Can’t wait for Ford to pull the cover off the 2020 Bronco? There is a way to get a brand-new Bronco today—it just won’t look all that new.
Gateway Bronco, an Illinois shop that specializes in restoring and resto-modding original Ford Broncos, announced last week that it will now build original Broncos from the ground up. And they’re licensed by Ford.
Seth Burgess, the founder of Gateway Bronco, told me over the phone that his is the only company licensed by Ford to build new original Broncos, and he plans to show off the first such build next month. Just in time for Ford to finally reveal the 2020 Bronco we’ve all been waiting for.
These new Broncos will be able to be registered as replica cars, though not in every state as of right now. Until NHTSA issues national guidelines for the Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015, the requirements for registering a replica car vary state to state. Burgess said that as things are right now, it’ll be easy to register one of Gateway’s new Broncos in Arizona, but pretty much impossible in California. So if you’re interested, check your local laws.
Gateway Bronco also specializes in resto-mods (pictured here throughout), where they’ll recondition an original Bronco with modern suspension hardware and the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 from a Mustang, among other upgrades. The company will even build a new body for your original Bronco frame, and if you want independent front suspension, that can be done, too. And if, somehow, 435 horsepower from that 5.0-liter isn’t enough for you, Gateway will happily install a supercharger, or two turbochargers for you. These can be registered easily in any state, since they use the frames and VINs from an original Bronco.
Beyond the licensing agreement with Ford, Burgess tells me that Gateway Bronco is unique among restoration shops, because it builds its trucks on an assembly line. Turnaround time is quick, too—most orders can be completed in four months, though if you’re willing to pay a little extra, Gateway will finish things in two.
As you might expect, none of this stuff is cheap. For its resto-mods, Burgess tells me that Gateway Bronco charges between $120,000 and $180,000, while frame-up builds will start at around $150,000. You might think that’s too much money for an old 4×4, but Burgess said that since announcing its frame-up builds, Gateway Bronco has received over 500 inquiries through its website. There’s big money in old Broncos, and Gateway is cashing in at the right time.
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