Last summer, Ford revived the ’70s-inspired Free Wheeling appearance package on the Bronco Sport, and it looked stellar. However, it also left us wonder when the full-sized Bronco would get a similar visual treatment. Well, wonder no more, because for 2025, the sweet retro stripes of the Free Wheeling package come to the big Bronco, and the results are scrumptious.
It all starts with the Big Bend trim, which is good because that’s now the base trim level. Historically, it’s been common for automakers to lock cool appearance packages to higher trims, so there’s some hope of reasonable pricing here. From there, Ford slaps on a serious splash of color, and while we’ve seen similar palettes in other off-roaders, the treatment on this Bronco has a unique edge to it.
Firstly, Ford might’ve been the first to ever do it on a street vehicle, with the Free Wheeling appearance package first bursting out the gates in 1977. Secondly, like the original Free Wheeling trucks, the stripes on the Free Wheeling Bronco are actually subtly reflective. How cool is that?
Of course, stripes alone simply weren’t enough, so Ford is leaning into the ’70s-inspired visuals with a silver grille featuring a red-outlined Bronco wordmark. On this dark-hued example, the contrast really pops, but the result isn’t overwhelming. That’s a tricky balance to pull off, but Ford’s done it here.
Mind you, what you see here isn’t quite the final product. Weirdly, although Ford touts body-color door handles, they look pretty silver on this pre-production example, and kinda whip ass in a retro way. Matching the silver grille and less heavy-handed than chrome, it’s a good look in the context of the stripes and other retro touches. Last minute addition, please?
Adding to the sheer nostalgia, ticking the box for the Sasquatch package on a Free Wheeling Bronco gets you turbine-influenced wheels. Everyone focuses on Cragars or slot mags, there was a period of time when turbines ruled the roost. It was a time of bell bottoms and nose beers, but now there’s a certain ironic nostalgia to these wheels, even if they were done to death in the day. Mercifully, Ford hasn’t decided to rip off the deeply fluted forms of those turbine wheels of the past, instead interpolating the look with long, thin spokes, flattening them out, maintaining a slight concavity, and going with a two-tone look. Yeah, this works.
Oh, and then we get to the interior, where the upholstery of the Free Wheeling package is just the cherry on top. Gradated seat inserts matching the bodyside stripes bring a healthy dose of color to the interior, and red accents on the dashboard, air vents, and console grab handle harmonize with the stitching and red stripes on the seats.
It’s always tricky to do retro right, but by leaning all the way into the bit, the 2025 Ford Bronco Free Wheeling Edition absolutely succeeds. Hell, you’ll even be able to get a line of themed apparel including an old-school-cool bomber jacket. Short of the insane Raptor trim, the Free Wheeling looks like the Bronco to have for 2025, and you can expect pricing to drop closer to its on-sale date in January.
(Photo credits: Ford)
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I hope it has an accessory mirror for the nose beers. Maybe a test kit to ensure the exclusion of Fentanyl.
If I was in the market for a Bronco, this is the one I would buy; in 2 door only. The 4 door doesn’t do it for me. I want my next vehicle to be a PHEV, so no skittles for me.
Yes, its retro, but it reads to me more like a Ford Flex than an old Bronco..and I like it.
The new Bronco just isn’t my cup of tea so I’ve never liked it, but this I like.
Man Ford is incredible. Just Sunday I saw a “full-sized Bronco” with the Freewheeling package in perfect condition. I pointed it out to my wife and said I don’t understand why they are only offering something like that on the Bronco Sport. From google telling them about my conversation they whipped up a package in one day and released it the next.
So yeah Ford bring me back my Crown Victorias and a new Thunderbird.
As an old, “full-sized Bronco” means to me a 1978-1996.
Yup, this new one is not “full size” to me either.
Not my jam, but I am glad it exists. The matching seats are the cherry on top!
Yea, I’m glad they went with the seats as well
I like it in theory, just not in execution. There’s something off about the proportions
Fantastic. This is the one to get and it’s not particularly close.
This is absolutely awesome. I don’t even want a Bronco, but if I had spare money, I’d buy one just so there are more built.
Yeah. This is GOOD. I hope this option package has a big enough take rate that Ford and other automakers start to offer more fun, light-hearted cosmetic options.
I would love for my Pacifica to have an A-Team van appearance package (turbine wheels, black/grey/red paint scheme, spoiler, body kit, driving lights)
A Starsky and Hutch graphics package for the Mustang.
GM could really lean into the Fall Guy package on the 1/2 ton trucks.
Daisy Duke Wrangler. Hell, bring back the Golden Eagle package for something.
Mach-E cruising wagon!
Mod Squad Genesis G80.
Back to the Future Tacoma!
(The Bishop should get on some of these ideas)
LMAO – Reminding people of the Fords of the late 70’s is only a good idea with people who have never actually even seen a Ford from the late 1970’s.
Apropos of Nothing – did they ever get those engine problems with Bronco figured out?
THAT reminds reminds me of Fords of the 70’s

https://www.motor1.com/news/689613/ford-bronco-engine-failure-investigation-expanded/
Looks like Ford learned the lesson from the Sport here – the red paint on the wheels is a lot more restrained, and just having the stripes on the side and not the hood (from what I can see) nicely tones things down/seems to balance the overall effect a little better.
Finally. It looks incredible on the real Bronco. I know I’m in the minority here, but I think the Free Wheeling package looks terrible on the Sport, so I’m glad they’ve fixed that on the Bronco. Hopefully they’ll give us the package on the 2-Door.
I’m with you – the package on the Bronco Sport is not good (aside from the interior). I also agree this would look great on a 2-door Bronco, but I don’t have high hopes Ford will offer it.