You guys are really taking the whole custom thing to seriously,it`s just a name for the base model it does not mean anything.

 

That's because the Explorer was a Limited Edition Trim and Option group that was added to other trim levels.

There are, Custom Explorers....
And there are, Ranger Explorers...

 

It just means what it says. Custom. You could call it a Carp, but it wouldn't change what the model was in the 70's and early 80's. A Customizeable baseline.

It goes back exactly like Murph77 explains it. Custom Cab. Back in the 50's.

Let me try and explain it this way.

Back in the day, Try ordering a Ranger XLT without certain options, chrome trim, the Courtesy Lamp Group before 1978, just for example. You couldn't.

But you could order a custom with Chrome Trim, Sound Proofing, Tinted Windows, Tu-Tone Paint, Courtesy Lamp Group etc... You could order it basically anyway you wanted it, within reason.

The Ranger or Ranger XLT or Lariat you couldn't order exactly the way you wanted them, IF the option you didn't want came standard on those models.

The only way to get a truck exactly with the options you want, but none that you don't, you had to get a Custom model.


This becomes more apparent when the Custom was dropped in 1982. There was no more customizeable baseline truck after 1981. To get certain options you had to order the next trimline up. A XL , a XLT or XLT Lariat. Then you would get certain options that you may not want. To Get a Tachometer, you also had to get carpet etc... which tended to tick people off. This is why the Custom was Brought back in 1987, and again in 1992. Ford tried to drop the Custom twice, and had to bring it back because of demand. They finally succeeded with the third time.

 

Do you really believe that nonsense?It is just a name it does not mean anything.Does the name Ranger mean the truck was intended to be sold to Texas Rangers?Back when the name Custom was first used trucks were utilitarian very few people were Customizing trucks.Custom is just a name for base model trucks plain and simple.

 

If model names had no meaning, you'd hear of vehicles like the "Chevrolet Crap", the "Buick Bomb", the "Ford Fartknocker", etc. Model names have been chosen by marketing people because they DO evoke thoughts and feelings.

Case in point...the Chevy Nova never sold well in Mexico because nobody wanted a car that said "nova"....."no va"....."no go". By extension, the El Camino didn't do well there either (The Walk). In Japan, the 300ZX, as well as its predecessors, the 280, 260, and 240Z's didn't have their digital names. Those were thought up for the United States Market because we were big into numbers. The Z cars were called the "Fairlady Z" in Japan...which most likely would have bombed here in the US in sales.

So, anyone that thinks a model name is just a label, and isn't supposed to have any meaning, is obviously a proud owner of a "Le Car" (for those that remember them).

"Introducing new for this year, the 1974 Piece of @%!@#" -- George Carlin

So, while a model name doesn't necessarily have to have a specific definition, it does typically have a subjective meaning to those that interpret it. That's what the marketing people want....a name that will draw you in....not just something like "the Bugatti Bucket".

 

Not true. I know for a fact you could order a Ranger XLT without carpet and carpet was standard on an XLT.

You really are showing that you don't know much about why Ford named them as they did. Maybe this will help some of you guys out.


I put this info together mostly for the 78-79 Bronco's but 95% of it applies to the truck line as well.

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


Almost all of this information was taken from various books and brochures. If you find an error somewhere post up and I will correct it. I am only human.:thumbup

 

Agreed but you are missing my point,i know they don`t just pick random names custom makes somebody feel better about buying a base model truck it does not litterally mean Customizable,Ranger envokes a Manly outdoors image as does Explorer ect.I just think the reasoning that Custom means customizable is taking the name way to litterally.

 

So what isn't true about my above statement?

I already stated that they could have called it a Carp, but wouldn't have changed the meaning. A Rose by any other name.

But I'll repeat myself one more time...

The Name came from "Custom Cab" from the 50's. The best you could get.

When the Ranger Trimline came out, Custom was demoted, and when the 1967-1981 trucks were built, Custom was the name of the base model.

This does not change the fact that you could order a Custom the way you wanted it. Within reason. Either totally stripped down, or with every option on the book, or any set of options inbetween. If that isn't the textbook definition of Customizeable, then what is?

 

Agreed, there are exceptions to everything. I didn't name specifics for the 1973-1979 models.


Try ordereing a Ranger XLT without any Chrome trim however... You couldn't.
Try ordering a custom with or without Chrome Trim, (within reason, there was specific Ranger XLT stuff) and the salesman would only be to pleased to order it for you.

My statement about the Carpet and Tachometer scenerio was for 1982 - 1986 models* after the CUSTOM model was dropped. I used the Dropping of the Custom model in 1982 as a example to my point. In 1981 you could order a Custom, basicly the way you wanted it. In 1982 after the Custom was dropped, you had to upgrade and buy a XL or XLT model to get some of the same options that was avaliable on the Custom just a year before. 1982, is when you started hearing salesmen state, "Sorry, but that option is not avaliable on the baseline model, upgrade to the XL or XLT", more than ever before. This pissed a lot of people off, I know from experience.

*before 1987 when the Custom was reintroduced due to customer demand.

 

Anything is customizable,what you said is true I just don`t believe that Ford used the name custom to denote customizable.How do you explain the Sport Custom of the late sixties?Custom is just a nice name for the base model truck simple as that.

 

The Custom name wasn't baseline when it began in the 50's. It was demoted later however.

They never really done away with the Sport Custom, they just dropped the SPORT off the name. A Sport Custom was basicly a Custom With Chrome Trim, and better seats. See the 1977 Brochure on the Previous page with the Picture of the Custom Pickup with the, "Custom Decor Group" for an idea.

And as I said before, the Custom was dropped for the 1982 model, and was brought back in 1987, because of demand. If Custom was just a nice name for the baseline Pickups, then why wern't the Baseline trucks in 1982-1986 called Custom as well? Why were they so option restricted after the drop of the name, to force you to buy an XL or XLT? Why was it brought back in 1987?

Interesting to be sure.

 

Here ya Go!

 

Black 6x9 plastic mirrors were standard on Bronco Custom. On Bronco XLT, the dinky little car mirrors were standard. The 6x9 stainless mirrors were an option on all trim lines, Bronco & F-series.

Only the Custom had the white headliner and painted trim. Ranger & XLT had chrome and color keyed headliner.

 

Ya know I got my info from a reliable book. Though my memory fails me and I don't remember where or which one I'm not even going to argue the fact.

 

Can somebody explain what options were available and which ones werent available on the 79 Custom Explorer?

Someone mentioned that there were some options that you couldnt get on the Explorer but you could on the Ranger XLT.

Thanks in Advance