Amanda Mertz introduces you to the first ever 1966 Ford Bronco that we encountered when we visited Gateway Bronco. When we say first ever, we do not mean a first generation Bronco, which would include the Ford Bronco trucks that were built from 1966-1977. No, when we say first bronco, we mean the very first one ever made. The serial number portion of the VIN (vehicle Identification Number) is all zeros. This was the prototype vehicle, built at Ford’s Michigan pilot production plant.
This car started its life as a teal green colored half-cab, with a 6 cylinder engine. It was soon shipped off to California, where it was delivered to the one and only Carroll Shelby, the legendary race car driver and builder. Shelby promptly removed the 6 cylinder engine, and swapped in a 289 cubic inch V8. Shelby also decided that the Bronco could use a facelift, and painted the truck red and white.
In the late seventies (1978), the Bronco was sold to a car dealership owner in Texas, Vincent “Vinnie” Yakubanski. Vinnie changed the color of the Bronco once again, to the color you see here today. The Yakubanski family enjoyed taking the Bronco on family vacations for many years.
In 2016, Gateway Bronco owner and CEO Seth Burgett gained possession of the first ford Bronco ever. Gateway Bronco is an awesome facility, and they do an amazing job restoring those early classic ford Bronco trucks. You can see a couple of videos the GearHeadTour created while visiting Seth and the Gateway Bronco facility in Hamel, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, Missouri. GearHeadTour wants to thank Seth Burgett and Gateway Bronco for giving us access to their awesome facility.
Be sure to check out the website FirstBronco.com for more information about this really cool piece of automotive history.
