BRONCOFACTS Trail guide · 1966–present

Home / Generations / Gen 4 / 1987

Model year · Fourth Generation

1987 Bronco

The aerodynamic age begins

The 1987 Bronco adopted Ford’s smoother F-Series front end, standard rear-wheel ABS and fuel injection for the 300 inline six.

This page covers U.S.-market 1987 Broncos. The chassis and removable-roof body concept continued, but the exterior and cabin were restyled and the engine range moved further toward EFI. The published 43,074 total is provisional because the same figure is repeated for 1988 and no Ford production record has been located.

Why it matters

1987 modernized the full-size Bronco’s appearance, safety and engine controls while retaining the TTB platform.

What this page covers

Market: United States; fourth-generation Bronco.

Body styles: Two-door full-size wagon with removable rear hardtop

What changed for this year

Aerodynamic restyle
A flatter grille, reshaped hood/bumper and composite headlamps followed the eighth-generation F-150 design. [1] [2]
Rear-wheel ABS
Rear-wheel anti-lock braking became standard; it was not four-wheel ABS. [1]
300-six EFI
The 4.9-liter inline six gained multi-point electronic fuel injection for 1987. [1] [3]

Models and trims

Base, XL, XLT and Eddie Bauer
The regular trim ladder and Eddie Bauer continued. Verify original package identity through labels, paint/trim codes and paperwork. [1] [4]

Engines and transmissions

4.9-liter EFI inline six
The standard 300 six is commonly listed at 145 hp and 265 lb-ft SAE net. [3]
5.0-liter EFI V8
The optional fuel-injected 302 is commonly listed at 185 hp and 270 lb-ft. [3]
5.8-liter H.O. V8
The optional 351 Windsor H.O. remained carbureted for its final year before EFI arrived in 1988. [1] [3]

Capability and specifications

Provisional production
Historical tables report 43,074, identical to their 1988 entry. With no alternate or factory source, the value is shown as provisional rather than settled. [2] [5]
Touch Drive option
Push-button electronic four-wheel-drive shifting was offered; the commonly cited Borg-Warner 1356 hardware detail remains only loosely corroborated. [1] [6]

Colors and interiors

Restyled cabin
New dashboard, steering wheel, seats and door panels accompanied the exterior update. Use certification labels and original documentation for colors/trim. [1]

Options and packages

Electronic 4WD shifting
Verify motor, control module, wiring and transfer-case identity on Touch Drive trucks; manual-shift configurations also existed. [1] [6]

Safety and recalls

Rear ABS and chassis inspection
Rear-only ABS does not provide four-wheel anti-lock control. Inspect warning function, brakes, TTB pivots, steering, fuel system, roof seals, tires, wiring and corrosion. [1]

Owner and buyer notes

Distinguish the 1987 systems
Confirm EFI engine, rear-only ABS and transfer-case controls from labels and components; later swaps and front-end conversions are possible. [1] [3] [6]

Stories from this year

Modern face, familiar bones
Ford softened the Bronco’s truck styling and added electronic controls without abandoning the basic 1980 TTB chassis and removable-roof formula. [1] [2]

Sources and footnotes

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

  1. Ford fourth-generation Bronco history Manufacturer history and chronology
  2. Hagerty Bronco generations history Automotive historical reference
  3. Automobile Catalog fourth-generation Bronco specifications Secondary specifications database
  4. LMR Eddie Bauer Bronco history Specialist package reference
  5. Blue Oval Trucks production numbers Specialist historical compilation
  6. Broncozone 1978-1996 history Specialist owner reference; hardware detail provisional

See something missing or wrong? Send a correction or source.

← 1986 1988 →