1969 Ford Bronco - A Family Affair

When Larry Montgomery made his first run through the Rubicon, it was riding shotgun with his future father-in-law, David Emerson, in a '69 Ford Bronco. That wasn't the first Rubicon run for the venerable old equestrian, and it wouldn't be the last for Larry. Bitten by the four-wheeling bug, the next decade would find Larry building and 'wheeling a number of different rigs: corn-binder International Scouts, a couple of Jeeps, and even an old Toyota. But the old Bronco would always be his four-wheeling first.

David's dying wish before he passed away was that his pride and joy stayed in the family and kept on 'wheeling the Rubicon without him. Based in Foresthill California, and with the trails such as the Rubicon, Fordyce, and Barrett Lake just a stone-toss away, Larry and wife Carrie knew what they had to do. The rest of the rigs went up for sale, and the family Bronco found a familiar home in a new garage. It didn't take long for the two to give it a major going-through and a heart transplant in the form of a new mill. Since that time, it has seen various modifications, link suspensions, new colors, and dozens of backcountry weekend adventures. The final upgrade was not to make it a full-blown extreme rock buggy, but convert the suspension back to its traditional configuration, making sure the family weekend warrior would stay in prime shape for the next generation.

What is next for the old boy? Montgomery says he has a new TBI injection system and ram assist hydraulic steering in the works. We caught up with Larry, appropriately near the Rubicon, and couldn't help but notice this classic ride rolling past us. We've always had a soft spot for vintage Fords and thought you would want to check it out, too.