First-Gen Ford Bronco Takes Center Stage as Jay Leno’s Classic-Car Law Is Signed
A classic Ford Bronco found itself in the spotlight this week as California Governor Gavin Newsom joined longtime automotive enthusiast Jay Leno for the signing of a new law aimed at preserving collector vehicles.
And for Bronco fans, the setting couldn't have been much better.
The signing took place at Jay Leno's Garage in Burbank, California, with an orange first-generation Ford Bronco prominently displayed during the event.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1392 — commonly referred to as “Jay Leno’s Law” — creates a phased-in smog-check exemption for certain collector vehicles from the 1976 through 1985 model years. The bill was jointly authored by California Senators Dave Cortese and Shannon Grove and was signed into law on September 16, 2026.
What Does Jay Leno's Law Do?
California has historically had some of the nation's strictest emissions requirements for older vehicles.Under SB 1392, qualifying collector vehicles from model years 1976 through 1985 will gradually become exempt from California's smog-check requirements.
There are restrictions.
The exemption is intended for genuine collector vehicles rather than everyday transportation. Qualifying vehicles must meet requirements that include being insured as a collector vehicle or being driven fewer than 1,000 miles per year.
The exemption begins January 1, 2028, initially covering qualifying 1976–1980 vehicles. Additional model years are then phased in until vehicles through the 1985 model year are covered.
And Then There's the Bronco
That's where things get particularly interesting for us.
The original Ford Bronco was produced from 1966 through 1977, meaning the first-generation Bronco overlaps with the model years addressed by the legislation.
Pre-1976 gasoline-powered vehicles were already outside California's regular smog-check requirement, so the new legislation is particularly relevant to qualifying 1976 and 1977 Broncos as the exemption is phased in.
And considering what clean first-generation Broncos are worth today, keeping these classics on the road has become serious business.
Seeing a first-gen Bronco sitting behind Jay Leno during the signing was therefore a pretty appropriate choice.
Jay Leno Has Some Bronco History
This isn't Leno's first encounter with the Bronco, either.Earlier this year, Leno got behind the wheel of Ford's modern Bronco Roadster Concept, a stripped-down sixth-generation Bronco created as a tribute to the extremely rare original U13 Bronco Roadster.
The concept removed the doors and roof and featured a manual transmission, attempting to recapture some of the simplicity that made the earliest Broncos special.
So seeing another classic Bronco sharing the stage with Leno isn't exactly out of character.
Keeping the Classics on the Road
Whatever side someone takes on emissions regulations, there's something most Bronco enthusiasts can probably appreciate: preserving automotive history.
These aren't simply old SUVs anymore.
First-generation Broncos have become highly collectible pieces of Ford history, and many surviving examples spend considerably more time attending shows, cruises and enthusiast events than commuting to work every morning.
SB 1392 attempts to recognize that distinction by limiting the exemption to qualifying collector and low-mileage vehicles.
And when California decided to celebrate its classic-car culture, what was sitting there helping represent it?
A Ford Bronco.
We can certainly live with that.
What Do You Think?
Should states make it easier to keep classic vehicles like the first-generation Bronco on the road?And if you could put one classic Bronco in your garage, what year and configuration would you choose?
Come talk about it with us on BroncoBusting.com — the Ford Bronco Forum.
