Fueled by the rise of off-road vehicles, the Bronco was already a popular nameplate among collectors and builders alike before Ford revived the nameplate for 2021. Of course, the nameplate is now enjoying tons of attention and with the Blue Oval adding to the momentum via the 2022 Bronco Raptor, the truck-based SUV is on everybody’s lips nowadays. As such, aftermarket project based on the Bronco can only go one way, whether we’re discussing real cars of virtual builds such as this one.
You can instantly notice the influence of the Bronco Raptor with this pixel project, since the 2D work sees a 1979 Bronco being gifted with bits from the fresh star—since the Internet seems keen on nicknaming the newcomer “Braptor”, we’ve decided to borrow the moniker for the virtual creation.
The retro styling of the 2022 Bronco Raptor would’ve probably been fit for this second-gen example, but the proposal keeps the second-generation face to stand out in the ever-growing custom Bronco landscape mentioned in the intro.
However, the go-anywhere wheels and tires, along with the lower body protection and, presumably, the suspension, come from the recently released Baja monster.
The 1979 Bronco can definitely use some Raptor technology
Digital artist Jim (aka jlord8), who spends his working hours as a graphic designer, is a declared 80s and 90s motoring fan, so this development shouldn’t come as a surprise to those of you following our tales.
Truth be told, the second-gen Bronco could use the 400 hp magic of the 2022 model’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6—since this was a Malaise era offering, its pair of V8s wasn’t exactly briliant in terms of power, with the 402 ci (6.6L), the most potent of the duo, only delivering 158 hp and 277 lb-ft (375 Nm) of torque.
Nevertheless, this was the generation that marked the switch from the compact nature of the original, which featured a dedicate chassis, to a full-size presence, sharing the plarform of the F-150. Thus, the Bronco, which was initially born as a more road-capable alternative to vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and the long-departed International Harverster Scout, managed to become better at delivering comfort thanks to its more generous dimensions.
However, the second iteration was short-lived, only being produced between 1977 and 1979. Interestingly, its 1980-born successor, which brought serious downsizing to fit the fuel efficiency requirements of the day, also saw Ford introducing a Bronco II compact SUV based on the era’s Ranger truck platform and if this sounds familiar, it’s because the current Bronco also rides on the contemporary Ranger chassis.
Sure, this virtual contraption looks unusual. But marrying classic bodies to modern platforms is more popular than ever nowadays, which is why we’ll give this pixel proposal a 5/10 as far as the RPM (real project in the making) Potential is concerned.