FORD PERFORMANCE AND SEMA GARAGE TEAM UP
WITH JAY LENO TO RESTORE, UPGRADE CLASSIC 1968 BRONCO ON DISPLAY AT SEMA
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4, 2019 – In terms of gag gifts, it was a good one –
perfect, in fact, for a classic car enthusiast. Now years later, it will
finally get the attention it deserves.
The 1968 Ford Bronco wagon was left for Jay Leno as a joke, arranged by
fellow late-night TV host Craig Ferguson to be parked in Leno’s spot on
the eve of his last taping. Ferguson was unaware of the iconic status of
the Bronco – and had no idea how highly sought after these models are. But
long-time car collector Leno knew. He happily accepted the gift which
ended up sitting in his garage unrestored until recently.
A project years in the making, the announcement of the new Bronco spurred
many discussions when anyone from Ford would visit Leno’s garage. The
effort to restore the vehicle finally materialized early this year with
Ford Performance and SEMA Garage leading a collaborative team to give it
new life.
The upfitted and newly restored 1968 Bronco will be on display at the 2019
SEMA show.
Ford Performance worked with some of the industry’s restoration all-stars
to bring that Bronco back to its former glory – and then some. The Bronco
has been outfitted with the heart of the all-new Mustang Shelby GT500, the
most-powerful street legal Ford ever.
Ford Performance engaged the expertise of noted Bronco licensee Kincer
Chassis to help restore the vehicle – Kincer built the chassis and
installed the powertrain, including the aforementioned Ford Performance
5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine.
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts provided body panels, while SEMA
Garage contributed its technical expertise in computer-aided design, 3D
printing and calibration work. LGE-CTS Motorsports, the award-winning and
women-owned shop, revived the body with new sheet metal, custom body mods,
paint, and final assembly.
“Bronco was an iconic vehicle that was many things to many people,” said
Leno, now host of Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC. “The Bronco was bought to use
on the farm or to take your date to the prom and was comfortable in any of
these environments. The idea of having a classic Bronco upgraded with
modern handling, performance and braking really makes it the best of both
worlds.”
The 1968 Bronco wagon will be seen on an upcoming episode of Jay Leno’s
Garage on CNBC and will be showcased in detail on Jay Leno’s Garage on
YouTube.
A stellar team of outfitters and tuners incorporated all of these custom
pieces into restoring Leno’s 1968 Ford Bronco:
Powertrain
Ford Performance 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine
TR-4050 5-speed Silver Sport transmission by TREMEC, with Quickdraw
bellhousing and STX shifter assembly
Heavy-duty 4WD drivetrain
Advance Adapters Atlas II transfer case
Specialty components by Krawlers Edge, including custom airbox, exhaust
fabrication, stainless-steel gas tank and coolant package
Radiator and supercharger cooler by Brice Thomas
Borla mufflers
Vibrant Performance exhaust components, hoses and fittings
Aeromotive fuel filter
II Much fuel vent
Engine oil cooler by Derale Performance
Stage 8 locking header bolts
Lifeline Batteries
Full Throttle Kustomz Performance tuning and diagnostics
Chassis
Kincer Chassis Adventure Series coil-over chassis
Wilwood disc brakes and master cylinders
Fox 2.0 factory race series coil-over shocks and steering stabilizer
John’s Industries third members with Eaton Detroit Truetrac differentials
and gearing
Carolina Driveline driveshafts
Dutchman Motorsports axle shafts
Flaming River steering column
Tuff Stuff power steering pump
Warn locking hubs
Gaskets by Lube Locker
BrakeQuip brake lines
Axle seals by Seals-It
Painless Performance Products wiring harness
Wheels and tires
18 x 9-inch John R steel wheels by Detroit Steel Wheels
Rugged Trail T/A 275/65-18 tires by BFGoodrich
Exterior
Installation of new sheet metal, custom body modification and final
assembly by LGE-CTS Motorsports
Custom "Tonight Blue" Envirobase paint supplied by PPG Industries, applied
by LGE-CTS Motorsports
Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts body panels, trim and accessories
AMP Research side step
STRATASYS 3-D printed grille insert molded into Dennis Carpenter sheet
metal grille by LGE-CTS Motorsports
Kaseser Air Compressors
Interior
Sony audio with Scosche enhancements
Eagle Ottawa genuine leather with custom perforation installed by
Rogelio’s Upholstery
Dakota Digital gauges
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