Classic Bronco Cryptozoology

[KCSPONY]

This has probably been brought up before, but I only found one thread on it and it didn't go anywhere.

So I'll pose the questions here.

While researching the stories of the Big Oly Bronco I read that Parnelli Jones was inspired to create a 2WD Twin-I Beam race chassis after seeing a 1966 factory 2WD concept Bronco in Stroppe's shop. I only saw it mentioned in one place (bajabronco.com).

Does anyone have any pictures or additional proof this Bronco existed?

Years ago my Father heard rumors of some special order Broncos that came equipped with Dana 60 Axles and large ballon tires, supposedly ordered for work on the Alaska Pipeline.

There was also a rumor of Bronco(s) being built with 390 big blocks......

So anyone have info on these or maybe other rumors that they have heard about?

 

[toddz69]

Can you reference on Andrew's website where it mentions the "1966 factory 2WD concept Bronco"? I wrote the Big Oly article on the website (and also the Pony article) and I've never heard of Parnelli seeing a '66 factory 2WD concept Bronco at Stroppe's shop. He did draw inspiration from Pony for Big Oly but Pony wasn't a '66 Bronco - it was built later in the 60s (probably '69).

Never have heard of the latter two rumors myself.

Todd Z.

 

[KCSPONY]

Here is the excerpt from Andrew's website, you are listed as the author.....

Simon "Bunkie" Knudsen's short tenure at Ford had produced, in addition to the Boss 429 Mustang, a 2WD Bronco study project with a lowered body, a Twin-I-Beam front end and an automatic transmission. Knudsen wanted to study the feasibility of selling a 2WD Bronco, but the project was scrapped and Stroppe ended up with the vehicle. According to Jones, he spied the vehicle sitting in the corner of Stroppe's shop and suggested they build it into an off road race vehicle.

and the link:

BajaBronco.com

 

[toddz69]

Correct - those are my words (holy cow - written over 20+ years ago now!). Where you threw for me a loop was your statement about it being a '66 factory 2WD concept Bronco. So that truck did exist - it raced from 1970 until the mid-70s. What I've learned since then was that it was likely a project at Kar-Kraft that got abandoned and ended up at Stroppe's shop.

Todd Z.

 

[KCSPONY]

Correct - those are my words (holy cow - written over 20+ years ago now!). Where you threw for me a loop was your statement about it being a '66 factory 2WD concept Bronco. So that truck did exist - it raced from 1970 until the mid-70s. What I've learned since then was that it was likely a project at Kar-Kraft that got abandoned and ended up at Stroppe's shop.

Todd Z.

I think I just assumed it was created in '66 when the Bronco evolved from a concept to production model. So the 2WD Bronco was not built by Ford, but instead by KarKraft? Was this a race chassis or a standard Bronco chassis with narrowed F-100 I-Beams?

Are there any pictures of this?

 

[toddz69]

As far as I know, it was created at Kar-Kraft, not Ford. From the pictures I have of it early in its life (some here: https://bajabronco.com/Pony.shtml), it appears to be a Bronco chassis with narrowed beams on it. Like a lot of Stroppe stuff, the truck evolved over the years. It gained more shocks, longer wheelbase, etc.

Todd Z.

 

[KCSPONY]

How about the Parnelli Jones Special? Was this a one only, or did the dealership make many of them. Also did they start life as a Baja Bronco? It claims the Bronco is a 1968 model which predates the Baja Bronco program, so was this the prototype for the Baja Bronco?

source for pictures and story:

Dealership Specials by Parnelli Jones - Information on collecting cars - Legendary Collector Cars

It was 1968 and racing was big. One of its biggest stars was Parnelli Jones. He was active in Indy C

www.legendarycollectorcars.com

 

[toddz69]

I believe that was a one-off. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a prototype for the Baja but it has stuff on it that was used on the Bajas.

Todd Z.

 

[KCSPONY]

What about this Bronco tram? The only thing I could find about it was that it appeared in the 1968 movie Charly, which was filmed in Boston in 1967.

 

[KCSPONY]

Right hand drive Broncos? Were these factory units or converted in Asia?

 

[Rustytruck]

My understanding for made an Ice cream truck or a postal vehicle on a 2wd Bronco frame. I have never seen one.

 

[Rustytruck]

1970 Ford Ice Cream Truck Los Angeles, CA **SOLD**

 

[RM70]

Right hand drive Broncos? Were these factory units or converted in Asia?

That looks photoshopped to me.

 

[Bajabrewer]

Right hand drive Broncos? Were these factory units or converted in Asia?

Not seeing a pumpkin on the drivers side like a Bronco? Maybe they dropped the Bronco body on a right hand drive Jeep or other running gear that was already right hand drive? Interesting thou.

 

[carter2772]

That right hand drive bronco is real, no photoshop there. He is on facebook a lot, there are two of them. I believe they live in Thailand