Took delivery of my Area 51 Bronco Raptor - 80/20 on looks but 100% on performance

[Garret Sterling]

Yep, there seems to be a lot of confusion on this forum a real bronco has 4 doors an old bronco has 2 doors !

Booooooooooooooo
It's ok if your wrong.

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[ironmike]

Rapid red is so much nicer than race red (IMO) - most underrated color.

I have to agree. Here's my Explorer ST in Rapid Red!

 

[BuckYeah]

I think both look great! Best of luck with your new Raptor. Enjoy it to the fullest.

 

[JohnGalt]

I think both look great! Best of luck with your new Raptor. Enjoy it to the fullest.

Ding ding ding, finally the correct answer!

 

[AlexInSD]

That is awesome !!! Congratulations and thanks for the information and pictures. Feel free to send more and let us know how it rides. I Haven’t been able to drive the Raptor. So I’m curious can you tell a huge difference in performance?

yes on the performance - but I am superstitious about breaking new motors in so not flogging it yet.

 

[shieldsy]

Ford has done a fantastic job of creating a history and lore around this brand that never existed 3 years ago. Bronco was an obscure, primitive, and inconsistent car that was never very popular, capable, or well constructed. Now we're all acting like we've had some longstanding obsession with it as it its "roots" matter somehow. Everyone is a sucker for good marketing.

That is a mind boggling hot take.

Maybe you haven't been aware of any history or lore that existed before 3 years ago but if you had grown up in SoCal and hung out in the desert and baja you would have been aware. I could easily argue that Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe dramatically transformed all of off road racing with their wins in Big Oly.

I still actively use my Gen 2 Bronco. It has proven extremely reliable and consistent. A Bronco version that was so popular that they produced ~180,000 of them over the two year run. The V8, Dana 44 front axle, C6 tranny and off road measurables all in a full size body with luxury for the era made it a highly capable vehicle to wheel.

Bronco life sure didn't begin when you became aware of the Bronco in 2020 and starting reading marketing material. I, for one, have had a very longstanding obsession with the Bronco.

 

[SmokeSaves]

At first glance I thought this was the new "Heritage Edition" Bronco, but quickly realized it didn't have the white stripe and white wheels!

 

[MrParticular]

Both Area 51!!! You should have considered an Area 52 for the 2nd one... my ¢.02

 

[SkyKing]

That is a mind boggling hot take.

Maybe you haven't been aware of any history or lore that existed before 3 years ago but if you had grown up in SoCal and hung out in the desert and baja you would have been aware. I could easily argue that Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe dramatically transformed all of off road racing with their wins in Big Oly.

I still actively use my Gen 2 Bronco. It has proven extremely reliable and consistent. A Bronco version that was so popular that they produced ~180,000 of them over the two year run. The V8, Dana 44 front axle, C6 tranny and off road measurables all in a full size body with luxury for the era made it a highly capable vehicle to wheel.

Bronco life sure didn't begin when you became aware of the Bronco in 2020 and starting reading marketing material. I, for one, have had a very longstanding obsession with the Bronco.

Ha I’m older than you think and not my first Bronco.

 

[stampede1]

Initially, I liked the look of the 2 doors, but my opinion has changed and I think the 4-door is more attractive and proportionate. If I was to get a 2-door, I would not want the Sas package (for appearance reasons - 2-door Sas looks a little silly to me - but it doesn't matter what I think). I somewhat reject the notion that any of us have any say or credibility to call out what a real bronco is - times change and it's whatever Ford says it is, and our opinions are nothing more than opinions. Ford has done a fantastic job of creating a history and lore around this brand that never existed 3 years ago. Bronco was an obscure, primitive, and inconsistent car that was never very popular, capable, or well constructed. Now we're all acting like we've had some longstanding obsession with it as it its "roots" matter somehow. Everyone is a sucker for good marketing.

I am dating myself but the Bronco was well received at its inception in 1966, and sold thousands of vehicles to satisfied customers in various configurations. Then with some of the most famous names in racing, established multiple first place wins in a variety of world famous off road races such as the Baja 1000. Contrary to your assertion about quality, my 1989 was an outstanding example of a great vehicle. The Bronco, regardless of year and era, occupied a unique, cherished niche in American motoring. Thousands of prospective buyers waited for years for the return of the Bronco and the ordering process which eventually arrived in 2020 exhausted Ford's production capacity, and 2023 is not far behind. I am not sure where you got your perception of the legacy of the Bronco and its place in the hearts of America, but you have much to learn about it to say the least.

 

[bronco_boy]

yes on the performance - but I am superstitious about breaking new motors in so not flogging it yet.

Some feel better not to drive hard for 500km, some the opposite. From what I've come to learn, once my bronco arrives, I'll be driving that truck through ALL the paces right away! Gotta seat those rings......

 

[Roostracing]

I drive a F150 Raptor and have a Warthog on order. So it is much easier to say I have in my garage a Raptor and Warthog as oppose to F150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor.

I thought it was going to be called warthog but got canned last minute by Ford. In theory there isn't a warthog. I do like the name better but its a Braptor for me.

 

[UtahGreg]

Your A51 Raptor looks great. And don't worry about the redundant color theme. My wife and I have matching Rapid Red vehicles and we love it:

what rock rails?steps do you have on your rig?

 

[Raptor911]

Ford wants to make "Raptor" a brand. Once, the Ranger Raptor is released in the U.S., there will be 3 Raptors.

Look at BMW, they made the "M" a brand. If you go to their BMW's website, M cars is a trim onto itself.

I thought it was going to be called warthog but got canned last minute by Ford. In theory there isn't a warthog. I do like the name better but its a Braptor for me.

 

[SkyKing]

That is a mind boggling hot take.

Maybe you haven't been aware of any history or lore that existed before 3 years ago but if you had grown up in SoCal and hung out in the desert and baja you would have been aware. I could easily argue that Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe dramatically transformed all of off road racing with their wins in Big Oly.

I still actively use my Gen 2 Bronco. It has proven extremely reliable and consistent. A Bronco version that was so popular that they produced ~180,000 of them over the two year run. The V8, Dana 44 front axle, C6 tranny and off road measurables all in a full size body with luxury for the era made it a highly capable vehicle to wheel.

Bronco life sure didn't begin when you became aware of the Bronco in 2020 and starting reading marketing material. I, for one, have had a very longstanding obsession with the Bronco.

First of all this is not my first Bronco - you you can step down off your little soap box. "Growing up in SoCal hanging out in the desert in the late 70s..." that's your proof point that the Bronco was a global automotive icon??? Thanks for playing but you proved my point perfectly. It was an obscure car, with low production. They made over 600,000 Mustangs in 1965, and even more in 1966. And calling the current Bronco Gen "6" is a major stretch. This doesn't have near the history of Jeep, Mustang, Porsche 911, Corvette, or even Camaro. Your Gen 2 Bronco was barely different than the Chevy Blazer, which outsold the Bronco 5:1. I love my new Bronco and I loved my 1988 Bronco. But from 40,000 feet, there just isn't that much history to the Bronco. Good marketing though. Have a good day.

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