We haven’t done one of these in a long time, but a poke from our good friend Matthew Guy alerted us to a new product offered by Ford Motor Company.
One with RPMs that max out at 78.
Not since the Blue Oval convinced Dr. Pepper to introduce a 15-can cola pack to satisfy the Expedition’s obscene cupholder count has this writer been so rattled by a non-automotive automotive product. If you’re a Bronco lover, get that Starship LP out of storage.
For the maybe reasonable price of $150 (any music snobs feel like chiming in?), you too can have a turntable modelled after the front end of a vintage, first-generation Bronco. Yes, the headlights work. Decked out in a retro turquoise-teal color, one that some readers might associate with the bathroom of a crime-scene motel, the Bronco Turntable is a new addition to Ford’s merchandise line.
Lifting the hood won’t reveal a 200 CID straight-six, but you might find Rush’s 2112.
To be fair, it’s somewhat fetching, and you can bet a few of these will call a studio apartment, rec room, or man-cave basement home before long, if not already. One thing this writer would like to know: Will there be a Fairmont model? Because that’s what my family was driving back when mom’s copy of Leonard Cohen’s I’m Your Man was hogging the record player and little Steph was up in his room making mixed tapes off of AM rock radio. You know the ones — the first 10 to 15 seconds of the song was always missing.
Millennials might not know the joy of bolting across the room to press “record,” but with this turntable they can at least save albums to a USB stick. Given socioeconomic trends, it might be all the Bronco they can ever afford. Of course, all of this begs the question: what do Bronco devotees listen to?
[Image: Ford]
The BMW model will be cheaper, because the turn signals are non-functional.
Good one!
They need to make a version in 90’s design, white with orange stripes and call it the Juice Edition.
Fairmont?
I do believe you meant Fairlane.
Fairlane. It was called Farlaine.
Fairmont 1978-1983
Fairlane 1955-1970
Given the cassette recording reference, I figured Fairmont is correct.
Wow, finally something I can totally live without
At a minimum, it’s $20-$30 overpriced to buy it from Ford. since you can get it from the manufacturer for $130, and less through other sellers. Not an audiophile, but it’s probably a typical low end turntable on par with a Crosley, where you’re paying more for aesthetics than quality.
https://www.ionaudio.com/bronco-lp-teal-broncolptealxca
Prediction: 12,400 of these will be discovered in a disused corner of the UAW Training Center.
…puts on serious face and completes homework…
“what do Bronco devotees listen to?”
– Don’t Stop Believin’
– What I Did For Love
– I Hate Myself for Loving You
“2120 South Michigan Avenue”
Interesting .
I ASS-U-ME it’s aimed at the older boomers ? .
I don’t see what it runs on ~ house current, 12 VDC or batteries ? .
-Nate
https://www.hsn.com/products/ion-audio-ford-bronco-4-in-1-lp-turntable/9016341
“Plugs into a standard household outlet” per above.
THANK YOU ! .
=8-) .
I won’t be buying one, I think it’s time to part with all my old vinyl .
-Nate
What Maymar said. Knowing what actually happens to the vinyl itself when one plays a record – high enough heat generated to soften the vinyl along with the pressure of the stylus in the groove embedding any dust particles on the surface into the groove walls – I would not put any of my vinyl on this very inexpensively made player. The tracking weight of the tone arm is most likely 2 grams or more, no anti-skate, questionable stylus geometry and inaccurate speed of playback to boot. But my guess is it will sell to someone who likes the novelty of the thing, doesn’t have a clue about proper record care/playback and was an owner of a Bronco at some point in their life. Buy on!
For some reason, before reading the article, I thought this was a novelty car mounted record player similar to those that were on offer briefly in the past.
https://merchandise.ford.com/Search?ST=turntable
They also have Mustang turntables as well. They are made by Ion, though. Don’t expect them to actually be any good.
Looks like it’s more than a turntable…isn’t that an AM/FM “slide rule” dial on top?