Bronco Cryptozoology #44: The Twin Traction Beam classic Bronco

Cryptozoology is the study of mythical creatures that may or may not exist.

This applies to Broncos how? Well, there is a lot of mystery and myths surrounding certain Bronco models and specialty-built Broncos.

So, this new segment at the blog will focus on these prototypes, one of a kind, special editions and the most historical Broncos ever built.

To keep the posts short, we will include only a brief story of each

We will try to separate fact from fiction and possibly come up with more questions than answers.

At first, I was going to compile this into one post, but it got waaay too long.

It is no secret that Ford had been looking at a full-size Bronco concept since 1972.

In 1973 they even built one, the license plate said 1976, that may have been the planned launch date. The photograph is dated May 10, 1973, and the rig clearly has the 73 grill.

Ford knew the classic Bronco needed to be replaced with a full-size unit. Chevy and Dodge were building full-size SUVs and neither had bothered to build a compact size competitor to the classic Bronco.

While this was going on Ford was also experimenting with a new independent 4WD front suspension based on the 2WD Twin-I Beam, introduced in 1966.

The full-size Bronco was delayed, while work continued on the Twin Traction Beam 4-wheel drive system.

In 1978 Ford introduced the full-size Bronco, but Ford already had a replacement in the works and the Gen 2 Bronco was only produced for two years, as a result, the 78 & 79 Broncos got the solid front axle, not the twin traction beam.

The Twin Traction Beam was introduced with the new 1980 Bronco and F-150.

Rewind back to 1976, the Twin Traction Beam needed to be tested and what better place than Baja?. Ford installed a TTB system into Joe Baker's 1968 Bronco and he took it racing. They told him to give it all he had. 

If you hadn't figured it out yet, this story is a fabrication, the Bronco above was built by some California racers, they used full width TTB out of a full-size Bronco/F-150 and a set of wide fiberglass fenders.