Now, you might look at the Ford Bronco Sport and say, “that’s not a real Bronco,” but you’d be out of your mind if you said the same for the 2- or 4-door Bronco. There are so many subtle and obvious hints that the 2021 Ford Bronco carries around 50-year-old DNA. There might not be an overabundance of it, but that’s a good thing. Now, we’re learning that Ford actually 3D scanned an original Bronco to give engineers a firm starting point. Did it work? You bet your ass it did.

Modern Technology + Old Design = New Bronco

It wasn’t for lack of trying, though. The company considered a new Bronco way back in the late 1990s, just a few years after the final 1996 model rolled off the production line. Five years after that, Ford introduced us to the 2004 Bronco concept that was boxy as hell and looks fairly similar to what we have now with a few exceptions. Years passed, and then a decade passed, all while the Jeep Wrangler was dominating the off-road market.

. How it got to this point, however, wouldn’t have happened if the company hadn’t designed such a legendary off-roader five decades ago, and you should probably thank Ford’s Chief Designer, Moray Callum.

New Ford Bronco vs Original Ford Bronco

Callum didn’t only lead the Bronco project for its entirety, but he also happens to own a 1976 Bronco that he, reportedly, moved a few parts from to make it look even older. The glory of old vehicles, right? Back to the point, Callum brought his ’76 Bronco into the shop so that his team could use it as a starting point. That wasn’t enough, though, and the designers took things to the next level by placing dots along the body of the Bronco, and then 3D scanned it with a photographic measuring system. From there, the design team was able to digitally tweak, adjust, and shape the all-new 2021 Ford Bronco with one of the originals as a template.

Original Ford Bronco engine lineup

The results are so obvious that it hurts in a good way. The original had a rather simplistic face with round headlights, and you can see that design in the new one. Even the simple turn signals were revamped and modernized but still in place. Sure, the rear quarters sit higher than on the original, but the utility and customization aspect is all there. You can remove the roof, the doors, and you will be able to cover this thing from front to rear or inside and out with factory or aftermarket accessories. In all honestly, the biggest design difference is the big BRONCO name as opposed to the normal Ford branding.

2021 Ford Bronco engine lineup

Now that the Bronco is out, we get to watch one hell of a fight take place. Ford is launching the 2021 Bronco with more than 200 factory accessories. At the same time, the aftermarket scene is bound to be ripe with offerings, and if you don’t believe that, just look at the aftermarket accessory offering for the Jeep Wrangler. Accessories are only part of the battle, though, as Ford is now able to offer something that actually poses a threat to the Jeep Wrangler. After all, there was so much demand for the First Edition that ford was forced to increase production from 3,500 units to 7,000 units,, all of which were sold out by the time the announcement was made. The best part? Chevy dropped the ball with the abortion on wheels known as the Blazer, and that’s coming from a guy that usually leans more toward GM than Ford or Chrysler products.