This Ford Bronco Looks Like a Baja 1000 Winner
This isn’t just a special paint job for the two-door Bronco; it also comes with some of the best bits you can option.
We love it when an OEM makes a special edition truly special beyond a paint and decal job. Especially one that’s going to be tied into the legendary performance of Bill Stroppe’s Baja 1000 winning Ford Bronco from 1971. Based on the 2025 Ford Bronco two-door, the Stroppe Special Edition has the off-road cred to back up its looks because it's fitted with some of the best bits you can option.
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First, let’s get the obvious out the way, the paint job is an awesome callback to Bill Stroppe’s 1971 Ford Bronco. The original Calypso Coral, Wimbledon White, and Astra Blue livery have been replaced with modern approximations from Ford. The Code Orange body—the first non-Raptor to wear this color—Oxford White, and Atlas Blue hardtop with the matte black hood and tailgate all bring back imagery from that amazing 1971 Baja 1000 run.
There is also an extra-special tie-in to that scheme as MotorTrend sponsored the Bill Stroppe-built Bronco that Rod Hall drove nearly 55 years ago in the Baja 1000, as well. Our own Editor, Scott Evans, got to drive it for a story last year on it and Shelby Hall, Rod’s granddaughter, and a racer in her own right. In addition to Rod Hall, Stroppe is also responsible to bringing legendary driver, Parnelli Jones, to Ford and building and navigating Jones’ equally legendary Bronco, “Big Oly’.” Just a few months before his passing, Ford was able to give Willie Stroppe, Bill Stroppe's son, a look at the 2025 Stroppe Special Edition. Willie sadly passed away in June at the age of 72.
But let’s talk what really makes this 2025 Bronco Stroppe Edition truly special. Ford could have easily stopped at just that paintjob and the special “Bronco” and “Bill Stroppe Special Edition” decals, but it didn’t. Instead, there is real performance under the chassis of this 2025 Bronco with its Fox internal-bypass dampers, 17-inch beadlock ready wheels, and 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires. With the addition of the standard Stabilizer Bar Disconnect switch and HOSS 3.0 system, this is a Bronco that Struppe and Hall both would have been proud of and comfortable tackling the Baja 1000 all over again. There are other off-road augmentations to this two-door Bronco like the standard steel front bumper with Code Orange tow hooks, high-clearance fenders in Code Orange, and removeable side-steps with integrated rock rails. Again, all parts that are both functional and great looking on this throwback Bronco.
Inside, the Stroppe Special Edition will remind you that this isn’t the Wildtrak Bronco it replaces. First are the Code Orange accents in the cabin like the “Bronco” wordmark on the dashboard, the bezel of the GOAT mode dial, and grab handles. The central plastic portion of the dash is finished in Oxford White as a contrast to the black leather and trim, while the dash topper and seats feature Code Orange contrast stitching. The center console features a unique “Stroppe Special Edition” badge that brings about the spirit of those Stroope-built Broncos with its classic wordmark and the shape of the Bronco’s nose, especially with the Torx fasteners looking like a pair of Bronco headlights.
The 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition will hit dealer lots by January 2025, but Ford hasn’t released how much this Bronco will sell for. We asked Ford for an MSRP and will update this story when we get it or any answer on when to expect a price. Considering it’s taking the place of the Wildtrak, expect a price between $65,000 and $75,000.
Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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