1972-73 owners-mind your P's and Q's

[toddz69]

I posed some questions to the folks at the Ford Archives on the Ps and Qs. They didn't come back with a lot but they did have this to say:

Here is what Jamie and I found regarding your research question:

The 1972 and 1973 models were not produced simultaneously. But there is an anomaly, nonetheless.

The Michigan truck plant built both F-Series trucks and Broncos.

On Friday, August 11, 1972, Ford ceased production of the F-Series and the Broncos.

On Monday, August 14, 1972, Ford began production of the 1973 F-Series. During this week, no Broncos were produced.

On Monday, August 21, 1972, Ford began production of the 1973 Bronco. From then until Tuesday, September 19, 1972, Ford built approximately 1,300 1973 Broncos.

On September 19, 1972, Ford paused production of the 1973 Broncos and resumed production of the 1972 models until October 17, 1972. During this time, approximately 2,145 1972 Broncos were produced.

On October 17, 1972, Ford discontinued 1972 Bronco production and resumed 1973 Bronco production for the rest of the model year. 1972 Broncos were not produced after October 17, 1972.

It appears as though the different letter codes in the serial numbers were to keep track of the different numbers coming off the line during these various stops and starts.

Todd Z.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Great work Todd! That answers some questions.

I've cleaned up the spreadsheet some. I've hidden some extraneous data without dates and was able to put exact dates in some others. The timeline from Ford fits pretty well with this info we've collected. I only see one outlier, P65660. According to the Marti it was built on 7/21/72, before the retooling which would have been between 8/11/72 and 8/21/72. I don't see how it could have power steering and light bars without the sheetmetal changes. But then again, it did take over 2 months for it to be released.

 

[BajaFresh75]

I posed some questions to the folks at the Ford Archives on the Ps and Qs. They didn't come back with a lot but they did have this to say:

Here is what Jamie and I found regarding your research question:

The 1972 and 1973 models were not produced simultaneously. But there is an anomaly, nonetheless.

The Michigan truck plant built both F-Series trucks and Broncos.

On Friday, August 11, 1972, Ford ceased production of the F-Series and the Broncos.

On Monday, August 14, 1972, Ford began production of the 1973 F-Series. During this week, no Broncos were produced.

On Monday, August 21, 1972, Ford began production of the 1973 Bronco. From then until Tuesday, September 19, 1972, Ford built approximately 1,300 1973 Broncos.

On September 19, 1972, Ford paused production of the 1973 Broncos and resumed production of the 1972 models until October 17, 1972. During this time, approximately 2,145 1972 Broncos were produced.

On October 17, 1972, Ford discontinued 1972 Bronco production and resumed 1973 Bronco production for the rest of the model year. 1972 Broncos were not produced after October 17, 1972.

It appears as though the different letter codes in the serial numbers were to keep track of the different numbers coming off the line during these various stops and starts.

Todd Z.

Talk about solving a very old mystery...great work Shaggy!!!

 

[dmoses42]

Great work Todd! That answers some questions.

I've cleaned up the spreadsheet some. I've hidden some extraneous data without dates and was able to put exact dates in some others. The timeline from Ford fits pretty well with this info we've collected. I only see one outlier, P65660. According to the Marti it was built on 7/21/72, before the retooling which would have been between 8/11/72 and 8/21/72. I don't see how it could have power steering and light bars without the sheetmetal changes. But then again, it did take over 2 months for it to be released.

Just spit-balling here... I wonder if the outlier could have been used at some auto show or something to showcase the 1973 model (even if it wasn't a 1973) or if it was "special ordered" by some high profile buyer who knew of the coming change. I'd assume if it was a Stroppe that would be documented somewhere and identified already.

 

[BajaFresh75]

Great work Todd! That answers some questions.

I've cleaned up the spreadsheet some. I've hidden some extraneous data without dates and was able to put exact dates in some others. The timeline from Ford fits pretty well with this info we've collected. I only see one outlier, P65660. According to the Marti it was built on 7/21/72, before the retooling which would have been between 8/11/72 and 8/21/72. I don't see how it could have power steering and light bars without the sheetmetal changes. But then again, it did take over 2 months for it to be released.

Was this to fulfill 1972 orders and pricing?

 

[toddz69]

Talk about solving a very old mystery...great work Shaggy!!!

Thanks! Although I don't feel like the mystery is totally solved yet - I still want to know why those '72s were built so late. I guess that's a mystery for the ages.

Todd Z.

 

[jamesroney]

Thanks! Although I don't feel like the mystery is totally solved yet - I still want to know why those '72s were built so late. I guess that's a mystery for the ages.

Todd Z.

I predict that we (meaning you...) will resolve it. The mystery has persisted because we were asking the wrong question.

The data set from @Viperwolf1 established the boundaries. The data showed that 72 production had to re-start between 9/12-9/27, and then 73 production resumed between 10/16-10/19. It is nice that you have now pinned down exactly when the changes happened. The data was speaking, and we were listening, but not believing. Now we believe.

As a result, you are asking "Why did they build 1972 Broncos for a month after the production of 1973 Broncos?"
"And that, detective...is the right question." (Dr. Alfred Lanning to Del Spooner, I-Robot, 2004)

 

[El Kabong]

I predict that we (meaning you...) will resolve it. The mystery has persisted because we were asking the wrong question.

The data set from @Viperwolf1 established the boundaries. The data showed that 72 production had to re-start between 9/12-9/27, and then 73 production resumed between 10/16-10/19. It is nice that you have now pinned down exactly when the changes happened. The data was speaking, and we were listening, but not believing. Now we believe.

As a result, you are asking "Why did they build 1972 Broncos for a month after the production of 1973 Broncos?"
"And that, detective...is the right question." (Dr. Alfred Lanning to Del Spooner, I-Robot, 2004)

 

[behemoth]

I show P37944 in the list as a June '72 build.

The sticker in the door post says 06/72 my mistake can barely read the sticker anymore so I have a June and September builds.

 

[ParteeBronco]

I've been working on an accurate VIN chart (VIN vs month/year built) for some time. One problem area that I've seen on all published charts is late '72 and early '73. This is the P and Q zone. Every now and then I'll see a VIN pop up that doesn't seem to fit in these charts. I have collected some data points to prove these other charts are wrong but I don't have enough data to populate an accurate chart.

This is where you can help. I need just 3 or 4 characters from the VIN starting with the P or Q. You don't need to post your entire VIN. For example, for VIN U15GLP12345, I need the characters "P123" and the build month. The build month can be from the tag on the driver's door post, Marti report, or Ford build sheet. It needs to be from a documented source not your aging memory of when your think your uncle bought it off the dealer lot.

Thanks for the help.

1972. P886, 10/72, t shift. This is all so weird.

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Welcome to the weirdness!

It’s an interesting journey to learn where your Bronco fits into this mix. Sure felt better after finding this thread, when my VIN didn’t fit into Ford’s ranges for a 1972 or 1973!

 

[Mountaingoat0122]

Would anyone happen to know the trim code for explorer and ranger packages for 1973 ?

I’ve got a 73 that I bought from the 2nd owners son. He says it was the way they bought it except it was painted after a while. Has ranger on glovebox door, painted dash, upon stripping mostly bondo with paint found white ranger stripe on the wind blue paint. So some indications it may have been ranger package. He also says he was always told it was a ranger and they used it at a hunting club so it wasn’t titled much in 20 years. It also had a pto mounted winch which second owners son says was on it since they bought it in the late 70’s .

 

[DirtDonk]

Welcome! I’m sure someone here will probably know. But there are also other discussions about just this question. Maybe someone will have a link to one of those as well.
Or , even as a newer member, you can definitely start your own thread with your questions.
But it sure sounds like you have a Ranger from here.

Does it have a P or a Q in the VIN? If so, post the other pertinent details here.

Thanks. Good luck!

Oh, and it sounds like you would really like a full Marti Report. Go to martiauto.com

 

[sprdv1]

Would anyone happen to know the trim code for explorer and ranger packages for 1973 ?

I’ve got a 73 that I bought from the 2nd owners son. He says it was the way they bought it except it was painted after a while. Has ranger on glovebox door, painted dash, upon stripping mostly bondo with paint found white ranger stripe on the wind blue paint. So some indications it may have been ranger package. He also says he was always told it was a ranger and they used it at a hunting club so it wasn’t titled much in 20 years. It also had a pto mounted winch which second owners son says was on it since they bought it in the late 70’s .

@toddz69

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Would anyone happen to know the trim code for explorer and ranger packages for 1973 ?

I’ve got a 73 that I bought from the 2nd owners son. He says it was the way they bought it except it was painted after a while. Has ranger on glovebox door, painted dash, upon stripping mostly bondo with paint found white ranger stripe on the wind blue paint. So some indications it may have been ranger package. He also says he was always told it was a ranger and they used it at a hunting club so it wasn’t titled much in 20 years. It also had a pto mounted winch which second owners son says was on it since they bought it in the late 70’s .

Jgbronc provided that info in post #55 of this thread:
Post in thread 'The Explorer Package'
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/the-explorer-package.289450/post-3541678

Orange Explorer is code 94.

 

[toddz69]

Yeah, @JGbronc and @okie4570 have it well covered.

Todd Z.

 

[JGbronc]

@Mountaingoat0122

73 Ranger and Explorer interior codes:

14 is Blue Explorer
94 is Orange Explorer
B4 is Blue Ranger
C4 is Ginger Ranger
G4 is Avocado Ranger

 

[mattyv87]

Here's one to add to the list. '73 ranger U15GLQ20868
Built 9/8/72, released 2/7/73 & sold 7/31/73

T shift transfer case
Manual transmission
Fuel return line
Ambient temp sensor (no other sensors/switches in this circuit I'm assuming removed by PO)
Dash bar indicator lights
No glove box ranger emblem

If there's anything I missed let me know.