Rare 1978 RVI Bronco Reborn With a Supercharged Godzilla V8

Bringing an RVI Bronco Back to Life

In the hills surrounding Las Vegas, a sun-faded Ford Bronco sat forgotten but not lost. It wasn’t just any Bronco—it was a 1978 conversion by RVI (Recreational Vans Inc.), a little-known custom outfit based out of Torrance, California, that dared to break from convention during the heyday of American van culture. RVI wasn’t building for the masses; they were building for people who wanted more—more stripes, more chrome, more sunroofs, and apparently…more attitude. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill 4×4. It also wasn’t just a rare custom truck with a backstory, vintage RV flair, and a future that no one could’ve predicted. Well, except for Jake Gertsch from Montana. He knew he had to have more than a basic restored Bronco—one that checked all the boxes. Jake also knew he had to have the best in the custom Bronco game take care of such an epic build. Let’s get into how the process played out.

When the crew behind Montana Broncos started hunting for their next wild build in 2020, they weren’t looking for just any Bronco. They wanted a platform unique enough to handle something truly outrageous: a heart transplant featuring Ford’s 7.3L Godzilla V8. Then fate stepped in. Bronco enthusiast Drew Peroni spotted a classified ad for a dusty RVI Bronco sitting high in the Vegas hills. It had all the right signs—sunroofs, stripes, racks, and more! With no hesitation, the call was made, a voicemail was left, and the seller, Steve Phillips, called back with a twist: “You’re first in line. Let’s make it happen.” Done! Steve’s father had bought the Bronco new in the late ’70s, and true to RVI style, it had been “upfitted” at the dealer with wild retro touches. It was worn but intact. Even better? Inside the cab were two notebooks that meticulously recorded every fuel fill-up, repair, and note from its entire life on the road. Apparently, the Bronco had been parked due to a suspected transmission issue years back.

The Montana crew made moves quickly. With help from a Vegas local (and Instagram follower) named Victor, the Bronco was trailered, revived with just enough gas to fire up, and then shipped north to its new home in Montana. The first step was getting rid of the rot on the running boards and wheel flares, as well as on other weathered bits. The body was polished and coated with XKote to lock in that sun-aged patina while making the Cinnamon Glow paint pop like it hadn’t in decades.

For the interior, the goal was clear: ‘70s vintage with modern flair and craftsmanship. Jay at Midnight Customs in Billings was asked to work his magic. Seats from an old Ford conversion van were wrapped in premium Apex Leather and feature authentic plaid inserts made by Free Wheeling Co. Custom door panels, a trick center console, map pockets, and a hand-stitched roll bar brought a sense of old-school utility-meets-luxury. Oh, and those RVI dual sunroofs? They are still fully functional, have been freshly resealed, and are butterfly-wing cool. The spotlights were also restored. The roof horns are still MIA, but rumor has it they’re vintage firetruck pieces—stay tuned for confirmation. But everything else is crisp, clean, and ready to rumble.

Here’s where things get wild. After brainstorming with Steve Matko of Matko Motors in Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, the team shipped the Bronco across the country for a full frame-off restoration and drivetrain swap. The centerpiece? A Ford Racing 7.3L Godzilla engine that was fitted with a Whipple supercharger courtesy of Godzilla Garage. The engine also features forged Mahle pistons, Molnar rods, and a supercharger camshaft from Brian Wolfe at Willis Performance, who knows a thing or two about making monsters roar. Matko and Ed Decker balanced the rotating assembly and, despite some friendly back-and-forth, installed remote-controlled exhaust cutouts that can turn every car show into a metal concert. The transmission is a fully built 6R80 auto rated for 1,000 hp, paired with the original NP205 transfer case. Matko Motors stripped the frame down to bare rails, which were then powdercoated satin black by Pittsburgh Powder Coat. Then came the heavy artillery: Super Duty axles with 3.73-geared limited-slip diffs, a Battle Born Brakes kit, and even custom traction bars painted in the original Cinnamon Glow. Rocco at RC3 Performance supplied bulletproof mounts and crossmembers.

Inside the cabin, Dakota Digital gauges, a RetroSound radio, and Vintage Air A/C were installed. Joe from Classic Rewire in Missouri flew in and rewired the entire system from nose to tail. AMP Research PowerSteps, Nu-Relics electric windows, and a rebuilt tilt column from Donald Bland Sr. ensure the driving experience matches the Bronco’s newfound muscle. The removable top was restored and color-matched, and the original RVI roof rack got a fresh coat of silver powder. With the OBR standalone engine management and a US Shift Quick 6 controlling the transmission, this Bronco is smooth, savage, and utterly unique. Ion Alloy wheels, Fox Shocks, and Jake’s favorite, BFG T/A KO2 tires, are all instrumental in making this beast the best ride in the countryside! There are no dyno numbers yet, but with 700–850 hp on tap, this thing is a land-based rocket.

Thanks to painstaking chassis work, steering upgrades, and attention to detail, this Bronco drives like a dream. And it burns rubber like one too—just ask the crew at Apex Leather! There’s evidence left behind from this photo shoot at their North Carolina plant. Solomon from Ford Era can also attest that this is the baddest Bronco around! He put 200 gallons of fuel through it on a joyride from Tennessee to Montana, delivering it to the owner.

This build wasn’t about being flashy but more about honoring the legacy of a rare Bronco—the kind you don’t find twice. And yet, the team turned it into something more: a restomod that bridges past and future, with an RV soul, Godzilla guts, and Bronco heritage woven into every stitch, weld, and roar. It’s part time capsule, part tire-shredding beast, and no doubt the coolest ’78 Bronco around! With these upgrades complete and the Bronco home, Jake enjoys it as often as he can, which was exactly the point of the project to begin with.