Two-Tone 1968 Ford Bronco Is an Old-School Beauty Sporting Modern Features

il y a 4 semaines, 2 jours - 16 Mai 2024, autoevolution
1968 Ford Bronco
1968 Ford Bronco
Here comes ICON's latest creation. It is the two-tone blue Old School Edition Bronco dressed up to the nines by restoration specialists ICON 4x4, which do the job without altering the model's DNA. Even though it looks like a 1968, it features modern equipment such a head up display and navigation.

The firm has been restoring and imagining vintage design vehicles since 2005. Ford Broncos, Toyota Land Cruisers, or Chevrolet Thriftmasters drove out of their shop wearing modern attire underneath the classic looks. Those old SUVs are rigid, difficult to drive and lack the comfort of today’s cars. ICON 4x4 addresses all the deficiencies and sends old-school-looking vehicles with contemporary features to the road.

This time, the ICON team worked on a 1968 Bronco, which became a tribute to the models of its era. They came up with a two-tone blue vintage paint scheme that instantly catches the eye. It is a custom Azul Niagra Blue with a contrasting Wimbledon white, treated with xPel ceramic coating.

There are chrome details on the doors, headlight bezels, and grille placement inspired by those of the 1960s. Meanwhile, the original plastic has been elevated to machined metal. A removable hard top and bikini top are part of the plan for an open-air experience.

Founder and CEO of ICON 4x4, Jonathan Ward, says that their work redefines the expectations of collectors for restored and modified vintage Broncos. The company focuses on delivering a quality truck that will last forever. The model that comes out of their hands must be easy to use and drive and make an impression on the road.

And the 1968 ICON BR Old School Edition, as they call their latest creation, should check all the boxes. The vehicle is built on a proprietary Art Morrison chassis. It is coated with a zinc-rich epoxy base primer powder and finished with a durable black powder coat. The body assembly of the vehicle underwent a multi-step process that protects it, thus prolonging its life.

Powder coating is followed by painting and by a heat-cured polyuria application underneath the fenders, through the entire body and interior floors. The treatment is applied to mitigate noise, heat, and vibration while on the move, but also protects the vehicle against corrosion.

Moore & Giles saddle leather covers the door panels and seats, while the wool carpeting displays a sophisticated oatmeal hue. Meanwhile, the section from the dashboard to the two-spoke steering wheel and tilt column matches the exterior blue paintwork.

The dashboard has been redesigned by ICON, which also came up with aluminum in-dash AC vents powered by a Vintage Air V5 VHAC system. The company has tried to keep the Bronco as authentic as possible. That is exactly why the team paid attention to every single inch inside and outside.

The 1968 Bronco also features unique power windows, as well as a premium audio system and navigation as optional features. Furthermore, there is a head up display, a reverse camera, focal K2 speakers, full navigation, CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, and satellite radio.

The BR Old School Edition is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote Gen III engine, which is mated to an AOD four-speed automatic transmission and an Atlas II two-speed shift-on-the-fly transfer case. A stainless steel Borla exhaust with catalytic converters brings out all the drama of the Coyote.

Meanwhile, Brambo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with Hydroboost are linked to Currie axles, based on Dana 60 and Dana 44.

The modernised Bronco rides on forged 18-inch Old School wheels with BFG 285/65/R18 all-terrain tires, and sporting vintage Ford hubcaps. Optional ARB locking differentials are also available. And there was something more that Ford did. A new spare tire carrier system showed up at the back in order to leave rear visibility unobstructed. The tailgate has now become easier to open and close as per ICON 4x4.

There is no information on the price, but a vintage Bronco with modern amenities surely can't be cheap. Back in 2020, an ICON 4x4 BR, also sporting the Old School design package, came for $190,000. 

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