Hey I am searching for information about the trim levels in 1976/77 models.

On wikipedia its mentioned that there where custom, ranger, ranger xlt, lariat...but i find no homepage where it is explained.

Can you help me?
Best regards from Germany
Michael

 

there was a thread with it explained in this section. Someone may beat me to it, but I think it may have gone
Custom, XLT, Lariat, Ranger, Ranger XLT
custom you could order the truck with the exact options no more no less
then came group options that you could select
Engine options, interior options, appearance packages

 

1976 Ford Car & Light Truck Option Selector

 

Accordign to ranger429: 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 floor mat 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 floor mat, sun visors, 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 pockets 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, glove box, under hood, 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 case) will have a shift pattern like this.
4 low lock
N
4 high lock

The NP 205 (part time case) will have this shift pattern
4 low
N
2 high
4 high
__________________

 

There was no Lariat option until 1978, although in 1977 there was the "Luxury Option Group" which contained a lot of the same interior appointments used on the 1978 Lariat.

 

Maybe some pics will help?

 

I bought my '78 new and it is slightly different than what is shown for the '77. It is a Ranger. It has knitted vinyl seats, color coded tan and brown to match the outside. The floor mat is color keyed and the door panels are tan and brown. The difference in mine and what I have read above is the white headliner mentioned above. My headliner is dark brown with black dots printed on it to simulate the earlier model headliners with the tiny holes. The glove box door has a genuine simulated woodgrain cover.

 

Thanks alot for these informations! Its really interessting to read about.

 

That pic is a little misleading. The left side is from '77 but the right side is from '78.

 

So XLT Ranger was the highest trim option til 78? Then it was the Lariat correct?

 

Correct

 

Also, the other responses only addressed the interior. The outside as follows:

Custom
No side trim, grey grille, grey headlight surround, round headlights

Ranger
Thin side trim, grey grille, grey headlight surrounding rectangle headlights

Ranger XLT
Wide trim, taillight panel, chrome grill, chrome headlght surrounding rectangle headlights.

XLT Lariat
Not sure but similar to XLT with fancier tailgate panel and lariat markings.

I still have a factory brochure from when I bought my 78 ranger new.

If there are more questions i will try to dig it out.

 

I think you meant "Ranger Lariat" not "XLT Lariat"...just wanted to clarify!

 

I posted a 78 brochure a couple weeks ago not sure how to post a link. It's also in my gallery.

 

Thanks for the clarification Scott!


I couldn't afford a Lariat or XLT back in '78 so I have no knowledge. Story of my life, being a poor boy.


At the time, I wanted a short bed. The dealer had quite a selection of Lariats, XLT's and the like in four wheel drive, but they were all longbed and would have made about $138 payment instead of a $110 payment. Big buck difference for me at the time. Sounds really funny now.