By Dean Larson

Photos: Gateway Broncos

After searching for years for rust-free, affordable classics, we’ve all wished for the ability to go back to the days when these vehicles were new, or close to it anyway. While time travel is still science fiction these days, one company is allowing customers to go back in time and purchase an ostensibly brand new first-gen Bronco licensed by Ford.

Gateway Bronco of Hamel, Illinois, got started as a state-of-the-art Bronco restorer, employing in-house metalwork, paint, powder coating and mechanical restoration to revive first-generation Ford Broncos. As reported by Jalopnik, Gateway started its own database of body dimensions for original-condition Broncos. These figures are utilized to get every new body dimensionally correct at Gateway, which allegedly got them a foot in the door with Ford Motor Company.

On December 6, 2018, Gateway announced that it had reached a licensing agreement with Ford to produce brand new 1966-1977 Broncos. In compliance with the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015, Gateway will produce the Broncos in turnkey configuration with current engine packages from Ford.

Gateway’s website offers three licensed turnkey configurations, the Fuelie, Coyote Edition and the Modern Day Warrior with respective costs of $120,000, $150,000 and $180,000. The baseline Fuelie comes equipped with a fuel-injected 347-ci stroker, leather interior, Wilwood disc brakes, leather interior and a two-year warrantee. The Coyote Edition comes similarly equipped, but features the 2018 Ford 5.0-liter and a three-year warrantee. Finally, the Modern Day Warrior comes with the Coyote, a six-speed transmission, deluxe interior and a five-year warrantee.

Certainly, the cost will be a deterrent for many of us, as $100,000 buys a lot of original-condition classics. But also, there is probably a decent customer base of wealthy folks who want to relive their first-generation Bronco memories without the frequent nickel-and-dime repairs and maintenance that you get with a classic car. I’m not saying they’ll be lining up around the block, but this isn’t really the core of Gateway’s business anyway. If they’re already nut-and-bolt restoring original Broncos and building basically new bodies, why wouldn’t you offer a brand new, turnkey option.

Check out Gateway Bronco’s website for more information.