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Green With Envy: 1979 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT

The second generation Ford Broncos were produced for only two years in 1978 and 1979.  Unlike the first generation, these Broncos were based off of the full-size Ford pickup and were available with power plants up to 400 cubic inches.  This 1979 Ranger XLT version can be found for sale here on eBay with a current bid of $6,100.  The SUV resides in Fort Harrison, Montana and has been in the Treasure State for its entire life.

The Ranger trim package gives you color-keyed and wood grain trim above the base level package.  This truck appears to be an honest survivor and doesn’t appear to be over used or over restored.  The upholstery is said to have been redone, but the rest of the interior is original.  The ad for this Bronco is fairly detailed with notes about the interior, exterior and mechanical good points and bad points.  According to the ad, there are some small things that need addressed, but nothing that a competent shade-tree mechanic can not easily address.

The engine in this truck is a 400 c.i.d. and is mated to an automatic transmission.  The engine oil pressure is said to be “on the low end of the gauge” and is described as tired.  On a high note, there are several new parts that make this vehicle more road worthy, however, the owner is pretty honest about the fact that there is more work to do.

This Bronco comes with a Marti Report which indicates this is one of only three vehicles made with these specific paint and trim codes.  It also appears to have spent its whole life in Montana.  Originally ordered from Rygg Ford in Kalispell, almost 40 years later it is less than 200 miles away from where it was purchased new!  If you are looking for a survivor that needs a little bit of TLC, this may be the perfect project for you.

Comments

  1. Avatar Jay

    These are cool trucks. I believe you can unbolt the top? Not sure I dig the green on green…but hey, it was this or that porno red from that era I guess.

    Like 0
    • Avatar CATHOUSE

      Yes, the fiberglass roof does unbolt and is removable.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Rube Goldberg Member

    Best truck I ever owned. Not the nicest, not the most efficient, but without question, the best. I had a 1980, and yeah, it was red and white ( never thought of it as “porno red”, but I suppose), it was the one vehicle, out of many, that my ex-wife didn’t kill. Mine was spec’d out all wrong, had the carb. 300, 6,( which I liked) non O/D automatic and like 3:90 gears. It has the distinction of getting the worst gas mileage of any car I had, maybe 10 on dry roads, and with all the hardware spinning in the snow, you could watch the gauge drop, BUT, it was worth it. Ex-wife proof mechanic’s, dynamite heater, comfy, lot of room, went through the snow with ease, just a great unit. If it had fuel injection and O/D trans, the mileage would have improved, but at the time, gas was cheap, and was a secure vehicle for my family. It rusted to pieces,,,

    Like 0
  3. Avatar KSwheatfarmer

    Attention all “mechanics”, please start installing the seemingly mandatory plastic fuel filter ahead of the fuel pump.This offers three advantages over this install. Butchering the factory steel line is inviting a major fuel leak when the filter,two connector hoses or clamps fail. It also protects the fuel pump components. You do not want dirt in the check valves or diaphragm of the pump. Lastly you already have a hose between the pump and steel line to the tank,a much better place for a filter. Just a few more dollars will get a steel filter, more durable than plastic. Todays helpful hint comes from an old guy who knows about dirty fuel and fuel filters.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    I’ll take the 300-6 any day. My son drove my old $750 1991 F-150 for probably 10 miles with no oil pressure whatsoever. The oil pressure returned magically and we drove the truck another 5 years.

    Then one day on the freeway in the middle of winter, the oil pressure dropped again, but I kept going another few miles to an exit. (It was quite windy that day).
    I then had the oil pump replaced, and we drove the truck another 2 years. We then move out of State, so I had to get rid of the old beater, so I drove it to the junk yard and sold it for about $275. I owned that truck for 10 years, it was awesome.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Rob

      Those old 300 inlines were a beast!! I hated the day Ford dropped them. Work all day for peanuts and had torque for days.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar Rod K

    These were famous for low oil pressure due to crankshaft bearing wear. You can replace the bearings and the oil pressure comes up. If it was left too long then the top end will have issues such as valve guide wear. If you do it soon enough no problem the engine will last for sometime. Done this many times.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar JW

    The 78/79 Broncos were really sharp trucks, friend had a black 79 that had those multi colored stripes along the sides with a 400 4 speed.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Angrymike

    If this was close, I’d buy it in a second, love the style and my old Dodge Dakota is I
    On it’s last legs. ( Ohio sucks on the rust issue) rebuild the engine, check the tranny and get rid of the recapped tires.
    A year later I’d paint it white or black and silver with 33″ tires and rims !
    Nice truck !

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Alex

    I love Broncos and I own 1987 Ford Bronco and it black and gray. The thing i love about them that the roof is removable. I will never sale because they built like tanks.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar geomechs Member

    My brother had a ’78 which wasn’t a heck of a lot different from this one except that his, like all the others I know of, had bucket seats and a console. I find it interesting that this one actually has a bench seat as I’ve never seen one in a Bronco. I had an ’85 which I bought off the lot next to new (original owner got drunk and drove it into a drainage swale when it only had 500 miles on; he decided he wanted the up and coming Eddie Bauer trim package so mine remained at the dealership until I bought it). I really liked the one I had and it’s another one of the regrets I have for letting it go. Oldest boy needed transportation so I turned it over to him. I was some steamed when he sold it to pay off a lawyer. Good things never last….

    Like 1
    • Avatar Rob

      I had a 96 XL trim with a bench seat, vinyl floors a 5.0 with three pedals and a five speed. Loved the Beast. Kelly green color. One of the trucks I should never have let go.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Johnny

      Hello Geo, I have 2–78 bronco ,s with bench seat. First one is original and the second one. I took a bench seat out of 1 -78 bronco and put in mine. They ride alot better then the bucket seat.

      Like 1
  10. Avatar LastCJ

    Special Bronco in my opinion. Last of the 2-year big version, and it has the huge 400ci motor. XLT and well-optioned. I’m not sold on all that green though, purely preference because it is obviously unique.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Poorhouse

    I’m in Kalispell, MT where this was sold new.
    Wish these hadn’t reached collector status.
    I would love to buy this, but won’t pay $7500 +.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Shovelhead

    I bet you drop the pan and clean out the screen on the oil pick up tube you would have normal oil pressure again…

    Like 0
  13. Avatar EHide Behind

    The huge 400 if a Cleveland m series, same block as 351 m.
    Good reliable low rpm torque motor.
    IMO the Ford 300 six was a very impressive motor and I prefer it over the 350/400m engines
    Ford put the 300 into every commercial vehicles they made, from school buses to 2 ton trucks
    Never realy cared for either the Chevy Blazers or Ford Broncos.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Rob

    She sold for $7100.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Matt

    I had 2..78 auto 350mod and 79 4spd 400 modified..I wish I had the 79 back it would go anywhere and it was tough

    Like 0

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