FIRST DRIVE: Ford’s 1000hp Flying Bronco

Originally destined for the scrapyard, this Bronco was saved and reimagined by off-road legends Loren Healy (two-time King of the Hammers winner) and Vaughn Gittin Jr. (Formula Drift champion), blending the best elements of Ultra4 racing, Baja desert trucks, and trophy trucks.

Engineering for Extremes

El Bandito’s build is as wild as its looks. Under the hood sits a supercharged 5.2-liter Ford Performance V8, tuned to deliver a staggering 1,100 horsepower. The chassis is a hand-built chromoly tube frame, designed by Kibitech, and features massive 42-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires on 20-inch double beadlock wheels. The suspension is equally impressive, with billet upper A-arms, Fox Live Valve coilovers, and up to 26 inches of rear suspension travel—allowing the truck to tackle everything from high-speed desert runs to crawling over Volkswagen-sized boulders.

The truck’s four-wheel-drive system, single-speed monster truck transfer case, and advanced electronics let it adapt instantly to wildly different terrains. With bash plates and a hydraulic handbrake (a nod to Gittin Jr.’s drift background), El Bandito is part luxury prerunner, part Ultra4 racer, and part pure off-road party.

A True Off-Road Experience

Jethro’s drive highlights just how intense and physical El Bandito is. The ride is surprisingly comfortable over brutal terrain, thanks to the advanced suspension, but the sheer power and constant movement make it a demanding and exhilarating experience. Loren Healy shares insights into the truck’s design and the challenges of building something that can handle both the chaos of King of the Hammers and the high speeds of Baja racing.

Comparisons and Context

The video also contrasts El Bandito with more attainable off-road Broncos, like the Bronco Badlands and the 4600 series race truck. While these production-based models share little beyond the name and basic architecture, Ford’s commitment to genuine off-road performance shines through. El Bandito, however, is in a league of its own—closer to a Le Mans prototype or a GT2 RS Clubsport for the dirt.

El Bandito is described as “truly and utterly mind-blowing”—a machine that’s both savage and controllable, with a balance that belies its outrageous power. After a day of jumps, slides, and off-road mayhem, the verdict is clear: off-road racing might be a little crazy, but in a machine like this, crazy is exactly what makes it unforgettable.