But the Bantams did it the hard way as they came from a goal down to secure a first win on their own patch since Easter Saturday.
Former Manchester City man Summerbee , who has joined on a two-year contract after a frustrating couple of years, marked his debut with a stylish finish - his first goal since December 2001.
It was an amazing turnaround after Preston had dominated for an hour and had taken the lead with a 10th-minute header from Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller.
A superb save by keeper Alan Combe and a goal line clearance by Jason Gavin kept Bradford in with a shout and during a ferocious second half things went from bad to worse for Craig Brown's side.
Fuller had been a constant threat during the opening period and he took full advantage of some slack marking to head home Eddie Lewis' corner from four yards out.
City meanwhile struggled to create clear-cut openings and their best efforts came through a David Wetherall header and a dipping Andy Gray shot.
Gavin did well to boot Brian O'Neil's header off the line at the start of the second half and a minute later Combe brilliantly blocked a drive from Lewis.
Bradford ended their three-game goal drought after 57 minutes when keeper David Lucas pushed out Dean Windass' header and although Wetherall's follow up was blocked striker Michael Branch pounced to fire in the equaliser from six yards.
City suddenly showed more belief and Summerbee's moment came 19 minutes from time when he raced onto a pass from Windass to beat Lucas with a low right-foot drive from 14 yards.
As Bradford roared forward Preston lost their right back Graham Alexander for a second bookable offence and the game ended on a sour note when a scuffle between Branch and Michael Keane sparked a full-scale brawl on the halfway line.