Ford’s Bronco Roadster Concept Channels the Original 1966 U13

Desmond Milligan · August 18

Ford’s Bronco Roadster Concept Channels the Original 1966 U13 originally appeared on Autoblog.

A Nod to Sixty Years of Bronco

Ford is marking the Bronco's 60th birthday with a mix of special projects that reflect both heritage and modern flair. Following the 60th Anniversary Edition package and the custom Silver Lake Dunes builds, the company has introduced another one-off to commemorate the milestone: the Bronco Roadster Concept.

The inspiration for the Bronco Roadster comes from the original 1966 U13 Bronco Roadster, the most stripped-down and playful of the three launch body styles. Marketed as "the world's first four-wheel-drive sports car," the U13 carried the spirit of an off-road Mustang more directly than the half-cab pickup or the wagon, embodying what Ford designers called "fun through simplicity." That philosophy became the starting point for the modern concept.

Ford

View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article

Inspired by the U13 OG Bronco

The Roadster Concept reimagines what the U13 might look like in 2025, while staying true to its open-air roots. The body has been pared back to a Wimbledon White shell with no roof or doors, echoing the bare-bones look of the original.

Door openings have been angled and finished rather than left raw, while the swing-out tailgate has been replaced with a custom fold-down unit stamped with the vintage "FORD" wordmark. At each end, simple steel bumpers mirror the utilitarian style of the first-generation Bronco, and machined Fifteen52 Analog wheels finish off the retro stance.

Inside, Ford has taken the same reductionist approach. The rear seats are gone, replaced with a cargo area that doubles as a truck-style bed with a full-size spare mounted inside. The front seats lose their headrests and wear silver vinyl upholstery, with the same material used on the grab handles.

Ford stripped out the carpeting, leaving exposed steel floors and Wimbledon White-painted dash panels for a spartan, purposeful finish. The result blurs the line between interior and exterior – way beyond what you can do with a regular Bronco – a theme that matches the open-air philosophy behind the project.

Ford

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

It's A Design Exercise...For Now

The Bronco Roadster Concept is a design exercise and will not see production. The absence of a roll cage, modern seat restraints, and weather protection makes it impractical (and unsafe) as a road-going vehicle.

Mechanically, it has a manual gearbox, which means power comes from the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Beyond its engineering, though, the concept is more of a reminder than a product plan. It highlights the DNA of simplicity, freedom, and adventure that Ford continues to emphasize in the current Bronco lineup.

While this exact vehicle will remain a one-off, the design cues could inform future accessories or limited-edition trims, keeping the spirit of the U13 alive six decades after it first appeared.