We’ve been wondering why all of the recent images of Broncos that Ford is eeking out haven’t had those cool windows in the doors. It was one of the most unique, practical (if you’re off-roading), and cool features. It just added that “this is really a special deal” elan to the whole Bronco reveal and brand. They even had a great name: donut doors. Well, guess what? Now Ford says they won’t be available.

Really? Always good at “CYA” if you looked at any of the images there was the fine print. That fine print says, “aftermarket accessories shown (are) not available for sale. Prototype not representative of a production vehicle.” Yeah, well first, no one reads the mumbo jumbo and second, it was the most prominent feature of every two-door Bronco that it appeared on. 

Ford says that donut doors were just design flourishes for the catalog concepts

“We’ve always touted the Bronco two-door with the stylized doors as one of the ways we are looking at personalization opportunities,” Ford Icons spokesperson Jiyan Cadiz told Ford Authority. He went on to say that the donut doors were just design flourishes for the catalog concepts. “The same vehicle features a two-inch lift, custom wheels, and unique interior.”

Does this mean Ford is now in the Fake News business? Or fake parts business, maybe? Did it change its mind or is there fear of liability? There is no more liability exposure than there is for a windshield or side windows. Safety glass shatters. So injury from a rock or other hard object is negligible. And whatever might pierce the window has to get around a few inches of sheet metal. That window is sunken into the door fairly deep.

Doing it like this Ford won’t have to tool, stock, and add any liability issues

So what’s the story? Our guess is that Ford can indemnify themselves by not offering the doors but instead can float the idea to the aftermarket. It is handing over a cool product idea to an enterprising company to create. Now Ford won’t have to tool, stock, and add any liability issues to its already vast vault of complexities.  

But buying an aftermarket set of doors is much more involved than if it were a factory option. They need to be assembled, attached to the body, and then painted. That last part is problematic. You won’t be painting them yourself so a painter is in order. The painter will have to match the paint. And that’s a real hit-and-miss proposition.

There will be issues for those who choose an aftermarket donut door

Matching the paint is an art. Just look at a few cars the next time you’re on the highway. Those cars that have had insurance work done to them stand out prominently. That’s because body panels don’t exactly match. Insurance companies usually don’t allow painters the luxury or blending the new panel’s paint to the rest of the vehicle. So if a door is replaced the insurance company only pays to have the door painted. Not blended. That’s the issue facing those who choose an aftermarket donut door. 

We are surprised this has not come up sooner as many an enthusiast has plunked down a deposit for their own Bronco. Those that wanted the donut doors have been told it is not available. But no one has bothered to complain loudly enough.

So now you know. Your donut door displaying Bronco won’t be coming from Ford. You’ll have to pony up for aftermarket doors. Then you’ll have to go through the process of getting everything that goes with that to your liking. Good luck with that!