The new Ford Bronco will arrive in 2020, but those who can’t wait that long now have the opportunity to have their fill with the original Bronco courtesy of a company called Gateway Bronco. The Illinois-based outfit has been restoring the first-generation Bronco since it started operations in 2016. But thanks to a partnership with Ford, Gateway Bronco has announced plans to go beyond restoring original Broncos and will build brand new, old Broncos under license from Ford. Mind you; these aren’t Gateway’s “interpretation” of the original Broncos. These are original Broncos that Gateway will build with the blessing of Ford. They even come with a five-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty. Gateway plans to build three versions of the original Bronco, all in limited quantities. The price range of these models goes from $120,000 to $180,000.

It seems too good to be true, but in this case, it’s legitimate, too. After years — decades, in some cases — of waiting for the Bronco to come back, we’re not only getting a new one due in 2020, but we’re also getting the iconic OG Bronco courtesy of a company that only started operations two years ago.

For its part, Gateway Bronco has come a long way since 2016. It started as a company that restored old Broncos, but in a short span of time, it has evolved into something bigger than that. A lot bigger. To date, no company has had this kind of agreement with Ford to completely remake a classic model. These aren’t restorations, folks. These aren’t even recreations like the Icon Bronco. The Broncos that Gateway Bronco will make are exact spec versions of the ones Ford built from 1966 to 1977. Gateway can even build you an entirely new body and a modern chassis. That’s right. There’s no need to scour the world for a donor OG Bronco. You can ask Gateway to build you one, and with blessings from Ford, it can do it without a problem, provided you’re willing to pay for it.

If you do have an old Bronco lying around, you can also have it restored. Gateway Bronco can put a new body onto the vintage frame, ensuring that even if the body is remanufactured, the original Ford VIN number and frame of your Bronco remains. Obviously, both versions of the Bronco will come with improvements to the chassis and suspension components, as well as a more premium interior to go with major mechanical upgrades.

Speaking of mechanical upgrades, the Gateway’s Bronco recreations will also use modern engines. While there is some sentimentality in keeping the 3.3-liter straight-six engine that powered the original Bronco, it’s probably a better idea to give the OG Bronco a more modern — and potent — kick. On that end, Gateway Bronco is offering two engine options for its Broncos. Gateway hasn’t mentioned how much power each engine will produce, but it did say that the Broncos it builds will use either a four-speed automatic transmission, a five-speed manual transmission, or a six-speed Raptor transmission depending on the version.

The three versions in question are called the Fuelie, Coyote Edition, and the Modern Day Warrior. The Fuelie is the baby of the bunch. It’s the only one to use the fuel-injected 347-stroker engine, and that unit is paired with either a four-speed auto or a five-speed manny. In addition, it also comes with modern leather upholstery and a slew of basic options, including the choice to go for cut or original fenders, as well as a bikini top or a full hard top. Even if the Fuelie counts as the entry-level version of Gateway’s Bronco, it still comes with a $120,000 price tag. Nope, it’s not cheap, but that’s the price you have to pay to get your hands on a remade OG Bronco.

If you’re willing to spend a little bit more cheddar cheese, you can opt for the Bronco Coyote Edition. It’s the same unit found under the hood of the 2019 Mustang GT so it should be good to produce somewhere in the vicinity of 400 horsepower to 500 horsepower. More importantly, the Bronco Coyote Edition is tipped to receive its own list of options, most of which include quality materials and equipment of the modern persuasion. The price to score the Coyote Edition? $150,000.

Then there’s the range-topping Bronco Modern Day Warrior Edition. Like the Coyote, it’s also powered by the same Mustang GT-sourced Coyote V-8 engine. Unlike the Coyote, the Modern Day Warrior lines up with a six-speed transmission that Gateway is sourcing from the Ford F-150 Raptor. It’s being built in the spirit of its OG brethren, though the interior is flush on the premium side, thanks in large part to the use of genuine Porsche leather. Needless to say, you’ll have to pay the most for the Bronco Modern Day Warrior Edition, and by “most” I mean to the tune of $180,000.

The corresponding prices won’t make it easy to buy them, but don’t expect these models to sit around long either. Gateway Bronco only plans to build four vehicles per month in 2019. The good news is that these Broncos don’t need to comply with the same safety and emissions regulations as a normal production car, thanks largely to the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015. It’s the same law that allows the Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company to sell new examples of the DMC-12 made famous in the movie Back to the Future.

So, there you have it. Excuse the lame pun, but Gateway Bronco — and Ford — has given as a gateway into owning a first-generation Broncos to the road, built to the exact specification of the classic SUV from 40 years ago. Remember, Gateway isn’t bringing back to life what has already existed all this time. It’s unlike Singer and its recreated Porsche 911s in that sense. There’s something to be said for the opportunity this provides fans of the original Ford Bronco. You’ll probably never going to own a fully functional OG Bronco with all the original parts. But thanks to Gateway, you won’t have to anymore.

Further Reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Ford Bronco.

Read our full speculative review on the 2021 Ford Baby Bronco.

Read our full review on the 2005 Ford Bronco.