Meet The Shelby Ford Bronco Not Built By Shelby American

A Carroll Shelby Ford Bronco? It didn’t exist when the 1966 Ford Bronco was new, but it does exist now. Classic Bronco builder Gateway Bronco is putting together an officially licensed Shelby model of the vintage off-roader with an available 5.2-liter Predator V8 and a $315K starting price tag.

Vintage Ford Bronco Gets Cobra Treatment

Gateway Bronco is doing some seriously cool stuff with the early Ford off-roader. It makes versions powered by the Ford Coyote V8, four-door models, and even electric-powered versions of the classic SUV. Even by those standards, this Shelby model is something way out there.

The Shelby Sport SUV, as it’s called, starts with either a brand-new steel body or the option of a carbon-fiber body. It sits on an entirely new chassis, which means it gets its own serial number and will be listed on the Shelby Registry as an official Shelby car.

Related

All-Electric Ford Bronco Restomod Could Be The World’s Coolest EV

And also one of the most expensive.

Gateway’s new chassis is 110 percent stiffer than the original Ford frame and the company says it is 70 percent stiffer than other modern Bronco frames. It also has an independent front suspension, meaning that the newly built vehicle actually has a chance at turning when you’re putting the 760 horsepower from that supercharged 5.2-liter V8 to the pavement.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

If you don’t want quite that much power, a more standard 5.0 is also offered. That one should make around 500 horsepower, and both engines offer the buyer a choice of a five-speed stick or Ford’s 10-speed automatic.

The modern engine and gearbox mean modern vehicle amenities—traction and stability control, for example, and anti-lock brakes. Thanks to that ABS system, Gateway says the Shelby Sport SUV will stop from 60 mph in just 148 feet. No word on how quickly it can get to 60 from that stop, but it’s likely pretty quick.

Track-Ready Cabin For High-Performance SUV

To show off this Bronco, Gateway got former F1 and current IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean behind the wheel around Sonoma Raceway during the Velocity Invitational. He looked surprisingly chill and said that he “really enjoyed it.”

The chassis is all about performance, and so is the cabin. It has been refinished, and the one in the photos has modern houndstooth leather, but it’s hard to call it luxurious. The modern (and optional) Recaro chairs are fixed-back, and while they should be comfortable and supportive, they’re never going to be plush. The rear seats somehow look even more basic, even if they’re the same seats. At least the vintage Shelby GT350-style steering wheel’s wood rim adds some well-needed warmth for the driver. Modern gauges keep you informed of what’s happening with your performance SUV, while a beautifully crafted shift lever pokes out of the new leather boot and carpeted floor.

Related

Ford Bronco Restomod Gets Mustang V8 Power And $400,000 Price Tag

This incredible off-roader will be on show at Monterey Car Week.

On the outside, the Shelby Sport SUV is classic Bronco style but upgraded with a Shelby logo on the grille, Shelby Snake on the front fender, and riveted-on fender flares. The chunky BFGs help finish the look along with vintage-appearance solid-face wheels. The plan is to build just 10 of these beasts per year from Gateway’s shop in Hamel, Illinois, starting from that $315,000 price tag.