The Ford Bronco, a popular sport utility vehicle, was manufactured for thirty years, from 1966 to 1996, in two incarnations. The first spanned the years 1966 to 1977 and are known as "Early Broncos". The second were in production from 1978 to their discontinuation is 1996. Collectively, the two different versions of the Bronco spanned five generations, each having its own distinct features.

The brainchild of Donald N. Frey, the Ford product manager responsible for the Ford Mustang and Lee Iacocca, the very first generation of the Ford Bronco was designed as an off-road vehicle intended to compete with the smaller, lighter International Harvester Scout and the Jeep CJ-5. Unlike the Mustang, which was based on the Ford Fairlane, the body, frame and suspension of the Bronco were unique to itself.

The second generation Broncos were redesigned with several upgrades and a pair of serious flaws. Broncos in 1978 and 1979 were available with full-time or part-time four-wheel drive and in design they were almost identical to the larger Ford trucks of the era. Unfortunately, the merging of the Bronco's tailgate and rear glass panel, allowing the panel to slide down into the hatch. This caused engine overheating and water leakage, neither of which was ever corrected despite numerous s consumer complaints.

Heeding rising concern about fuel economy, the third generation of Ford Bronco was smaller and more fuel efficient. The most crucial change in design was the switch from a live front axle to a hybrid of a solid front axle and independent front suspension. This created a more comfortable ride and offered drivers better control, but those off-roaders using larger-than-stock tired found it frustratingly difficult to keep them aligned.

The fourth generation Broncos underwent another design overhaul. This time it was the drive-train and body of the vehicle that was upgraded. Ford also introduced several designer versions of the Bronco, including the rare 25th Silver Anniversary Edition, as well as an Eddie Bauer version, which came standard with an automatic transmission and V-8 engine.

The fifth and final generation of the Bronco was manufactured between 1992 and 1996 and its design focus was on safety. Rear seat shoulder belts were added, as well as front-end crumple zones, driver-side airbags and a third brake light in the top. Because the third taillight and seatbelts were built right into the removable top, it became illegal to remove them, though it was physically possible. Ford attempted to discourage this with tamper-proof bolts and by removing any mention of the top's removal from their manuals.

The most famous Ford Bronco, of course, is the white 1992 model driven by Al Cowlings in 1994 as part of the infamous low-speed chase that occurred when O.J. Simpson, former football player, was wanted in relation to the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, his wife and her friend Ron Goldman.