In the 1960s and 1970s SUVs were not the safe, quiet, front-wheel drive, four door minivans they are today. Back then they lived up to their names as sport utility vehicles.

They were not designed to be practical commuter cars, they were designed to be off-road hobby vehicles. They were designed to be taken on an adventures and pushed to their limits braving the mud, trails, and desert.

This 1977 Ford Bronco we discovered on Craigslist in Rancho Cucamonga, California. This Bronco exemplifies all the elements of a true SUV. Its open air so you can feel the heat and the wind of the desert.

No TV’s, bluetooth or heated seats found in this interior. Instead, two bucket seats, a bench, a simple yellow roll cage and diamond plate on the doors to add a rugged touch. This is a vehicle you physically hop in, turn the key and slam the throttle.

To navigate through the sand and rough terrain the Bronco utilizes a custom suspension with custom coils and Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks on all four corners. Traction is provided by a set of 35 inch Goodyear Wranglers. A Dana 20 twin stick transfer case controls the four-wheel-drive and ARB lockers are present on both the front and rear axles.

The Bronco has received custom front and rear black bumpers. The front bumper has a towing capability to pull out your stuck buddies. Instead of a quite four banger, the power plant of this Bronco is the Ford 5.0-liter 302. It may not seem like much, but is nothing a few top end bolt-ons can’t fix.

This 1977 Ford Bronco is from an era were trucks and SUVs were you worked just as hard as you played. A complete 180 to the soccer mom SUVs of today.