he might figure it out that you were a partsman so you have connections on parts that weren't put on other trucks.

or

he might think that he has a rare 2006 XLT California Special.

 

Did you know that you could order a Ranger XLT or a Lariat with no carpet? You could also order the wheel well trim molding on a Custom as well.



Fullsize image: http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6...s-brochure.jpg

Here is another one I just scanned in. This brochure will show the paint option that this specific truck and states that it gets the racetrack trim upper and lower.



Fullsize image: http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6...nt-options.jpg

 

There is no way on God's green earth I can read these brochures, even with the magnifiers I use for the microfiche slides.

The 1979 dealer facts book I have (do you have one?) makes no mention of Race Track mouldings on Customs or Rangers. This book is dated August 1978, so it's possible there was a second edition, tho I've never seen one.

The 1973/79 Ford LIGHT Truck Parts Catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com.

but, there's one problem with it. It was scanned from the earliest complete edition (8/78), and has errors and omissions.

Do you have the following? The Standard Catalog of Light Duty Ford Trucks / krause.com / ISBN: 0-87349-411-3.

Great quick reference guide, and many of the packages and options are listed, plus production figures, etc The book decodes VIN's and has historical info, and lots of other stuff.

My 1979 Lariat came with the chrome step bumper as standard equipment, that's what the data book says, too.

Brochures are not always correct, and there's usually 2 or 3 different versions of the same one, with equipment added or deleted, errors corrected. Some of the pictures are airbrushed over previous models, some colors are shown to add sparkle, but were never available.

Salesmens data books usually are correct.

You may have been 17 years old in 1979, but the member that was speaking of Ford doing this, and Ford doing that, was 3. To be exact, 32 years, two days younger than I.

My reference about how much one could possibly know, without any FoMoCo experience, or any viable data, just saying this and that based on 30 + year old wrecks that have had gawd only knows how many owners is in-correct in my book.

I've spent most of my life in the carbiz, as my family owned new car dealerships for over 80 years, so I got an early start collecting this junk.

I have over 2,000 automotive related books in my library, and have read them all.

There aren't too many ppl around that know more about Fords, Packards and general auto history than I do.

 

The only reason I brought up the carpetless XLT's and Lariat's and the wheel well molding was because you had stated that a buyer could not order what you want on these trucks. AFAIK it was not mandated that you had to order either package A, B or C to get the options you wanted like it is today when you buy a new car. If you could order a XLT without carpet or put wheel well molding on a Custom I think you could order a truck the way the buyer wanted it. Heck you could order a Ranger XLT or a Lariat with radio delete back then.... Go down to Ford today and tell them you want to order a F-350 Lariat with no radio and they'll laugh at you.

 

What I made reference to, was not only based on age differences, but the fact that while I have 100's of references, 35 years of Ford parts experience, and spent 1000's of hours researching the history of Ford and the vehicles, the other fellow has none of this.

Tearing apart old rides proves little. As I said, they are 30 years old, and have have multiple owners.

So...unless someone writes down and photographes every detail, compares it with known facts, what do they have to go by that could be construed as factual?

 

Care to elaborate on this black molding some more? That 1st page of the brochure I posted specifically states under the "Moldings, bright metal that a Custom could be had with the "bodyside molding with vinyl insert". I am under the presumption that the bright metal molding would be the aluminum molding with the black vinyl insert.

 

So is it safe to presume that there really is no black molding that was used on a Custom truck? You have really struck up my curiosity on this. Is there some literature or part #'s for the black molding that you have Bill?

 

I have a 77.5 F250 4x4 and it has the Custom 250 badges, and it has the upper aluminum molding with the black vinyl insert, and race track molding, It was red with the off white insert, has the chrome trim on the tail gate, upper, lower, but no FORD center insert.( I have one now but there is no holes ever drilled for it, just the dimples where they go) I am the 3rd owner so maybe this was a Ranger? I like to collect the what I call "Ranger moldings" , and I know of what Bill is talking about on this, "but were painted black, they didn't come with vinyl inserts. They were also smaller in width." as I have seen a few trucks with this molding.

 

I like the color combo on that truck. Still missing mine.

 

i hate when people fight with others who have more knowledge and experience, who cares about 80-86 in my mind these are the dark ages in ford trucks, and the 2005 design has been a huge improvement and i like the new 09, so if ya fight with number dummy you are a dummy, cause the man has a unlimited knowledge of these trucks, he was the parts guy i think he would know more than some punk, just don't defy the man, he is right you are wrong, he might make a few errors in memory but don't we all time to time, but he always corrects himself, just sticking up for ya number dummy, and this comment is coming from a 19 year old who knows better and respects others with more wisdom and experience.

 

and i plan to one day be 75% of your knowledge in these trucks and fords. i love to learn about fords and just about every other old car and truck from the first to the late 70's and i go to car shows and learn lots and read books and read websites and learn from gurus like number dummy and jay Leno's of the world.

 

Well, I've owned a 1972 F-250, a 1973 F-100, and a 1981 F-150.

The 1981 is by far the best of the three trucks I've owned, and I happen to really like it a lot. So I won't take offence at what was said about the 1980-1986, because to each their own. I don;t like anything built after 1982.
But I wouldn't call anyones truck crap. It may cause hard feelings.

As for Numberdummy's observance of the truck in question, he is absolutely right about the tailgate. It's been repainted, otherwise the Ford letters would be painted, or the trim piece that was mentioned would be present. And for it being all original, it obviously isn't.

He's wrong about the rectangular headlamps because they were standard on all trim levels in 1979. He's allowed a mistake now and then. I've made a hell of a lot of them in my time.

Could you order a Custom with every option avaliable? Short answer is yes, but it was seldom ever done. The dealer would talk most people out of it because a Ranger Lariat would be cheaper, when it was all added up, and you would get specific Lariat stuff not avaliable for the Custom.

For the 1973 custom. the most popular options were as follows.

APPEARANCE:
1) Lower Bodyside molding.
2) Wheelip molding
3) Upper bodyside molding with vinyl insert.
4) Bright boxside rails. 8 ft bed only.
5) Bright wheel covers, F-100 only.
6) Bright Hubcaps, 4x2 only.

AUDIO:
1) Am Radio
2) Am/Fm mono
3) Am/Fm Stereo

CONVENIENCE:
1) Air Conditioning
2) High output heater
3) Intermittent wipers
4) Map pockets
5) underdash stowage compartment
6) Cigar lighter
7) glove box lamp
8) Cargo light
9) Power Steering
10) Power Brakes
11) Tinted glass
12) Tool stowage box, in bed.
13) Side mounted spare tire carrier.

PERFORMANCE:
1) Aux fuel tank.
2) Handling package.
3) heavy duty shocks
4) ammeter and oil gauges
5) Cruisomatic transmission
6) 4 speed manual
7) stabilizer bars
8) Engine block heater
9) 300 inline six engine
10) 302 v8
11) 360 V8
12) 390 V8
13) Extra engine cooling
14) super engine cooling
15) Camper special package
16) Trailer Tow package
17) Limited slip Differential

PROTECTION:
1) Dual note horns
2) Roof Clearance lights
3) Argent step bumper
4) Chrome contor bumper
5) Tie Down hooks
6) Front Bumper guards

PAINT:
1) Regular Tu-tone
2) Deluxe
3) combination

Some of the above was standard on Ranger XLT, but not all of it.

There were more options than even that, and then there was the options that you could get from the dealer too.

Why I mention this, is because I think some people are mistakeing options for Trim.

 

With words like punk who would have guessed. Your post on the other hand is brilliant. You should sit back and take notes like you said instead of opening up and speaking on something you know nothing about. If you'll notice Bill (NumberDummy) has still yet to respond to my last 2 posts about the black trim on a Custom. Nowhere in my fact book does it say anything about black molding. I'm sure with all of the catalogues that Bill has he could show something to prove his point.

You should also pay attention to what I had posted earlier. Maybe you did not see this: You may need NumberDummy to guide you down the road and learn about these trucks but I don't. He's a great asset to guys like you who know absolutely nothing but I could care a less about his vast knowledge if he does not back it up with some proof. I am most certain he has read this thread a few times since my last post asking about a part # or posting some literature to back up his statement, neither of which he has done.

All I want to see is something from a Ford catalogue showing black trim for the dentside of these trucks or a part #.




76f350spercamprspeal is that you?

 

not to jack the thread...but thats just funny!!!! i can see some one down the road thinking he has some super rare SEMA prototype.

 

You didn't jack the thread. It doesn't look like I'll get an answer on that black trim specific to Custom trucks.