Jay Leno Drives The Ford Bronco Concept That Safety Rules Won't Let Us Have
Throwback On Wheels
Last year, Ford unveiled the one-off Bronco Roadster Concept inspired by the 1966 U13 Roadster, an open-top version of the original Bronco often considered the closest thing to an off-road Mustang of its era. Most of its public appearances have shown the concept sitting on display at events like SEMA and Pebble Beach – until now.
Robert Gelardi, chief designer of the Bronco Roadster Concept, brought the open-top vehicle to Jay Leno's Garage. Leno, who has owned more than 180 cars, got a closer look at the concept and, naturally, discussed classic car design. He recalled how cars from that era felt "pure," before the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 and subsequent safety rules began reshaping vehicle design.
When Freedom Hits Reality
Ford also describes the Bronco Roadster Concept as a "pure expression" of open-air driving. However, because of today's stricter safety regulations, a production version in its current form would be challenging.
According to Gelardi, the concept was not intended for production. Instead, it was created to celebrate 60 years of the Bronco. It is based on a two-door Bronco but was modified to stay true to the original, including the absence of headrests and rear seats, along with the use of 17-inch steel wheels and lap belts.
Under the hood is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower. That means the more potent 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 was not used, but as Leno pointed out, the four-cylinder engine still makes more power than the V8s offered in the original Bronco. The engine is paired with a 7-speed manual gearbox with a crawler gear and power steering.
The Art Of Simplicity
This is still a prototype, so there is not really a true first driving impression, though Leno still commented, "It rides very nice." The bigger story, perhaps, is Leno pointing out that younger buyers may not get the same sense of open-air driving that cars from that era offered because of stricter safety regulations.
To be fair, turning the Bronco Roadster Concept into a production car as it sits would be risky, given the lack of doors and pillars, especially in a rollover. The closest vehicles that can offer a similar experience today are the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, which allow owners to remove the doors and roof, though their structural frames remain.
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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 4:58 PM.