My question is what factory and dealer packages were offered on the dentsides. I remember seeing something like a hot air balloon package and/or the free wheeling packages.

I'm getting ready to start the long process of restoring/customizing my 78 4x4 and like my ideas for it, but also looking for some of the old less popular options and decal packages to get ideas from. If you have pics, literature or websites you can point me to for more info that would be great

 

Go here for some factory literature: http://fordification.net

 

I've never heard of or seen a hot air balloon package, it was probably a regional dealer promotion, possibly in NM

Dealer regional promotions usually occurred in the Spring.

1979 Indy 500 Pace Car was a Mustang. Ford also supplied Styleside pickups to Indy and then offered similar trucks as a package with stripes and on the center of the doors a stripe that said:

Upper section: OFFICIAL TRUCK - 2nd line: 1979 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race - 3rd line: May 27, 1979. Front of front fenders stripe featured the winged Indy 500 logo.

These Indy 500 trucks are very desirable today.

 

That is the 1977 Balloon Chaser Ambulance Bronco built by Bill Stroppe for use by FoMoCo for the 1977 "Limited Edition Sail" promotion....

Discussed here IMCDb.org: 1977 Ford Bronco Balloon Chaser Ambulance by Bill Stroppe in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998"

And the truck on FTE https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...he-chaser.html

PICS just scroll a bit.Infamous Stroppe Built Balloon Chase F100 Found!

 

Thanks that last pic in the last link is the one I remember seeing in my uncles collection of magazines. I thought it was an ad not a cover but its been maybe 20 years or more since I've seen it.

After looking at what information has been shared already, I thought there was a lot more out there but guess back then it was common for people to add flashy decals and names to look like option packages.