Think the Ford Bronco's Trail Sights Are Unsightly? An Aftermarket Delete Is Coming

We, like you, enjoy rooting around vehicle-specific forums for all sorts of unconventional stuff, like tips and tricks from owners or emerging problem areas in popular vehicles. The news and developments of privately owned 2022 Ford Broncos postedto Bronco6Ghave been among the juiciest so far. But outside of the handful of eyebrow-raising issues some owners have raised, what really catches our eyes are the new products owners are trying to create to make their Broncos perfect. Hence why we reached out to Exhibitions of Speed when they showed off their Trail Sight Deletes. The blank plates make the already classy looking Bronco look even more like the classic 1960s model we all love and cherish.

What Is Exhibitions of Speed?

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Owned and operated by Terrance Washington, Exhibitions of Speed was developed initially as a way to produce parts for the Ford Mustang GT350 and GT350R, starting with a set of titanium lug nuts that were a flush fit for the exposed threads of the extended wheel studs. Now, after owning a new Bronco, Washington looks to bring an interesting solution to those who saw the original renderings of the Bronco and thought it looked great without the Trail Sights, those little gunsight-like nubs protruding from each front fendertop. The idea behind the little sights, as their name implies, is to offer the driver an easily identifiable marker for the Bronco's front corners when threading through tight situations off-road.

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"Like most enthusiasts I really fell in love with some of the early conceptual renderings of the new Bronco," says Washington, "The smooth body lines off the front end really seemed to flow well with the platform and pay homage to the former model." Indeed, looking at his Bronco with the 3D printed prototype delete plates covering the sights' former mounting locations, the front end is subtly transformed without ruining the looks that Ford intended with the body shape.

A 10 mm and Five Minutes

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You'd think that the Trail Sights would be difficult to remove, but staying true to Ford's goal of modularity and ease-of-replacement for the Bronco, the pieces are easily removed and replaced. "The trail sights are easily removed with a 10 mm socket and about five minutes of your time," Washington explained. The production version of the Trail Sight Delete plates will be designed to be installed using the OEM hardware used at the Trail Sight's original mounting locations. "No modifications will be needed," said Washington. You can see the difference below, where the original equipment Trail Sight is mounted on the left (the Bronco's right), and the new delete plate is fitted flush with the surrounding bodywork on the right (the Bronco's left).

The Production Version

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While the prototype Trail Sight Deletes are 3D printed, the production version will most likely be made of aluminum. The aluminum Washington plans to use will be one "that can be finished with durable Cerakote, powder coating, or even painted to match the Bronco." While working on GT350R parts, he realized the absolute importance of high quality and rugged materials, both of which are especially important for the Bronco. "I want these to last when exposed to the rugged conditions the Bronco was made for," said Washington, "Not having it weigh as much as a brick is a plus, too." For those who do like the Trail Sights, Washington says that he has another prototype in development that will not only retain the idea of the Sights, but will be a "more aggressive version for those who like the functionality."

Bronco Owner Responses

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When Washington first showed the prototypes on Bronco6G and Facebook Bronco owner groups, the responses were very receptive to the Trail Sight Deletes and that was really important to Washington. "For someone like me that runs a small business," he explained, "each part developed is really personal and you put a lot of yourself into it. There is always a fear that when you release that product into the world, it won't be accepted and you can't help but take that personally." The response has been positive enough that the time and cost of research and development has been worth it to Washington.

When Will We See The Production Version?

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The biggest hurdle for the moment is finding someone who will partner up with Exhibitions of Speed to manufacture the part, as all of the design work is complete and the pieces are ready to be made. "I hope to have something built and released in March or April," said Washington, "One of my biggest hurdles is not having connections within the production and manufacturing industry." It is important for Washington that the deletes will be manufactured in America. "I am navigating now to find U.S.-based production that remains high quality and cost effective for enthusiasts," he said.

From the response so far from what we've seen on those same groups and forums, it's going to be a hit. Not every Bronco owner wants those Trail Sights on their rig, and more just want that classic look of the 1960s Bronco on their 2022-and-up models. Hopefully, Washington and Exhibitions of Speed will find that right producer and we'll see a full production model in the near future.

Images provided by Terrance Washington of Exhibitions of Speed.