Some of Ford’s Bronco special editions feel a little contrived. Sure, stickers are cool, but do they really represent Ford’s heritage?
The 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition feels like it does. It brings back the memory of an iconic Ford off-road win, and it comes with actual performance parts instead of just graphics.
Bill Stroppe Helped Form the Bronco Legend
You might not know the name Bill Stroppe, but you’ve almost certainly seen his impact on the car world. Stroppe built racers of all types with a career spanning decades. Parnelli Jones’s Big Oly Bronco? That was a Stroppe build.
For a number of years, Ford dealers sold Baja Bronco models built by Stroppe with fender flares and taller tires, dual shock conversions, a padded roll bar, and more. You could also opt for a highly modified version of the 5.0L Ford V8 or a 351 Windsor engine for even more power. The red and white paintwork that’s synonymous with racing Broncos? That was Stroppe’s signature look.
In 1969, a Stroppe-prepared Bronco became the first “stock 4×4” to win the overall at the Baja 1,000. And, 55 years later, Ford says it’s still the only vehicle to ever do it.
Modern Take on Classic Paintwork
Today’s Bronco Stroppe Special Edition comes only as a two-door, and it takes over the Wildtrak model’s spot in Ford’s lineup of Broncos.
Fittingly, it will come in oxford white and Code Orange on the body, and it’ll have an Atlas Blue painted hardtop. This is the first non-Raptor model to get Code Orange. The hood is matte black, just like the originals, and it’s functional to keep the sun out of your eyes in the desert.
The mechanical changes start with a standard stabilizer bar disconnect. The Stroppe specials get the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension 3.0 with Fox internal-bypass shocks, and they’ll have 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires on 17-inch beadlock capable wheels.
These Broncos get a steel bumper and code orange front tow hooks as well. This one doesn’t come with a 351, but it does have the 330 horsepower 2.7L EcoBoost V6.
Bill Stroppe not only established Bronco’s competition legacy at events like the Baja 1000 and NORRA Mexican 1000, but Stroppe Baja Broncos put his off-road knowhow on the road and helped establish Bronco with consumers.
— Ford Archivist Ted Ryan
Ford painted the grille white and added orange lettering to make it look more vintage. The fenders are also painted in Code Orange, and the Bronco gets special removable side steps that include integrated rock rails.
There is more orange inside, including on the GOAT mode dial and dash topper stitching, as well as a unique Stroppe Special Edition badge.
Ford will start offering the 2025 Bronco Stroppe Special Edition in January 2025. Expect pricing and the full details of this special edition later this year.
