With a modern Ford Bronco just around the corner, TV personality and car collector Jay Leno gave new life to a first-generation Bronco Wagon with help from Ford Performance and various aftermarket tuning shops. Shown to the public at the 2019 SEMA Show, this Bronco retains the looks of the original SUV, but it features modern underpinnings with a supercharged V-8 built by Ford Performance. The story behind the vehicle is quite interesting, as it was left for Jay Leno as a joke by fellow TV host Craig Ferguson. Leno kept the vehicle in his garage unrestored until he decided that it deserves a new life.

Various companies and shops contributed to the project, starting with Ford Performance, FoMoCo's very own performance division. Kincer Chassis, Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, SEMA Garage, and LGE-CTS Motorsports.

1968 Ford Bronco Wagon by Jay Leno, Ford Performance, LGE-CTS, and SEMA Garage

Specifications
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  • Model: 1968 Ford Bronco Wagon by Jay Leno, Ford Performance, LGE-CTS, and SEMA Garage
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Pros
Cons

1968 Ford Bronco Wagon by Jay Leno, Ford Performance, LGE-CTS, and SEMA Garage Exterior

- Looks just like the original Bronco - Brand-new paint - Two-tone color scheme - Perfectly restored

Jay Leno's Bronco looks like a standard 1968 model on the outside. I'm guessing Leno wanted to keep the exterior as close to the original and it turns out that Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, SEMA Garage, and LGE-CTS Motorsports did a great job. While Dennis Carpenter provided the body panels, SEMA Garage handled the computer-aided design and 3D printing, while LGE-CTS Motorsports revived the body with custom mods and paints.

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The exterior is actually a bit dull overall, as the truck is painted in a very dark shade of blue, while the roof, the front grille, and the wheels are white. Ford offered nicer color combinations back in the day and I think this SUV deserves a brighter body paint. The badges and the chrome parts are as shiny as they get, while the body panels look crisp and clean. A solid restoration project so far.

1968 Ford Bronco Wagon by Jay Leno, Ford Performance, LGE-CTS, and SEMA Garage Interior

- Retails the original Bronco layout - Fine leather upholstery - Saddle brown seats and door panels - Dakota Digital gauges - Sony audio system

Installed by Rogelio's Upholstery, the high-end hide adorns the upper section of the dashboard, the seats, and the door panels. The leather is colored saddle brown, so it adds a touch of elegance to the interior. Only two modern features set it apart from the original Bronco, the Dakota Digital gauges and the Sony audio system with Scosche upgrades.

1968 Ford Bronco Wagon by Jay Leno, Ford Performance, LGE-CTS, and SEMA Garage Drivetrain

- Supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 - In excess of 500 horsepower - 5-speed Tremec gearbox - Brand-new chassis - New transfer case - Borla mufflers - Race-spec suspension - High-performance brakes

While the exterior and the cabin are pretty much stock, everything under the skin is modern. This Bronco rides on a modern chassis from Kincer Chassis and features a supercharged, 5.2-liter V-8 engine built by Ford Performance. The engine mates to a five-speed sports transmission from Tremec, fitted with Quickdraw bellhousing and STX shifter assembly. Upgrades also include

-* Anew transfer case

-* A custom airbox

-* A custom exhaust

-* A stainless-steel gas tank

-* Cooling systems by Brice Thomas

-* Borla mufflers

-* Aeromotive fuel filter

-* Stage 8 header bolts

Full Throttle Kustomz Performance tuning round off the bespoke drivetrain.

So how powerful is this thing? Sadly, Ford has yet to unveil output figures. However, given the large displacement and the supercharger, it's safe to assume that this Bronco hits the ground with well in excess of 500 horsepower.

An SUV with so much oomph might seem difficult to drive, especially when you floor it, but Ford and Kincer made sure that it's stable through massive chassis upgrades, including:

-* Fox 2.0 race-inspired coilover shocks

-* Fox 2.0 race-inspired steering stabilizer

-* Carolina Driveline driveshafts

-* Dutchman Motorsports axle shafts

-* Flaming River steering column

Stopping power comes from Wilwood disc brakes and a matching master cylinder. Overall, this Bronco should be nimble enough for a few fast laps on the Nurburgring.

Final Thoughts

As a famous car collector, Jay Leno owns vehicles that most of us don't even get to see in real life. But he also owns a bunch of mundane cars that still roam the streets a few decades later. The 1968 Bronco isn't exactly common nowadays, but it's among the popular nameplates that you can still buy and restore for decent prices. Like many other common vehicles he owns, this Bronco was brought back to life the cool restomod way. It looks just like the original car, but it's a supercharged hot-rod under the skin. It's a fate many vintage cars should have nowadays.