Modified 1988 Ford Bronco II Takes On Race Buggy: Video

Hoonigan’s This vs. That series has produced some seriously entertaining content over the years, including quite a bit involving Blue Oval models of all kinds – such as a twin-turbocharged Ford F-150 pickup racing a modified Subaru WRX STI, as well as a heavily modified Ford Mustang going head-to-head with a Ford Falcon. Now that it has expanded its series to include some off-road action as well, Hoonigan is back with another highly entertaining matchup – this time, between a modified 1988 Ford Bronco II and a purpose-built race buggy.

Nicknamed “Shredded Lettuce,” the wild off-road buggy featured in this showdown was once an Ultra4 racer with a TMR chassis that has since been converted into a “havoc-style” racer. It utilizes a 632 cubic-inch V8 that churns out 640 horsepower at the wheels, and that was on its 40-inch tires – meaning that it’s making well over 1,000 at the crank. Driving all four wheels, that powerplant is accompanied by a serious suspension setup as well, just as one might assume.

In the other line, we have a heavily-modified 1988 Ford Bronco II that’s powered by a 410 cubic-inch Blue Oval V8 making around 650 horsepower, mated to a TH400 automatic gearbox. It’s also fitted with some solid suspension upgrades including King coilovers with reservoirs, coupled with 37-inch BFGoodrich rubber, to boot.

When the rubber meets the dirt in the first 1,000-foot off-road race, the buggy gets a bit of an early lead and hangs on to claim victory, even though the Ford Bronco II manages to keep things relatively close. Thus, for round two, the Bronco II gets the hit and the buggy has to start in the rocks, which is enough to tie up this series. Round three sees the Bronco II get the hit again, and it takes advantage of a slow start by the buggy before winning that and a bonus matchup, too – pretty impressive given how serious a build Shredded Lettuce truly is.

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