OFFICIAL BACKSTORY…  

There is a rumor about a factory works Bronco that campaigned the grueling  East Africa Rally in 1979 on provisional entry, piloted by the legendary James Garner and frequent race partner Scooter Patrick. There is little documentation surviving, but the story goes like this….

Turbocharged AWD monsters, clawing across the landscape at unbelievable speeds is the image brought to bear when thinking of FIA World Rally Racing. The mid 1980s ushered in the change as rear wheel drive GR2 and  GR4 cars were replaced by 4 wheel drive Group B cars. However, in 1978 popular thought remained that AWD was too complex to be successful. There were some who disagreed. Among the voices of dissent, was James Garner. He had gained a fair amount of experience in Europe with his AIR (American International Racing) team.  This coupled with his and Scooter Patrick’s impressive record at Baja, (in Ford Broncos) had the ear of Ford Motorsports execs.

The rumors were swirling by the late 70s that FIA was planning to sanction all wheel drive for competition. This spawned an idea.   Why not petition for a truck division?  They had been doing it in Dakar for years and likely Ford would get involved. Certainly one of his pals Bill Stroppe or Vic Hickey would join in. Star power had accomplished more in the past!

The rumor continues, that by 1979 when AWD was officially sanctioned, Ford already had a candidate in place. It was an experimental, with a fully independent suspension, viscous coupled AWD transfer case, and high revving 32 valve power plant, planned to replace the aging Windsor design. The stance was impressively wide and low for a truck, lowering the center of gravity.  The all wheel independent suspension gained further advantages reducing unsprung weight.  The design even included exotic cast aluminum control arms, furthering the performance.

Since there was no truck division, it was agreed that the truck could run as an unofficial provisional entry for testing, but would not be able to compete.  Ford had successfully argued that it would operate as a chase/support vehicle for the ever competitive Escorts. However, James and Scooter were not planning to stop and change anybody’s tires.   They had something to prove, and prove it they did!

The East Africa Rally 3100 mile route is arguably the most punishing, and certainly the most remote location. Historically one of the fastest events in the series with average speeds over 100 kilometres per hour, one would suppose that the winner would be among  the fleet of foot. However, the roughness of the terrain and long stages meant that the winner was often the toughest and most reliable. It was the perfect test bed for the launch of the experimental Bronco. 

Just before dawn April 01 1979, they set off and over the next 4 days, the rig soaked up everything the trail had to offer. Even though it weighed nearly twice as much as some of the smaller classes, it made up for this deficit with brutish reliability, and uncanny speed, besting the times of many of the automotive entries including one of the Escort rs1800s. By race end they had proved it was a viable option. Ford was a winner in either case having a successful test run of the new technology, but James was hoping for the start of something new, a sanctioned truck division. Likely he would have run the team!

It was not to be. Perhaps it was just a victim of its own success?  The political climate had shifted in Europe against the larger American trucks during the gas crisis a few years earlier. The Europeans and Japanese had nothing to compete in that arena, either. Whatever the case, a truck division idea faltered and was forgotten, along with the bronco that was its hopeful progenitor. 

Here’s where the story gets interesting!  A couple years ago, this 1979 bronco was found in a barn outside Laramie. It seems that the rig had sat there since 1984 under cover. It has East Africa Rallye markings and definitely has an experimental drivetrain!  There are even the insignia of J Garner and S Patrick on the doors. Could this be the lost African Bronco?  Judge for yourself.  As for us, we are going to DRIVE IT!!  Happy hunting!!