The real reason the iconic Ford Bronco model was discontinued — and it didn’t have to do with OJ Simpson’s infamous 1994 car chase

RUMORS swirled around Ford’s decision to discontinue the popular Ford Bronco series in 1996, just two years after the car was seen by millions of people in the most popular vehicle chase.

In 1994, Los Angeles police raided a white Ford Bronco carrying OJ Simpson, then a man accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

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The Bronco was released in the middle of the most-watched television trial in American history.

An estimated 95 million people tuned in to watch the Bronco slowly roll down the Los Angeles freeway as Simpson temporarily evaded police, according to Cutting equipment.

Eventually, Simpson was arrested after the vehicle stopped at his Brentwood home. He was later acquitted in the criminal trial.

A civil trial required Simpson to pay $33.5 million to the Goldman and Brown families.

But the extra hours of airtime during the police chase brought the Bronco to public attention. Television coverage seemed to have an impact on the market.

Ford sold 30,000 Bronco SUVs in 1993, the year before the chase.

The following year, Ford sold 37,000 units.

That’s an impressive increase for a model that’s nearing the end of its life cycle.

But Ford executives decided to abandon the large two-door SUV in 1996, despite its sales success.

They said it was because they saw a radical change in the market.

“We decided to move away from the big two-door, two-row SUV,” said Mark Schirmer, former Ford communications manager. USA today in 2014.

“The client’s popularity was already waning long before OJ made him a celebrity.”

Ford was not alone.

TWO-DOOR TOODALOO

Chevy and Toyota have also produced off-road capable two-door SUVs with the popular Blazer and 4Runner.

Companies also decide to abandon their two-door versions and invest in large four-door, three-row trucks.

The market opening left the Jeep Wrangler as one of the few two-door SUVS with off-road capability.

Jeep would dominate the two-door SUV segment for years until the companies decided to revive the brands.

Ford reintroduced two-door Broncos in 2021.

Chevy and Toyota both have vehicles running under off-road nameplates.

However, both vehicles only come in four-door bodies.

The 4Runner just launched its new redesign for the 2025 model year last week.

Meanwhile, the Blazer hit the market as a new EV.

Inside the infamous police chase of OJ Simpson

On June 17, 1994, OJ Simpson, seen driving his white Ford Bronco, led a mass of police cars on a 90-minute chase through Southern California.

Two days earlier, his wife Nicole Brown, 35, and her friend Ron Goldman, 25, were found brutally stabbed to death outside their Los Angeles condominium.

After collecting evidence from the scene, including bloody gloves from the crime, police pressed charges against Simpson, and he was scheduled to turn himself in at 11am on the 17th.

However, he did not appear at the police station and authorities began looking for him.

Simpson’s defense attorney, Ben Shapiro, gave detectives the address where he was hiding, but responding officers discovered he fled.

The former NFL star was declared a fugitive and a massive search was launched for him and his friend Al Cowlings, with whom he fled.

Hours after the search began, Simpson called 911 from his cellphone while driving his white Ford Bronco, allowing police to track his location.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. local time, the low-speed chase began and continued along I-5 in Orange County, California.

The chase was broadcast live by news outlets and horrified viewers across the country were glued to their television screens to see what would happen next.

Domino’s Pizza had its best day yet as families were too busy watching to prepare any dinner.

At around 9pm the same day, Simpson led police to his Brentwood property.

After a tense standoff, he surrendered and was taken to the Los Angeles County Jail.