Shared by @grunty_diecast (Instagram)
This is the '81 Ford Bronco, better known in Hot Wheels parlance as the Bronco 4-Wheeler or the Ford Bronco. Designed by Don Kopka and John Najjar, the third generation Bronco was introduced to fix many of the issues the previous generation Bronco had. Noted as being shorter and lighter, the Bronco was designed to adopt a more efficient powertrain while retaining its full-size dimensions. Powered by a variety of powertrains from the 300 ci (4.9L) straight-6 to the 351 ci (5.8L) Windsor V8, the Bronco was largely based on the Ford F-Series trucks of the time and even had the same trim. Production began in 1980 and ended in 1986; of the 352,429 third generation Broncos produced, 39,853 were '81 Ford Broncos. This was unfortunately the worst sales year for that generation of Bronco.
Now, about the casting. This casting was first introduced in 1980 in a black paintscheme with "FORD BRONCO" on the hood. It enjoyed some thirty-two releases, including an EcoLab promotional release, before it was thrown into the Final Run series in 2003.
The Final Run series was basically a glorified funeral for these castings, with the castings given special paint and occasionally special tires, with Hot Wheels vowing to never produce them again by cutting the toolings in half. The Bronco 4-Wheeler was one of the twelve castings thrown in the 2003 Final Run series, alongside the Rig Wrecker, Ambulance, 1996 Mustang GT, 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona, Twang Thang, Bywayman, '31 Doozie, Lamborghini Diablo, Porsche 911 Carrera, Auburn 852 and the GM Lean Machine; this casting was first intended to be Final Run in 2002, but was pushed back to 2003 instead.
Even though this thing is gone, at least there is the '85 Ford Bronco 4×4.
