The 1966 Ford Bronco Custom Sand Dragster is more than a relic from Ford’s off-road experiments , it’s a survivor from the dawn of sand racing itself. Known as “Eric’s Racer,” this one-off creation is set to cross the block at Mecum’s Kissimmee 2026 auction, carrying decades of California dune history under its fiberglass skin.
The Birth of a Prototype
Built in the mid-1960s by Charlie Erickson and Bill Stroppe, two pioneers of Ford’s off-road legacy, the Bronco began life as a rumored pre-production prototype. Erickson, then an off-road vehicle specialist at Fairway Ford in Placentia, California, turned the early Bronco platform into a purpose-built sand dragster with radical modifications and race-focused weight reduction.
“Eric’s Racer” Rises from the Dunes
The Bronco debuted at its first sand meet on July 4, 1967, falling short of victory but quickly earning a reputation. By the next year, it dominated both hill climbs and drags at Pismo, setting a benchmark for backyard engineering. Between 1966 and 1970, Erickson raced the Bronco across Southern California’s dunes before selling it to LeRoy Page, whose family preserved it for decades.
Power Beneath the Fiberglass
Under the hood lies the original blueprinted 170 CI Ford inline-six, paired with a Paxton supercharger , a rare combination that made this Bronco a beast of its era. TRW forged pistons, dual Stromberg two-barrel carburetors, and a custom intake manifold pushed performance far beyond stock limits. A Moon cam, Mallory ignition, and Belanger headers completed a power setup that was as experimental as it was effective.
Purpose-Built Performance
Power fed through a Ford 3-speed manual transmission with a modified clutch and Hurst shifter setup. Ford limited-slip differentials, Traction Masters bars, and Goodyear Blue Streak tires , hand-grooved for grip , made sure the sand never stood a chance. With over 250 holes drilled into its frame, fiberglass panels, and stripped internals, “Eric’s Racer” became a masterclass in weight reduction and mechanical creativity.
The Long Sleep and the Comeback
After years of racing and later recreational use, the Bronco went into storage before being fully restored in 2011. The restoration preserved its period modifications, from the chrome-plated wheels to the custom chain-driven transfer system that replaced the factory setup. Today, it stands not as a restomod, but as a faithful resurrection of an era when ingenuity and grit built race legends from factory prototypes.
Supercharged Power and Heritage
With its Paxton-supercharged 170 CI inline-six still intact and every component tuned for maximum sand traction, the Bronco represents the crossroads of Ford’s engineering curiosity and West Coast race culture. Rated at a modest displacement but built to scream, it remains a time capsule of raw power, innovation, and the fearless experimentation that defined 1960s off-road racing.
Summary
The 1966 Ford Bronco Custom Sand Dragster isn’t a museum piece , it’s a snapshot of the moment when desert racing was still being invented. From its handcrafted engineering to its deep family lineage, “Eric’s Racer” proves that performance isn’t just measured in horsepower, but in history, too.
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Source & Details: mecum.com
