Bronco will remain in anonymity, quietly waiting for the day it will once again roam the hills and trails of the Lone Star State.

Special Note: I would like to thank Andrew Norton, a fellow Early Bronco historian, for sharing this information with me.