OJ Simpson immortalized the Ford Bronco in America. (Part-1)

The Ford Bronco was built for rugged outdoorsmen as a two-door escape from mid-century American cities. By 1994, it featured cruise control and air conditioning for suburbanites, and O.J. Simpson cowered in the back of one with a revolver to his temple as cop cars trailed it for two hours in the California twilight.  

This model was discontinued two years later. However, the slow-speed chase on the Los Angeles freeways that aired on TV to millions of viewers made the Bronco—or at least that white Bronco—one of America's most iconic cars.

Marcus Collins, a University of Michigan marketing professor, said his millennial students knew O.J. It's as important as showing the Twin Towers on fire. The contextual associations we assigned to it made it part of the zeitgeist.”  

Simpson's Bronco, which he died in Wednesday, is in a Tennessee crime museum near Ted Bundy's Volkswagen Beetle. The band White Ford Bronco covers 1990s hits by Metallica, Will Smith, and the Spice Girls.  

Diego Valencia, 41, singer and guitarist, said a coworker proposed it in 2008 when discussing band names. “With ‘Seinfeld’ or ‘Beverly Hills 90210,’ you might be losing some people,” Valencia remarked. “But that was the most '90s thing ever.” Valencia claimed the White Ford Bronco name is an homage to “where were you in June of 1994?” rather than Simpson.  

Advertised to fishermen and hunters The Bronco was one of the original sport-utility vehicles, according to auto historian Todd Zuercher, author of the 2019 book “Ford Bronco: A History of Ford’s Legendary 4x4.” “The whole thing back then was get out and get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and get into the backcountry,” Zuercher said.  

Zuercher sold the vehicle to hunters, fisherman, and families for exploring. The Bronco outperformed the Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout because it had a hard top, heater, and maybe a radio. The Simpson vehicle pursuit took place during the fifth generation of the Bronco, Zuercher recalled. SUVs got bigger and more luxurious over time.  

After blood was found in Simpson's Bronco, it was seized as evidence. A 1993 XLT owned by his friend, former colleague, and evening driver Al “A.C.” Cowlings was pursued by authorities.  

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