- Power is provided by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 pumping out 418 hp and driving all four wheels.
- Ford built just 50 examples of the Bronco Desert Racer, each starting at $295,000.
- This example also features the $38,000 Baja package with a spare wheel and dual battery.
Earlier this year, Ford chief executive Jim Farley said he wanted the brand to become “the Porsche of off-road,” and of all the models launched by the Blue Oval in recent years, none reflect that mission more than the Bronco Desert Racer, also known as the DR.
Unveiled a few years ago, the Bronco DR is essentially a production version of Ford’s Baja racer and was capped at just 50 units. It’s not street legal, but is perhaps the ultimate off-road toy for those not satisfied with a regular Bronco. Next month, Mecum Auctions will be selling one of the most striking Bronco DRs built.
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This example is bathed in a glistening shade of satin blue, which looks absolutely superb. Like all others, it rolls on unique wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich tires and includes the $38,000 Baja package. This adds a spare wheel, dual battery, a huge LED light bar on the roof, a new grille bar, a siren, and rock lights.
There’s no mention of how many miles this Bronco DR has under its belt, but it looks so pristine that taking it off-roading and getting it dirty would almost be a shame. However, this thing was designed to jump over rocks and speed through sand dunes, so it’s better off being driven in harsh environments than sitting in a garage.
Like all Bronco DR models, this example is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 producing 418 hp. It also comes equipped with Multimatic’s advanced Positional Selective DSSV dampers, meaning it has 15.8 inches (400 mm) of travel at the front and 17.4 inches (443 mm) at the rear.
The cabin of the DR being sold by Mecum shares very little in common with a regular Bronco. It has a new Sparco steering wheel and a custom dashboard that ditches the original gauge cluster and infotainment screen for a single display from MoTec. There’s also a full roll cage and Recaro racing seats with harnesses.
So, if hardcore off-roading is your thing, you may want to bid on this Bronco DR that’s scheduled to cross the auction block on March 22. Just bear in mind that, given the quite steep MSRP when it was new, its limited run, and the aforementioned Baja package, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny.
