Ford Bronco vs Jeep CJ-5: Which Short 4x4 to Buy?
The Jeep CJ-5 had been on sale for eleven model years when Ford launched the Bronco for 1966 as a direct rival. The CJ-5 is the smaller and simpler machine: an 81 inch wheelbase until 1971, leaf springs at both ends and a body that can be driven without doors. The first-generation Bronco (1966 to 1977) is longer at 92 inches, has a coil-sprung front axle and was sold as a closed wagon.
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Ford Bronco | Jeep CJ-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Model years | 1966 to 1977 (first generation) | 1955 to 1983 |
| Wheelbase | 92 in | 81 in (to 1971), 83.5 in (1972 on) |
| Length | 151.5 to 152.1 in (sources differ) | 135.5 in (to 1971), about 138 in (1972 on) |
| Suspension | Coil springs front, leaf springs rear | Leaf springs front and rear |
| Base engine at launch | 170 cu in six, 105 hp | 134 cu in Hurricane four, 75 hp |
| V8 | 289 from March 1966, 302 from 1969 | AMC 304 from 1972 |
| Rear axle | Ford 9-inch | Dana 44, AMC Model 20 from 1976 |
The case for Ford Bronco
Pick the Bronco if the truck has to work as a car too. It is about 152 inches long on a 92 inch wheelbase, 14 to 16 inches longer than a CJ-5 depending on the year, and the wagon has a full-length steel top. The coil-sprung front axle was designed for long wheel travel. A 289 V8 was optional from March 1966, a 302 from 1969, and an automatic from 1973. Roadster and half-cab versions exist but were dropped after 1968 and 1972.
The Bronco history covers the changes year by year, including the full-size trucks of 1978 to 1996.
The case for Jeep CJ-5
Pick the CJ-5 for the simplest open 4x4 and the most supply. Jeep built 603,303 of them over the 1955 to 1983 model years, and prices generally sit well below those of a first-generation Bronco. Early cars use the 75 hp Hurricane four. The 155 hp Dauntless V6 option arrived in 1965 (the 1966 model year in some references), and for 1972 AMC fitted its own 232 and 258 sixes and a 304 V8 on a wheelbase stretched to 83.5 inches. The frame became fully boxed for 1977.
See the CJ-5 buyer's guide and the CJ-5 year guide.
Verdict
For regular road use with passengers, the Bronco is the better fit: more wheelbase, a coil-sprung front end and a real roof. For a weekend trail truck at a lower price, the CJ-5 is hard to argue with, and the 1972 and later cars with the AMC six or 304 V8 are the easier ones to live with. If the CJ-5 feels too short, the CJ-7 adds 10 inches of wheelbase, which puts it within an inch and a half of the Bronco: see Bronco vs CJ-7.
Recent Ford Bronco listings
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1979 Ford Bronco
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1993 Ford Bronco
Recent Jeep CJ-5 listings
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1968 Jeep CJ-5
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1963 Jeep CJ-5
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1970 Jeep CJ-5
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