U.S. Army tests the Bronco at Fort Hood

[Bugkillah]

Yeah, but only two doors. So limiting…

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[mcinfantry]

Ford wanted to replace the M151A2 Mutt and contemplated the savings of using a commercial-based product.
The Army tested the Dodge Ramcharger, Chevrolet Blazer, CJ-5, and Scout II.

The Army did buy the Blazer (M1009) and K20 pickup (M1008), after initially buying Dodge 3/4-ton 4x4 pickups (M880).

Note: The Army did buy some Scouts, from the 800 series to the Scout II for bases, at least in the US.

Not exactly accurate
The 1951 to 70’s (I think 60’ may be last USMC variant) m38a1 WAS the basis for which the 1955 cj5 was developed. An m38a1 IS a CJ 5
Also the 67-69 m715, was what the military replaced the m37 with, as it was the first attempt at a COTS replacement or
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(Also note I daily drove a 53 m38a1 in the 80’s in high school and a 67 m715 in the late 90’s)

The m151 replaced the m38a1 in iirc early 60’s (and we still shot at them as target practice at the range in 1993….)
The hmmwv replaced the m151

the cots program was
M715
M1008/m1009
The 1008 we cannabalized for axle swaps late 90’s and 2000’s

Fun fact the 6.2 in the 1008/1009 was eventually ‘fixed’ in the 6.5 and am general bought the tooling and that’s why the hmmwv continues to run the mother long after gm abandoned it. They also were able to fix the mechanical issues with the block that plagued the 6.2/6.5

 

[Squatch]

Yeah, but only two doors. So limiting…

Two doors, four pax, so limited...

 

[Gnomad]

My first real 4x4 was a military spec Scout II. It was titled as a 1971 although it wasn't released to the cilivilian world until 1972. Four pot 196ci engine, 3 speed manual, no power steering or power assist for the brakes, army spec seats like a school bus, and mine came with a bullet mark on the rear fender. It was not fast or quick, but could get 17 to 18 mpg highway and could be coaxed, cajoled or whipped into going anywhere. Used it for commuting between Eagle River and Anchorage for college and delivering pizza. The simplcity was sublime.

 

[Draughon]

Saw this headline and was half-hoping they were doing live fire drills with it... ;-)

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

Not exactly accurate
The 1951 to 70’s (I think 60’ may be last USMC variant) m38a1 WAS the basis for which the 1955 cj5 was developed. An m38a1 IS a CJ 5
Also the 67-69 m715, was what the military replaced the m37 with, as it was the first attempt at a COTS replacement or
Consumer Off The Shelf
(Also note I daily drove a 53 m38a1 in the 80’s in high school and a 67 m715 in the late 90’s)

The m151 replaced the m38a1 in iirc early 60’s (and we still shot at them as target practice at the range in 1993….)
The hmmwv replaced the m151

the cots program was
M715
M1008/m1009
The 1008 we cannabalized for axle swaps late 90’s and 2000’s

Fun fact the 6.2 in the 1008/1009 was eventually ‘fixed’ in the 6.5 and am general bought the tooling and that’s why the hmmwv continues to run the mother long after gm abandoned it. They also were able to fix the mechanical issues with the block that plagued the 6.2/6.5

The M715 was the unsuccessful replacement for the M37, as the older M37 was vastly superior in every way.

The Marines also fielded the "Mighty Mite" as their Jeep, M422 (1,250 built) and M422A1 (2,672 built)

I would argue that the M715 was not a COTS attempt. My opinion. I consider it a genuine tactical design, albeit beginning with the civilian SJ Gladiator pickup.
.

 

[lapazleo]

Internationals were simple and cheap. Low technology = affordable reliability.

Bronco's were simple and cheap back then too.

 

[Sherminiator]

The M715 was the unsuccessful replacement for the M37, as the older M37 was vastly superior in every way.

I don't know about that...a modified/updated M715 known as Kia/Hyundai K311 cargo truck is still in use today

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K311_cargo_truck

 

[Murfman]

Gama goat was the shit!!!! Gama Goat - Wikipedia

 

[BroncoDave24]

And don't forget, International made the legendary 7.3L Powerstroke engines for Ford.

 

[Fordified1]

And don't forget, International made the legendary 7.3L Powerstroke engines for Ford.

They also made the 6.0 which didn’t fare so well.

 

[Fordified1]

Bronco's were simple and cheap back then too.

Yep and better than a Scout or Jeep in my opinion. The Scout didn’t have enough power to break anything, thus the reliability, and when they put a V8 in the Jeep they had an issue with breaking axles. We had a Scout II for a while and it wasn’t bad. But did have a death wobble problem. Had a 71 Blazer and it had rust issues and broken shock mounts.

 

[BroncoDave24]

Yeah, We try to forget about the 6.0...

 

[Fordified1]

Yeah, We try to forget about the 6.0...

Everyone building Diesels to pass the new emissions requirements struggled for a few years except maybe Cummins. Cat just said hell no and quit building on-road engines for domestic use.

 

[Gnomad]

Gama goat was the shit!!!! Gama Goat - Wikipedia

Some friends from high school bought a cpouple of Gamma Goats when the army in AK surplussed them, and they said that were were absolute shit. They got stuck at the first sign of ickyness and were pure buttered hell to get them unstuck. SUSV's were better off road but not practical on the road.

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