Eaton recently announced its support for the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation and restoration company Gateway Bronco in the development of a custom-built 1974 Ford Bronco that will be auctioned for charity.
Eaton hosted NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney and Gateway Bronco founder Seth Burgett for a press conference at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas to debut the classic Bronco restored in memory of Blaney’s grandfather, Lou Blaney, who passed away following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Established by Ryan Blaney in 2018, the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation commissioned Gateway Bronco to restore the classic SUV, which features an Eaton ELocker front differential and Eaton Detroit Truetrac rear differential, as well as a Harrop USA supercharger with Eaton Twin Vortices Series (TVS) technology. The vehicle will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company in January 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona, with proceeds benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Eaton is honored to be associated with this project and have our parts represented on a beautiful vehicle that will benefit a noble cause,” said Tim Bauer, vice president, aftermarket, Eaton’s Vehicle Group North America. “It is a special privilege to support this effort by Ryan Blaney and work with all the talented people at Gateway Bronco who bring these vehicles back to life.”
Gateway Bronco craftsmen restore vintage Ford Broncos in the company’s 60,000-square-foot factory in Hamel, Illinois, with all production done in-house.
Gateway Bronco exclusively uses Eaton differentials in each of its builds, providing its buyers with the highest-quality components for outstanding performance. Gateway offers Eaton’s Detroit Truetrac front and rear differentials as standard equipment on its restored Broncos, with Eaton’s ELocker as an optional upgrade for the front differential.
Ryan Blaney is a third-generation racecar driver in his eighth season with Team Penske and his second season racing full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. His grandfather was a legendary racecar driver who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2001 before succumbing to complications from the disease in 2009.
To honor the elder Blaney, who operated a sawmill when he wasn’t racing, Gateway Bronco lined the tailgate of the restored Bronco with original barnwood etched with the words “Blaney & Sons Lumber – Special.”
The vehicle is on display at the Eaton exhibit (booth No. 22963) at the SEMA Show, which runs through Nov. 8.
