The press release for Ford’s Bronco Montana Lobo Concept – saying “Bronco Montana Lobo” aloud sounds kinda like you’re a jet fighter pilot relaying important information of some kind, by the way – says that the concept is a “glimpse into the future of off-road vehicles.” I don’t really think that turned out to be true, for better or worse, but this little-discussed concept does have a few notable features I think are worth pointing out, including some interesting taillight designs and at least one relatively common premium car feature that I’m not sure I’ve seen mentioned prior to this concept.
The Bronco Montana Lobo was actually built by Ghia in Turin, Italy (remember, Ford owned Ghia at this time) and was built on a pre-1977 Bronco frame. The press release specifically notes it’s a pre-1977 frame, for some reason. The concept wasn’t one that was ever really intended fro production, but was more to showcase a lot of individual features.
The press release notes that the dashboard design was adapted for the 1980 Thunderbird, even! And it seems to have had a loading ramp tailgate, which the pictures don’t seem to show. Let’s look at this thing:
There’s a lot going on here, and it feels pleasingly sci-fi-ish, especially with that central rollbar/wing/lightbar thing. I also really like the bubble-glass doors, which you can maybe see the bubbled quality a bit better here:
That’s a fun thing, if you don’t mind giving up a bit of in-car privacy. Those front bumpers are interesting, mostly because of how the press release describes the material they’re made of:
“Self-skinning?” Ew. Why does that sound so gross? I think this must mean the foam creates its own outer membrane, like how hot cocoa does sometimes?
Around back we have some nice longitudinal benches in an open bed, separated from the main cabin by what looks like a glass door? I also like the lower, aft-of-the-rear-wheels storage boxes, and yes, those taillights caught my eye.
You may be wondering why I find them interesting, because they seem quite simple, almost boring? Perhaps, but to me, they grabbed my attention like a Pomeranian grabbing a dropped sausage, because they seem to be a sort of update of the classic “box taillight”:
See how the Bronco Montana Lobo’s taillights aren’t really integrated into the body, but are separate units just kind of stuck in that little cove? They seem to be units like the box taillight, complete with side marker reflector, just a bit more of a clean, modern design, with different proportions.
If you need a Box Taillight refresher, boy are you in luck:
This sort of updating the classic ubiquitous box taillight design reminds me of how Jeep did the same basic thing on their production JK Wranglers, right down to the flipping of the reverse light to be on the bottom instead of the top:
I think I like the Ford ones better!
The other thing I want to note about the Bronco Montana Lobo Echo Idaho Fomo Bromo concept is this note in the press release:
Ventilated seats with a blower that can send heated or cooled air into the seat? In 1980? Now, I know Cadillac had heated seats back in 1966, but the first actually ventilated seats hit the market in 1997, in a Saab. This predates that by 17 years! Was Ford really the first with actively ventilated seats? And, if so, how did they get beaten to the punch by Saab?
Fascinating, right? Ford should be making a bigger deal out of this.
This reminds me of the Slate. Maybe because the Slate kind of looks like a Bronco II.
Either they took the Enzo approach or Ford presaged rearview cameras, too.
This reminds me of the Fisher-Price Adventure People safari vehicle, or something designed by Nylint Toys.
Speaking of taillights – did you see Hank Green has made some socks covered in taillights? https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0682/1786/4474/files/GS_TechConnections-TailLight_1080x1080-Logo.jpg?v=1758292754?width=533
Placing the exhaust on the running boards. Geniuses.
Well, if you parked that in Texas, the doors would turn the interior into a literal oven.
Maybe it’s for use in cold climates. Paired with a remote start, maybe it would melt the snow on the running board, so you don’t slip getting in.
Answer: Accountants.
Pudding. The bumper guards are homemade pudding.
Also, I immediately knew where Jason was going with the taillights. Get out of my head!
“saying “Bronco Montana Lobo” aloud sounds kinda like you’re a jet fighter pilot relaying important information of some kind,”
Bowel Movement: Legendary?
STAB
https://www.theautopian.com/how-i-got-my-navy-callsign-by-shitting-myself-in-an-f-a-18-fighter-jet-twice/
I’m not sure I like it, but I want it.
This actually presages the Bronco II. The front end design and body creases have stong Ranger vibes. Keep in mind that the ’77 and up Bronco was a monster compared to the original in size.
I was thinking the same re:Ranger vibes.
I can also see a lot of 1980 full-size truck and some MkI Fiesta in the fender and body creases. These were definitely percolating around Ford design in those years.
With conventional doors and a pick-up bed, that would be a great little utility vehicle
You’d have to take the couches out of the back first!
First time you try and scrape ice of those plastic doors they are ruined!
But love everything about it anyway!
Looks like something from a rather cheap sci-fi movie, where they just stuck on some creative this and that on the outside of an existing car, kinda like the RoboCop 6000SUX, only worse.
Sticking a whole lotta plastic on the outside of an existing car reminded me of something… And it’s the Datsun 720 Bushmaster! 🙂
Or maybe the Matra Simca Rancho!
Forget plastic. Make them out of glass with internal heating elements, so they can self-defrost – no need to scrape.
I had a Sport Trac with a windshield with that feature. We bought it used, and I think the previous owner lived on a gravel road. It was so pitted to was next to impossible to see out of it when the sun was low and there was any amount of frost in the air.
Insurance wouldn’t cover replacing it for “cosmetic” reasons, so we did everything we could (within reason) to break it (like following the gravel trucks leaving the quarry way too closely, every chance we got). It absorbed several significant impacts, but we never did get it to break before trading it off.
I think the extra thickness due to the heating elements really increased the strength. This was in direct contrast to the Kia Sorento we owned at the same time. That thing went through windshields each year for the first four years we owned it. One even got taken out by a large dragonfly.
I think they eventually thickened the glass, as after that fourth year, I think we only had to replace it one more time in the remaining six years we owned it.
They were beaten to the punch by saab for the same reason saab beat anyone to anything: They didn’t care how much it cost.
Oh, we forgot tail lights, just go grab those off that trailer it’ll be used in the back country who need tail lights. How about the exhaust system, let’s see what’s in the closet, hey how about these cool chrome 1950’s early 60’s concept car ones.
Like any old Jaguar E-type: Rear lights and exhaust looks so much like a very late afterthought.
Every car should have ventilated seats that are tied into the climate control system. ESPECIALLY electric cars.