Don’t Buy It, Build: 2017 Ford Bronco (DIY Edition)

People have been buzzing about a new, body-on-frame SUV since the UAW leaked news about an all-new 2017 Ford Bronco a few months ago. Since then, our Bronco post has been consistently popular and I’ve gotten literally tens of emails asking me for more information about the car. The anticipation was too much for one man, however, and he decided to take matters into his own hands … by building his very own new Bronco.

Our intrepid modder started off as a recycler by making the most of a car he already had. Namely, a Ukrainian-market Lada Niva 4×4 that was manufactured by AutoVAZ. So, not the most auspicious of starts- but you can’t fault the man’s work ethic.

Turning an Old Lada into a New Ford Bronco

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  A little inspiration from a Ford Bronco concept …

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The end result is a much more modern-looking 4×4 Niva that could be mistaken for a current model. You know, if Lada made a current Niva 4×4. Which- I dunno. They might still make a Niva 4×4. This YouTube video makes it look like someone does, anyway.

Regardless of what this Niva/Bronco started as, however, it is very definitely now a kick-a** homage to Ford’s latest Bronco concept vehicle. Whether or not the actual production Bronco we end up getting in 2017 is something bare-bones like this or something softer and more living-roomy remains to be seen … but how cool would it be if Ford gave us something like this? Or just gave us the Brazil-market Troller?

You’ve got keyboards- let us know! Tell us what you think of one man’s DIY Ford Bronco project and what you hope (or fear) will happen to Ford’s “real” effort on its way from sketchpad to production in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

DIY Bronco Details

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  Slick, modern headlights …

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Source | Images: AutoforumCZ, via Jalopnik.

Open Source Vehicle For The Open Road - VIDEO

Open Source. Two words that have changed the world in the past may be doing it again. In simple terms, the idea behind open source is to increase development and production of a product by releasing the designs to the world at no cost. While this term has been used widely for decades in computer software, it is being reborn into the automotive industry.

A ground breaking company coming from the U.K. has come up with the beginning design for their first DIY  vehicle, the Tabby. The company, OSVehicle, claims the process of piecing the four seater together will only take up an hour of your day and set you back around $6400(€4700). This price includes (not-so) optional features such as a 4kW electric powertrain capable of sending the vehicle up to 50mph, a 60Ah battery, racing style seats and a set of 195/65 R15 wheels. There is also a two seat version available that knocks off $135, if you prefer to leave the family at home.

While in its current state, the “base model” Tabby is more of a large go-cart than anything else, but plans are available for another,road-legal version named the Urban Tabby. This version allows you to add your own body work, while taking care of all the key structural components.

Many things we have come to know and love have been created using the open source methodology, but it’s important to realize that this is not always the case. A study on open source software has found that a mere 17% of open source projects were successful, though open source projects like Mozilla’s Firefox web browser and the WordPress blogging software used to publish this post can have world-changing effects. That said, prior open source car projects haven’t had the hoped-for success of their creators.

For a project as ambitious as the OSVehicle Tabby to succeed, it’ll require help from aspiring engineers and designers all over the world. OSVehicle’s designs are available for download, and they encourage others to make modifications to their designs. If you feel you have what it takes to improve these designs, contribute to the cause and help kickstart an automotive revolution.

Source: Wired | OSVehicle

Don’t Buy It, Build It: DIY Teardrop Trailer

A Redditor calling himself rufi0h posted these pictures a few days ago, and they show his build progress from an open utility trailer to a fully-equipped pull-behind camper. Rufi0h adds commentary on the build along the way, saying things like “I really had no idea what I was doing, so I just started building a frame around the walls” early in the build, graduating to comments about insulation and the curved hatchback – which gave him some trouble. “Building the frame for the hatchback. This design failed. I ended up breaking 3 hatchbacks before I got a design to work.”

That rufi0h had any trouble at all hardly seems believable when you see the finished product. Sure, it’s a little rough around the edges, but it seems to be at least as solidly built – if not better! – than some of the budget foam-core awfulness occupying the lower-end of the pull-behind RV gene pool, you know? If you don’t know, count yourself lucky.

Enough chatter, though- this is what you’re here for: build pics. Enjoy!

Source | Photos: rufi0h, via Imgur.