Like most auto manufacturers, Ford loves getting stuck into developing special versions of its historic models to celebrate their birthdays. There are few more recognizable and heritage-filled Ford models than the Bronco, which has been produced by the marque on and off since the mid-1960s. It may have changed drastically in several ways since its early days, but it still exudes the same charm it always did.When the Bronco celebrated its 60th birthday, Ford elected to cook up a special concept version of the vehicle. Named the Roadster Concept, the design harks back to the very first Broncos that graced US roads six decades ago. The Bronco Roadster Concept Was Inspired By The First Of Its Kind Ford In August 2025, Ford unveiled the Bronco Roadster Concept, a one-off creation built purely as a way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the original Bronco making its debut. While the current, and the vast majority of the OG Broncos, were available in two and four-door forms, the first few model years of the first-gen Bronco could be had in full roadster form. This meant no roof and no doors, with only the windshield acting as a barrier to prevent Mother Nature from unleashing its full wrath on the vehicle's occupants.Named the Bronco U13, the vehicle was essentially designed as a Mustang that you could tackle off-road trails with. The model was incredibly simple and designed purely to allow its passengers to experience extra freedom while exploring the wilderness, though it didn't last long. Not many buyers bought into the U13s vision, and Ford dropped it beyond the 1968 model year due to poor sales. The Bronco Concept Celebrates The Failed Experiment Ford Despite the Bronco U13 failing to find the success Ford hoped for, it has remained a firm favorite in its heart. This therefore made it the obvious candidate to pay homage to on the Bronco's 60th birthday, with the Roadster Concept lacking a roof and doors just like its ancestor. Based on a Bronco U13 owned by a friend of the company, the Roadster Concept is finished in the same white color as the inspiration model. A set of retro Fifteen52 wheels was also employed to enhance the concept's retro aesthetic.It also features other similarities, such as an exposed spare wheel in the rear cargo compartment, as well as nostalgic seats without the headrests found on the contemporary Bronco. Steel front and rear bumpers were also brought to the party. While technical details weren't officially communicated, the fact that the Roadster Concept features a manual transmission points to it coming with Ford's small-but-mighty 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine. Ford Has Elected Not To Offer The Bronco Roadster As A Production Model Ford Unlike some concept cars, Ford made it clear from the outset of the Bronco Roadster's announcement that it would never reach official production. Given the vehicle's uniqueness against other off-road SUVs on sale today, this is a real shame, as there would doubtless be a long line of buyers queuing up to take a slice of the action. That said, the excitement would likely be extinguished pretty quickly given the vehicle's shortcomings, since the lack of a roof is a bit of an inconvenience.Ford likely made the right decision in not trying to make a mass-production version of the car, though there was another way it could have made it into the public's hands. The Bronco Roadster Would Have Made A Killer Limited Edition Model Ford Rather than face the headache of continuing to offer the Bronco Roadster beyond the initial excitement period, Ford could have released the model as a limited-edition model that would have covered just a single production year. The benefits of this approach are clear as, for one, it would have created an even bigger buzz for the brand, especially if it managed to sell some to high-profile influencers who could have the Ford badge plastered all over the place.It could also have made good money, especially if Ford kept production numbers low. These kinds of vehicles can be sold for pretty much whatever kind of price tag the company wants and, given the rarity of the cars, will likely mean they'll be worth even more in the future. This would make the Bronco Roadster an excellent investment opportunity. Of course, while this would be an interesting approach, there are drawbacks. Ford Would Need To Make Big Changes To Prep It For Public Sale Ford While the lack of a roof and general practicality could be batted away as unique selling points for such a rare model, the safety compromises made to design the vehicle would be tougher to overcome. To create the full open-air experience, the rollcage fitted to the standard Bronco needed to be removed. While Ford could get away with this in the 1960s, safety regulations have been tightened significantly in the years since, so offering a car in this format wouldn't fly today. As a result, Ford would need to offer some form of roll cage, which would defeat the point of the design, or spend a ton of money developing a different solution.Neither choice would prove worthwhile from a sales or profitability standpoint, and was likely the main reason Ford didn't bother to pursue a production version. Aside from the lack of a roll cage, the car would also need new seats and seatbelts, which would move it even further away from the design of the classic car. The Original Bronco U13 Could Be Yours, But For A Fair Wedge Ford While you can't have the modern version of the U13, this only makes the decision easier to get out there and buy an original one instead. The lack of interest in the variant meant that only around 5,000 examples were produced between 1965 and 1968, making them pretty difficult to track down. In period, the vehicle was offered with either a 2.7-liter inline-six or a 4.8-liter V8 powerplant, with the more powerful latter units tending to demand more cash.The most affordable models are the six-cylinder variants from 1967 and 1968, with good-condition examples going for around $45k according to Hagerty's Valuation Tool. You'd better get saving if you want a mint specimen though, as these are worth around $120k today, a price that's rising as more people get into classic car ownership. Bronco U13s with the V8 engine will demand even more from your wallet, with Hagerty valuing even good-condition cars at north of $55,000. Fancy one in perfect fettle? Then you'll need to get your hands on around $150k. If you do decide to spend your hard-earned cash on a classic Bronco U13, just remember to leave some left over for a tough helmet, just in case you get a little over-exuberant when giving it a good test.