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One of Ford’s Best Broncos Yet Is an Open-Topped Tribute to the OG

The Blue Oval has unveiled a stunning exercise in simplicity that shows its Bronco can still learn some new (old) tricks.

Rear view of a cream and maroon Ford Bronco with a spare tire mounted in the truck bed, parked on grass. The tailgate displays the "FORD" lettering and the Bronco emblem with "E 7.0" badge near the taillight. The vehicle has rugged off-road tires and a silver rear bumper.Ford
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By Gray Van Dyke

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Since pulling the wraps off the sixth-generation Bronco back in 2021, Ford has only doubled down on the legacy 4×4, whipping up one-offs, concepts and design studies as a means to prove the platform’s potential.

Suffice to say, there has been no shortage of sweet builds in that time. However, the Blue Oval’s latest special Bronco creation is arguably its best one yet — and the build takes a decidedly simpler approach to off-roading.

Meet the Bronco Roadster.

Front view of a white Ford Bronco with round headlights and a bold grille featuring the "FORD" lettering, parked on grass near a body of water with trees in the background.
The Bronco Roadster goes retro with its raw steel bumpers.
Ford

Honoring the original

Now, if you can’t tell by looking at the vehicle, it’s only a concept. Thanks to modern safety regulations, features like the lap belt and the conspicuous lack of a roll bar are keeping this SUV off the road.

Nevertheless, the Roadster shows just how good the sixth-generation Bronco can look with some additional retro digs. And it’s not merely a styling exercise — it pays tribute to a 1966 model that served as inspiration during the design phase.

White vintage Ford Bronco with no doors and a convertible top, parked on a gravel area near a body of water with trees in the background.
Ford looked to this pristine 1966 Wimbledon White Bronco for inspiration when building the Roadster concept.
Ford

After all, the original U13 roadster body style was key to the Bronco experience. In bringing the SUV to market, Ford tasked its designers to create something that could be as popular as the Mustang — for off-road. It even marketed the model as “the world’s first four-wheel drive sports car.”

Defined by its simplicity, the first-generation Bronco, like Ford’s pony car, offered honest fun. It’s something buyers crave today — just look at the success of the Slate pickup preorders.

A white Ford Bronco with a maroon stripe around the rear wheel arches, viewed from above. The vehicle has no roof or doors, revealing a simple interior with two front seats and a spare tire mounted in the truck bed. The dashboard features a steering wheel with the Bronco logo and a central display. The vehicle is parked on a patch of grass and gravel.
The Roadster concept riffs on the above U-13 while also bringing some of its own modern flavor.
Ford

An exercise in simplicity

Turning a sixth-generation Bronco into the Roadster concept before you wasn’t just a case of chopping the top and giving it a coat of Wimbledon White paint. Ford’s team paid special attention to the “compelling simplicity” that made the original so great.

Accordingly, along with paring back the floor and fashioning a fancy rear compartment, this meant fitting the Bronco with a stamped fold-down tailgate and some modified bumpers intended to resemble old-school steel.

Interior of a Ford Bronco featuring a black and white steering wheel with the Bronco logo, a digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, manual gear shifter with a black knob, climate control dials, and a white dashboard with "BRONCO" lettering.
Though the large screens are a marked departure from the original, thankfully, the Roadster concept comes with a manual.
Ford

Moreover, the Roadster concept now rides on a set of machined Fifteen52 Analog wheels for a classic look, and Ford even upholstered the seats in a grey leather that’s reminiscent of the 1966 car.  

Though there’s still a central infotainment screen, otherwise, this Bronco is refreshingly devoid of distractions. Fitted with a spare in the rear and packing only the bare necessities, it’s a showcase of just how impactful ‘simple’ can be — even on a modern vehicle.

White and brown Ford Bronco 60th Anniversary Edition with no doors, large off-road tires, and a spare tire in the truck bed, parked on grass near a calm lake with a forested background.
Ford’s Bronco Roadster certainly looks the part riding on its Fifteen52 Analog wheels.

Up to enthusiasts

While Ford makes it clear that the Bronco Roadster isn’t destined for production, the concept does provide some tasty inspiration for owners looking to build a retro off-roader.

Of course, the Blue Oval mentions as much in the accompanying release, stating that “we want to imagine how our customers will make their Broncos their own” and that “the design doesn’t stop when we’re done – it’s only just begun.”

Whether or not that hints at future accessory releases, there’s no denying that Ford’s Bronco Roadster makes for a tantalizingly open concept.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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