The Saleen Bronco will be a modern reincarnation of Big Oly, a first-generation Bronco raced by Parnelli Jones in the Mexican 1000 (now known as the Baja 1000). The Baja 1000 is one of the most grueling endurance races in the world, pitting man and machine against mother nature. To win the race is a feat, to win it twice a monumental accomplishment. Jones won the race in 1971 and 1972 with that Bronco. Recall that a Bronco first won the Mexican race in 1969, something Ford tried to repeat 50 years later without success. While it’s known largely for modified Mustangs, Saleen has dabbled in off-road vehicles before. The Saleen Sportruck XR is a tuned Ford F-150 with beefed-up suspension and upgraded engines.
Saleen is developing a range of parts for the new Ford Bronco, most notably the composite hood, grille, and fenders shown in the rendering. A detachable roof with adjustable spoiler, rock rails to protect the frame, and a Baja-style spare tire carrier are also pictured. The show-stealer is the Olympia Beer livery from the original Big Oly. Saleen’s Bronco creation honors Big Oly and its accomplishments with a throwback livery and number of special Saleen parts developed for the new off-road SUV. The Olympia Beer design — the title Big Oly sponsor from the 1970s — stays for production. Aside from the downright awesome livery, Saleen will include a new front bumper and carbon-fiber skid plate, a Saleen grille with a blue accent, new front and rear fenders with carbon-fiber vents and a Saleen “Power Hood.”
Packed with the latest off-road technology, the Ford Bronco’s early years are the inspiration for new Bronco color choices for the 2022 model year. Ford Bronco color and materials designers developed Eruption Green Metallic as a modern interpretation of Mallard Green, which was featured on first-generation Bronco models in the early- to mid-1970s. Both Eruption Green and Hot Pepper Red Metallic will be available for every Bronco series in the lineup. Antimatter Blue, Lightning Blue Metallic and Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat will be available exterior color options until the end of the 2021 model year. Orders for 2022 Bronco two- and four-door, including with Eruption Green and Hot Pepper Red, will open later in 2021.
Saleen Automotive, commonly known as Saleen is an American manufacturer of specialty high-performance sports cars and high-performance automotive parts. Saleen is headquartered in Corona, California, US. On June 26, 2013 Saleen Automotive, Inc became public through a reverse merger. It is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board and is controlled and majority owned by Saleen brand founder Steve Saleen. Saleen currently manufactures the S302 (Mustang-based), the Ford F-150-based Saleen Sportruck, and Sportruck XR, a Saleen Tesla GTX and Saleen S1, a new Saleen sports car, a limited run successor to the S7 sports car, the S7 LM. In 2017, Saleen formed a partnership with the city of Rugao to form Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technology to produce and distribute Saleen vehicles in China for the Chinese market.
