Jonathan Ward of ICON 4×4 has garnered quite the reputation for himself and his company by taking iconic classic vehicles, and modifying them with modern drivetrain components. These are much more than your typical restomods, however, as they stay true to the original aesthetic of the donor vehicle – while offering buyers many of the amenities and capabilities found on more modern vehicles.

Ward’s latest effort is based around this 1977 Ford Bronco. And though the Ford SUV looks like any other Bronco from this era, it now sports a 5.0-liter Coyote engine under the hood; but that’s where the similarities end.

Normally, Ward and ICON stick to modifying pre-1975 vehicles to avoid California’s strict emission laws, but a customer insisted on a 1977 Bronco – and ICON stepped up to the challenge. Thankfully, the client lived in a state with more lax emission laws, meaning that the 5.0 Coyote crate engine could be installed without invoking the wrath of the regulators. Producing more than 426 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, this Coyote engine makes more the twice the horsepower compared to the emissions-strangled pushrod 5.0 originally found in the Bronco.

It’s important to note that 1977 was the last year of the first-generation Bronco, which perhaps influenced the client’s decision to buy one. Of course this ICON Bronco has much more done to it then a seemingly simple engine swap. The extensive list of modifications includes a Ford 4R75W four-speed automatic transmission, paired with an Atlas II part-time transfer case. A Dynatrac Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear set of differentials sends power to all four wheels, which wear ICON’s new Retro series wheels.

With the rumor mill suggesting that a new Ford Bronco is in the works, you may just want to hold off for a more modern rendition. If you’ve always been a fan of the classic Bronco look and feel, you might want to give Ward a call.