Is there such a thing as a "stock" rollbar?

[mburkhart]

Was there such a thing as a stock roll bar sold with the early Bronco? Or were they all after-market add-ons?

 

[House]

No early Broncos came from the Ford factory with a roll bar.

 

[spap]

I have had 2 Broncos 76 and 77 and the roll bars were different
Guess dealer installed ?

 

[House]

Stroppe installed them in the Baja Bronco, some dealers installed them, and lots of owners installed them...

 

[Broncobowsher]

No "stock"
All aftermarket, even the dealer installed ones were aftermarket.

 

[Scoop]

"Stock" factory roll bars started in 1978.

 

[74bronk]

Can't imagine that vehicle without a roll bar! Man how times have changed!Wow I've seen pics of early Broncos flipped over and basicly without that roll bar your dead!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Can't imagine that vehicle without a roll bar! Man how times have changed!Wow I've seen pics of early Broncos flipped over and basicly without that roll bar your dead!

I've also seen them with just a hard top that did fairly well.
I rolled a mid 80's ranger and the A-pillar folded back and was a straight line with the roof. B-pillar shifted back and spit the back window out of the truck. That was worse off than the stock Bronco with only the hard top. I also know modern trucks that landed on the roof (not a gentle roll like the above, LANDED on the roof) and even with all the modern crash stuff they still folded flat.

 

[badmuttstang]

Can't imagine that vehicle without a roll bar! Man how times have changed!Wow I've seen pics of early Broncos flipped over and basicly without that roll bar your dead!

Yeap that's why's so many on here strongly recommend to the newbies that if your going to run around with no top you better have protection.

I've also seen them with just a hard top that did fairly well.
I rolled a mid 80's ranger and the A-pillar folded back and was a straight line with the roof. B-pillar shifted back and spit the back window out of the truck. That was worse off than the stock Bronco with only the hard top. I also know modern trucks that landed on the roof (not a gentle roll like the above, LANDED on the roof) and even with all the modern crash stuff they still folded flat.

As you said the stock top will hold up pretty well if you roll it but I sure would not want to go wheeling and roll it with just a hard top.

The problem with someone saying their hard top is enough for any kind of roll over protection on one of our classics is the seams might be rusted to the point where they will just fold up under any kind of pressure not saying that modern vehicles don't suffer from the same kind of problem its just so many people think that having a hard top on a rig makes them safer and it does to a degree on road not off road there you throw all rules out the window.

 

[TN1776]

I thought the bar that came in mine was stock but I was quickly corrected - I am told it was a Stroppe catalog item (single hoop, 4-points of contact). I tried to sell it as such and there was no interest, so I cut it up and re-used some of the tube to modify a used tube bumper, then sold that whole bumper... I run a 6-point family cage now. I'd like to think it would keep me intact if I tip over, but I am very mindful that my Bronco is probably the least safe vehicle that I own.

 

[spap]

Of the two I had one mounted to the top of the fender well and the other was on the front corner of the fender well.
Wonder if it was the same manufacture.

 

[OB Bronco]

It's amazing to think that the 66' didn't come with seat belts or reverse/back up lights.

 

[AxlesUp]

It's amazing to think that the 66' didn't come with seat belts or reverse/back up lights.

no need for a roll bar when your flying through the air

 

[Scoop]

It's amazing to think that the 66' didn't come with seat belts or reverse/back up lights.

no need for a roll bar when your flying through the air

. . . backwards!

 

[nathan_1970]

It's amazing to think that the 66' didn't come with seat belts or reverse/back up lights.

no need for a roll bar when your flying through the air

. . . backwards!

And, with no indication signals for others to see! ;D