I was curious how many different models of trucks they made and what they all are from 73-79! Custom, ranger, explorer...?

 

dont forget the ranger xlt or the super camper special
what do you mean by models are you counting special packages too, like the trailer special, free wheelin, and so on.

 

Yeah snowfighter, free wheelin, see a few different ones mentioned here and there and wanted to see em all in one place

 

Here's a start for you. I compiled this for the 78-79 Bronco's but most of it will pertain to a F-series.

Here are the differences between these models. I also have found out that for the 78/79 Bronco it was available as a Custom or Ranger XLT model only. They did not offer the Ranger package only on the Bronco.

Custom:
Pretty much your stripped down version although it could have been ordered with just about any individual option you wanted to put on it. A Custom model included: low back bucket seats, vinyl floormat for the front only, 25 gallon gas tank, manual steering, 4 speed trans with the 351 motor and the 205 case.
Exterior features were:
hub caps, black painted bumpers and the stainless mirrors.

Ranger:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
The bench seat had a chain mail vinyl seat upholstery, it also included a color matching vinyl floormat, sunvisors, seat back covers in the regular cab model and white headliner with chrome trim.

Ranger XLT:
The front seat used a combination of cloth and vinyl, insulated woodgrain door panels, carpeted flooring, woodgrain around instrument cluster, passenger dash and the glove box, woodtone on the steering wheel horn button, chrome trim around taillights and halogen headlights. The XLT also got the body side trim.

Exterior:
Chrome bumpers, chrome molding around the windshield and side windows in the top, chrome molding around the drip rail by door, chrome wheel well lip molding, rear T-gate chrome pieces, and the body side trim.

Lariat:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
Full cloth seat trimmed in super soft vinyl, door trim panels that included padded inserts, map pockets on the lower door, button quilted padded headliner and extra insulation.


Options available:
These are the only options that I have prices on. Below are some additional options.

400 engine............................................ .....................$165.00
included 12 inch diameter clutch and 53 amp/hr battery
Traction lock front axle.............................................. ...$175.00
Traction lock rear axle.............................................. ....$175.00
Automatic trans............................................. .............$197.00
came with oil cooler and 53 amp/hr battery
Power steering.......................................... ..................$211.00
Heavy duty suspension........................................ .........$104.50
Forged aluminum wheels............................................ ... $218.30
Forged aluminum polished wheels....................................$304.30
When combined with the free wheeling package................$129.10
White painted styled steel wheels...................................$175.20
when combined with the free wheeling package.................$43.20
Rear seat.............................................. .....................$287.20
Quad front shocks............................................ ............$74.00
Swing away tire carrier Ranger XLT..................................$60.60
Swing away tire carrier Custom.......................................$81.6 0
Skid plates............................................ ......................$123.10
Rear stabilzer bar............................................... ...........$25.00
Tilt steering.......................................... ........................$72.00
Free Wheeling pacakge on a Custom................................$558.45
Free Wheeling Package XLT...........................................$385 .05
Ranger XLT package........................................... ...........$668.90

Additional options:

Appearance:

Chrome bumpers

Wheel well molding

Body side trim

GT bar with foam padding

Grilles. There were 3 different options for the front grille. Black, Silver or Argent with chrome accent. I have seen Black on an XLT and the Argent with chrome on an XLT. I am not sure how they decided what grille to put on what truck.

Audio:

AM radio

AM/FM mono radio (1 speaker in dash)

AM/FM stereo (speakers in door panels)

AM/digital clock radio

40 channel CB radio with antenna. This was available on all radio options. A simple way to tell if it had a CB originally if all wiring is gone look for an ash tray on the driver side cargo panel. If there is no ash tray it originally had a CB.

Comfort/convenience:

A/C

Comfort vent heater ( I think this was also the HI-LO option)

Insulation package

Rear floor mat (Custom only)

Front captain chairs (available in 79 only)

Front bench seat

Rear seat

Center console ( only available with buckets)

Convenience group ( intermittent wipers, map paockets and 12 inch day/night mirror)

Lighted visor mirror passenger side only

Privacy glass for top

sliding windows for top

tinted glass all

Western mirror, low mount(normal folding style mirror)

Recreation mirrors (towing mirrors)

GT sport steering wheel with simulated leather wrap ( not available with cruise)

Simulated leather wrapped steering wheel

Cruise control

Light group (ash tray, glovebox, underhood, instrument panel courtesy lights and dome light with map lights)

Swing away spare tire carrier ( stock when ordered with (5) 10x15 tires) with vinly tire cover

Performance:

Quad shocks (gas filled)

Handling package (rear sway bar, quad shocks up front and dual gas filled rear shocks)

Automatic trans

600 watt engine heater

Heavy duty suspension (HD front springs, HD rear springs and front sway bar)

Rear sway bar

Gauges (oil and amp)

32 gallon gas tank with skid plate

Skid plates for 25 gallon tank and T-case

Trailer towing package

Protection:

Tow hooks (front)

Locking hood release

Exterior protection group. Consists of door edge guards, front bumper guards and front bumper rubber strip.

Security lock group. Consisted of locking gas cap, locking hood release, spare tire lock and locking glove box.

Free Wheelin:


Standard features were:

Black bumpers front and rear, Dual black low mount western style mirrors, (5) 15x6 painted steel wheels in either white or chrome yellow with L78x15 raised white letter tires and of course the custom chromatic tape stripe found on the black Bronco. There were also 2 other stripe color combinations, Orange/Tan/Creme or Blue/White/Green.

Trailer Special:

Now according to my book the 1st year for the Trailer Special was 79. I have seen a few members here that have 78 Trailer Special's. There were 2 categories for the Trailer Special.

Light duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 2,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty radiator, external oil cooler, seven lead trailer harness, heavy duty turn signal flasher and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.

Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.


Transfer Cases

The T-case on an NP 203 (full time chain driven case) will have a shift pattern like this.

4 low lock
-
N
-
4 high lock

The NP 205 (part time gear driven case) will have this shift pattern

4 low
N
2 high
4 high


There are other models but I don't feel like typing all that info now.

 

Awesome write up thank you ranger429!

 

Ryank78shortbed,
Specify what you mean by "models".
Do you mean like F-100, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-550 etc...
or do you mean Trim Packages?
There was also a Explorer Trim Package, which was offered on Ford Trucks from '68-'86 and was sold in the spring time, so no two years are alike.
(I've typed that info 50 times, and will go into it more if you like)
Ranger, I believe the first year for Trailer Specials is at least '76, (probably more like '73?) I've seen the brochures and Emblems.
The Ranger-XLT Trim Package was the top of the line on Ford Trucks from '70-'77.
Then, in '78, Ford came out with the Ranger Lariat, which then became the top Trim Package.
The Ranger Trim Package was first offered on Ford Truck's in '65. The name Ranger came from the Edsel, and it was a Edsel Trim Package, Believe it or not.
The Custom Trim Package was called "Custom Cab" in '61-'68? Ford Trucks, Then it became the Custom later on, in the '67-'72 year lineup, There was also a Sport Custom.
I created this out of a couple '79 Brochures, to expand upon what Ranger429 said:

 

I am going to shoot the "ND" signal in the sky and get him in on this one, with all three of your advice compiled into one file, I am bound to learn something.

Great info so far........

 

AFAIK, all 1973/76 Trailer Specials are F350 Regular Cabs on the 140" wheelbase. Same wheelbase/cab as F350 Super Camper Specials. In fact, there were only minor differences between these two trucks.

2) D3TZ16720Y .. Trailer Special Emblem = 1973 F350 / Rectangular emblem with large Trailer letters above, smaller Special italic letters below.

2) D4TZ16720F .. Trailer Special Emblem = 1974/76 F350 / Same design as above, different colors.

1) D6UZ1142528A .. Trailer Special Emblem ~ Map of the USA with TRAILER SPECIAL thru the middle / 1976/79 Econoline-mounts on right back door / 1977/79 F150/350 & 1978/79 Bronco-mounts on tailgate.

 

That's what I'm looking for different trim packages and options etc! Thanks for all the info!

 

Like I said, the information I compiled was for 78-79 Bronco's. I didn't bother to go back and redo it for the F-series. I know there were T/S model F-series prior to 78. There were no T/S model Bronco's prior to 78.

I doubt you are going to catch me throwing out wrong information but good try.

 

What are people going to assume inre to Trailer Specials...if most of the compiled Bronco info pertains to an F Series?

 

You serious?

Considering the XLT badge is mounted seperately from all models wether it is a Bronco or F-series what did you expect Ford to do?

There were no Bronco Ranger models made. It was either a Custom or a Ranger XLT. The Bronco Ranger emblem you refer to is used in conjuction with the XLT badge.

 

Nice job with the edit but I was responding to your unedited post first and then come back to see this.

The specific Trailer Special information I posted above is the same wether it is a truck or Bronco. I would say 85% of the info I posted pertains to a truck as well.

 

Yes, I'm serious...because I see Bronco Customs, Bronco Rangers and Bronco Ranger XLT's (all Station Wagons!) listed in the general info section of the car parts catalog.

I did edit the post deleting the above info, cuz I knew that would start an argument. But you were able to quote it before I edited it.

There were different vehicles offered for different sections of the country. For example, was their a Illinois Special Mustang, or an Illinois Mile High Mustang?

Not that I'm aware of. The Special was California only, the Mile Hi was Colorado only.

Then there were the regional "springtime" specials, models that did not appear beforehand.

 

Show me in your master Ford catalogue an example a 78-79 Bronco Ranger model only. I can show you in the buyers guide from 79 direct from Ford that it only states a Custom or XLT model. In fact I probably have other information to prove the point if necessary. I have never in my entire collecting life seen a Bronco Ranger model. I suppose the buyers guide could be wrong and just because I have never seen one they could of been produced but I'm going to stick with the facts at hand from Ford.

If your talking about "car parts catalogues" from the local chain auto parts stores I couldn't count the number of errors I have seen in those. I sold auto parts for the better part of 15 years back in the early 80's so I have had my share of run in's with that.