I would like to ask a few questions about Ford trim and badging practices during the '73-'79 era please. I got into a rather long flame war yesterday about how and if you could order combined trim packages on Ford trucks during this period because of several photos and listings I had seen on the interweb of various oddly badged Ford trucks. I know in the modern era that you can purchase any and every type badging you can imagine and slap them on a vehicle or truck. I have seen many many a kiddies slap on Cobra Mustang badging because they built a 'Cobra Clone' when in fact their vehicle was far from an authentic 'Cobra Mustang' and I am sure people have done the same with truck badging over the years.

Once argument was that Ford did not offer a XLT Lariat badged truck during this time period. I know that is a solid fact that you could not open up a catalog and ever find what was called a XLT Lariat offered straight from the factory?

I was told that as you went up the 'trim' lines... Custom, Sport, Ranger, Ranger XLT and then to Lariat... all the trim from the lower lines were just added to the next trim package and added upon. I know the XLT package debuted in 1976 and the Lariat trim was added in 1978. So... in 1978 for instance... if you ordered a F150 Lariat it would automatically come with ever trim offered as a XLT PLUS the additional trim of plush seats, improved door panels and headliner and the other few things that made a Lariat a Lariat?

A fella had posted a pic of his granpa's old farm F350 that had some weird badging on it. Now... could some of the badging been messed with over the years? Sure. But he swears the badging is the same as when his granpa picked it up at the dealership and all he has done was repaint it over the years and added back the same badging.

So... I am asking... Could wonky badging appear on a truck during this period, either from a custom factory order or be added at a Dealership that would make some scratch their heads and say "that combo was never offered from Ford - thats a fake"?

I was also told that this old Hemmings offering is bogus and that this truck never existed also. I jus find it hard to believe that Hemmings would try tp 'pull one over' on people and advertise a bogus truck for sale?

Hemmings Find of the Day ? 1979 Ford F350 XLT Lariat with Wildernest camper | Hemmings Daily

I was hoping somebody like Bill 'NumberDummy' could help with some insight as to trim and badging and if he has ever seen any weird/wonky original badging from either the factory or added by a Dealership after they received the truck but not altered by the owner.

Many thanks in advance.

 

Read this for info on the Lariat: Page 04

In fact, read through the entire brochure.

 

Still does not answer my question. Does the Ranger Lariat include every trim option of a Ranger XLT PLUS add-ons to make it a Lariat. Brochure states a Lariat gets special Tu-Tone paint plus added 'plush' seats and fancy door inserts and headliner. Is a Lariat a souped up XLT or are the 2 packages 2 very distinct packages that can be ordered sep or together.

 

XLT Package includes:
Colored bodyside molding inserts
Color keyed wheel covers on 15" and 15.5" wheels and bright hubcaps on 16" wheels.
Unique hood ornament
Contrasting hood and bodyside pinstriping
Color keyed upper and lower tailgate appliques
Tu-Tone roofs
Interior roof, instrument panels, door panels, back panels, upper cowl and cowl sides painted a special low gloss matching color code scheme.
Headliners include special 3-button padded design with chrome trim
Sun visors with special padding and RH passenger vanity mirror.
22 oz. cut pile carpeted back panel
2-spoke steering wheel and steering column, turn signal lever **** and shifting ****
Chrome trim on brake, gas and parking brake pedals

So... a Ranger Lariat came with all the above plus special plush seating and upgraded door panels and headliner?