If you’ve been paying attention to Ford’s design folks lately, you’ve probably noticed they’ve been putting out some pretty rad retro models with oodles (yes, oodles) of vintage styling cues.
It started with the Bronco Heritage Editions a while back, but Ford’s released a few other special models recently that have caught our eye—like the Free Wheelin’ appearance package that’s pulled directly from the 1970s-era Ford options sheet.
And then there’s the 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition that’s heavily inspired by the famed Broncos that barnstormed the early Baja 1,000 off-road races in the 1960s and ’70s.
You can read more about Bill Stroppe, Rod Hall, and the Bronco’s Baja history in this article: Rod Hall’s Stroppe Bronco Returns to Baja
…and it’s that aforementioned Stroppe Bronco that has us wondering if the Blue Oval marketing and design teams had a keen eye on Summit Racing’s recent Baja Bronco build.
We covered that project extensively in a series of Baja Bronco articles, and in addition to some legit performance upgrades, the late model Bronco boasts a slick retro vibe too.
Performance aside, we love us a good throwback build around here.
And, since our pals over at Summit Racing know a thing or two about creating a vintage-style Ford Bronco, we asked them for advice on some retro-inspired upgrades to help your late model Bronco hearken back to the original recipe.
Here are five of their suggestions.
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5 Retro Off-Road Style Upgrades for Late Model Ford Broncos & SUVs
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1. Round Off-Road Lights with Covers
Sure, modern modular off-road lighting comes in all shapes nowadays, but a few decades ago your options were round…and round. So if you want your fancy new off-roader to look the part, then it’s Right Round, Baby.
While KC HiLiTES is often the go-to favorite for off-road retro lighting, plenty of other companies (like Hella) have been here from the beginning too. As an added bonus, many modern off-road lighting companies offer vintage-style lights that pack in the efficiency and durability of LED lighting as well. That’s a win-win in our book.
And remember to complete the retro look with a set of old-school light covers—not only to protect your lenses, but in some areas, it’s a legal requirement to cover your off-road lights while driving on the street.
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2. Off-Road & Tube Bumpers
If you want to modify your SUV into a vintage style off-roader, don’t over-do it on the bumpers. Sure it’s fun to add a big honkin’ slab of steel on your Bronco, but back in the day a simple tube bumper was the norm.
If you don’t like the look of a tube bumper, no worries, just remember to keep it subtle and relatively discreet. The Summit Racing folks used bumpers from DV8 Offroad on their Baja Bronco, but plenty of other manufacturers make subtle off-road bumpers for the late model Bronco and other modern SUVs.
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3. White Accents
Whether it’s a Bronco, Jeep CJ, or even an International Scout, white was de rigueur color accent for off-roaders in the 1960s.
And that’s good news for you, because some patience, careful masking, and a quality can of automotive-grade white paint may be all it takes to rewind the clock on your off-roader.
From spraying wheels, bumpers, and roll bars to tiny interior accents, we have a ton of paint articles and resources that can help you out here.
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4. Plain, Steelie-Style Wheels
Fancy aftermarket wheels for off-roaders are a relatively new phenomenon.
Back in the day, if you were heading down the trail, you simply tore off your rig’s hubcaps and went on your merry way. And that classic bare steel wheel look is making a big comeback—so much so that today’s wheel manufacturers are offering new, modern wheels with steel-inspired styling cues to mimic the look.
As an example, the Summit Racing Baja Bronco wears Fifteen52 Patrol HD Asphalt Black Wheels that bear a striking resemblance to the classic slot mags of the 1970s.
If you really want to maintain a vintage vibe, don’t go crazy with sizing your new off-road tires either—we’re old enough to remember a time when a 35 inch tire was almost Monster Truck territory.
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5. Bumper Winch
Fun fact: Do you know Warn still makes a version of its iconic M2874 winch that’s been around since pretty much the dawn of time? Bolting that little gem up front is instant street…err…trail-cred for any off-roader.
But that’s just one option, and there are dozens of other winch models out there. Obviously your winch choices are directly connected to the bumper suggestion at Number Two on the list here, so make sure to plan accordingly.
If you want your winch to be the centerpiece of your retro build, then you’ll want to choose a bumper that leaves a big portion of the winch housing exposed—not only so folks can see it, but because that’s how winches were installed in the early days of off-roading. They often rested directly atop or between the front frame rails with little more than mount for your winch fairlead up front.
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This is not an exhaustive list of course, there are plenty of throwback styling mods like spare tire covers and bikini/safari tops that’ll help you top-off the vintage look.
Do you have any more suggestions on how to turn a late model Ford Bronco into vintage-style off-roader? Let us hear about them in the comments section below.
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