1987 Bronco II — Rear-wheel anti-lock braking arrives

1987–1988 Ford Bronco II, pre-1989-restyle, dark red/maroon Photo by Bull-Doser, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This page covers the U.S.-market Bronco II, distinct from the 1987 full-size Bronco. The new braking feature is described precisely as rear-wheel anti-lock—not modern four-wheel ABS. Published production splits and the diesel's last-year status come from specialist histories and remain attributed where factory documentation has not yet been recovered.

Why it matters

1987 added an important rear-axle braking aid during the same period in which Bronco II handling and rollover behavior was drawing increasing scrutiny.

What this page covers

Market: United States; Ford Bronco II peer family, distinct from the 1987 full-size Bronco.

Body styles: Three-door compact body-on-frame wagon in 4x2 or 4x4 form

What changed for this year

Rear-wheel anti-lock braking: Specialist year histories identify rear-wheel anti-lock brakes as a 1987 addition. This was rear-wheel control, not a claim of modern four-wheel ABS. [1] [2]
Final turbodiesel year: The optional Mitsubishi 2.3-liter turbodiesel remained available for 1987 and then disappeared. Complete factory output and configuration documentation remains unresolved. [1] [2]

Models and trims

Base through XLT: Base, XL, XLS and XLT continued in the secondary trim chronology, with Eddie Bauer as a premium XLT treatment. Exact engine and drivetrain pairing by trim still needs a factory order guide. [1] [3]

Engines and transmissions

2.9-liter fuel-injected V6: The electronically fuel-injected 2.9-liter Cologne V6 continued, reported by specialist references at 140 hp and 170 lb-ft. [1] [2] [4]
2.3-liter turbodiesel ends: The Mitsubishi-sourced turbodiesel's second model year was also its last. No unsupported horsepower or torque figure is supplied from unrelated Ranger applications. [1] [2]

Capability and specifications

Published 4x4 production: 96,077: Bronco II Corral reports 96,077 four-wheel-drive units for 1987. [5]
Published 4x2 production: 23,958: The same table reports 23,958 rear-wheel-drive units and 120,035 total. Its 1988 row repeats all three figures exactly, so the numbers remain attributed pending original Ford production records. [5]

Colors and interiors

Photo shows form, not a complete palette: The published maroon vehicle accurately depicts the 1987-1988 pre-restyle body, but one surviving vehicle cannot establish the factory color or upholstery catalog. Verify codes against labels and period literature. [1] [6]

Options and packages

Do not assume every pairing: Gasoline and diesel engines, 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains, multiple trims and rear-wheel anti-lock equipment created a broad matrix. Only documented combinations should be treated as factory-built. [1] [2] [3]

Safety and recalls

Rear ABS did not end the handling controversy: The 1987 rear-wheel anti-lock addition addressed rear-wheel lockup; it should not be represented as a cure for the separate rollover controversy that led to a 1989 federal investigation and period criticism. [1] [2] [7]
Inspect the whole chassis: Check tires, steering, suspension, brakes, wheel bearings, driveline, corrosion and modifications, and verify campaigns using the actual VIN. [1] [7]

Owner and buyer notes

Confirm rear ABS components: Inspect the rear-wheel anti-lock hardware, warning-lamp behavior and service history rather than assuming a surviving truck remains factory-correct. [1] [2]
Diesel identity needs documentation: A claimed factory turbodiesel deserves VIN, label and original-paperwork review because swaps and incomplete engine histories can confuse a rare configuration. [1] [2]

Stories from this year

A safety feature with a precise boundary: Calling the 1987 system simply ABS can imply four-wheel control. Preserving 'rear-wheel anti-lock' tells owners what changed without making the technology sound newer or broader than it was. [1] [2]
Two identical production rows: The available table assigns 96,077 4x4, 23,958 4x2 and 120,035 total to both 1987 and 1988. That could be accurate or duplicated data; keeping the source visible makes the anomaly researchable. [5]

Sources and footnotes

Bracketed references beside a fact lead to the document that supports it.

Bronco II Corral model history Specialist model history
Ford Bronco II overview Secondary chronology with cited references
MotoGallery Bronco II trim history Specialist trim history
The Ranger Station 2.9-liter V6 technical history Specialist technical reference
Bronco II Corral production numbers Enthusiast production table; sourcing method unstated
Wikimedia Commons 1987-1988 Bronco II image Public-domain vehicle photograph
Washington Post archive on Bronco II handling criticism Contemporary news archive

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