By Nathan Bagster
On July 9th, 2020 there was an announcement that shook the automotive world. In the same fashion, as many other revivals from the big three, a returning contender would be bucking its way back into the ring.
The return of the Bronco had Ford enthusiasts running wild.
Shortly after, everyone was talking about the comeback of the all-star 4x4; What would it look like? Would it honor the namesake like some comeback kings, or would it go the way of the Dart… Everyone was excited to see it, but none so much as Jacob Hulslander.
“I bought it for my love Ford and the original Bronco. When the remodel was announced, I saw my chance to own something I missed out on as a kid.” Hulslander said when asked why he was so excited, “The remodel was done really well, and it was like I was buying the next year of the predecessor.”
As soon as the announcement was made, he was calling the dealer and harassing them for his perfect truck. As more information came out, he pestered and fought to get a number of features that weren’t even planned for the 2-door Hardtops, “It was lucky really, but I think they were excited to put these packages on for me. It was going to be awesome.”
After months of waiting, hours of chomping at the bit, and a phone bill that rivaled an oil delivery, the day came. November 3rd 2021 rolled around and the new Bronco was delivered – in Cactus Grey, a color picked for the little cactus his late father, Butch, and he would plant when as a kid.
One of the first Two-door models to be delivered to NH, Hulslander’s ‘Black Diamond Sasquatch” edition of the 2021 Ford Bronco comes with some serious bulk.
Visually, it looks mean with black front and rear modular bumpers to match the grey. Every inch of the undercarriage is covered in thick skid plates, to protect that precious driveline. Inside, Hulslander went with the marine grade Vinyl interior, so he can “can hose her out” at the end of a trail run.
A twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, rated at 330HP, sits in the engine bay whistling under the RPMS. That power then goes through Ford’s 10-speed Automatic transmission, the 10R60, which is known for fast gear changes, smooth shifts, and great adaptability with driving dynamics. To walk the walk, this Bronco uses a set of front and rear Dana 44’ locking differentials, with the front upgraded to the Advantech 2:0 axle. And to round things off, she sits on a set of 17X8.5 Bead-lock capable rims and Goodyear M/T 35s.
Of all the potential problems with the new Bronco, the transmission was cause for concern among die-hard wheelers initially. With the truck weighing in at almost 5000 lbs, there were worries that the unit couldn’t handle the likes of 35-inch tires or more. And because the gearbox was a less durable unit than its tougher cousin, the 10R80, people were confused about the choice. However, it seems all eyes should have been on the valve train, as a bad batch of valves from the manufacturer began to burn out a number of the original 2021s engines.
Beyond those initial issues, the 2021 Bronco seems to be doing well as many have continued to buy them. And the potential problems with the model don’t seem to bother Hulslander, as he states he hasn’t had any issues going into 16k miles. And let’s hope it stays that way.
All in all, this modern piece of engineering seems to have found its home in the driveway of Mr. Hulslander for years and many upgrades to come, “I’ll keep the thing going until it’s in the ground, besides, I love taking it through random class six backroads over in Vermont, makes my deliveries that much more fun!”
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