Your brand-new 1966-77 Ford Bronco has arrived
Vintage trucks and SUVs are hot right now. Prices have been climbing for years, with first-generation Ford Broncos leading the charge. Top dollar is being paid for good original sheetmetal, but reproduction companies have recently jumped into the action by creating a catalog of enough parts vast enough to build a “new” 50-year-old Bronco. Now Gateway Bronco is taking it one step further and making fully-assembled first-generation Broncos just a few clicks away.
According to Gateway’s website, three versions are available for purchase: Fuelie, Coyote Edition, and Modern Day Warrior. Each name provides information about the styling and power-source of the build. The Fuelie represents the “budget” option, with an original-style interior trimmed in leather and a 347ci V-8 under the hood. The top-tier Modern Day Warrior and mid-level Coyote Edition receive a heart transplant from a modern 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 in both cases. Entry-level pricing starts at $95,000 but optioned-out Modern Day Warriors can easily top the $180k mark.
Resto-mod Broncos aren’t new, as a handful of outfits have been creating bespoke interiors and swapping modern engines into classic metal for many years at every price point. The difference here is that the customer need not provide a donor vehicle for rebuilding. And thanks to the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 Gateway is able to source all the parts to build a turn-key, 50-year-old Bronco. The legislation provides small, vehicle manufacturing outfits the ability to use engines from production cars that have been issued certificates of conformity—explaining why the modern Coyote engine is the preferred selection.
The company has multiple examples available on site, providing us with a glimpse of scope of their operations. So if you happen to be in the market for a either a relatively-stock beach cruiser, or resto-mod 4×4, Gateway Bronco just might have the classic SUV for you.
