Is this roof rack legit?

[Potshot]

I'm not recommending this as an item for sale, I'm more interested in this as a discussion.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BWQee1TML/

Has anyone ever seen one of these before? Was it a dealer option or something out of JC Whitney maybe?

 

[DirtDonk]

Looks like an old Con-Fer "porthole" rack with the optional expanded metal floor. Then again, there were other companies that made similar racks back in the day, and I don't see some of the more common Con-Fer details, including the mounting brackets seem a bit different.
But that's the only name I could come up with at the spur of the moment.

Garvin Industries was another one, but does not seem right either.
Someone will remember.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, and not a normal Ford approved option for dealer installation. Those were the more common "station wagon" rack types.
But could a dealer have ordered and installed this one? Sure, some dealers were more open to outside suppliers.
Is it being sold as a factory option? I didn't see that written in the ad, but just the fact that it's set up for a Bronco.

Paul

 

[Potshot]

Thanks guys.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

Yep looks like a Con-Fer rack to me. I have an old one sitting in my yard collecting rust. I always thought I would put it up on the Bronco roof but in actuality probably never will.

 

[.94 OR]

Sure looks like the Con-ferr I had. I think mine was 6" tall, this one looks a hair shorter.
I'm guessing the expanded metal was an add-on.
The clamps are missing the "clamp" portion, this looks like only the part that rests in the gutter rail are shown.

 

[DirtDonk]

They did sell both a 4" and a 6" version.
Lots of options in size, mounting and other stuff.

We had quite a few in stock at the Cepek warehouse in Northern CA. Of course, never seemed to be exactly the one that the customer was looking for!
And at the time (late '80's to early '90's) it took half of forever to get them to deliver any.

Paul

 

[Broncobowsher]

The price tag is of by a digit. They might find someone to buy it for $45. There is nothing $450 special about that.

 

[SeaVee]

Any ideas where one can find one of those chrome “station wagon” roof racks you see from time to time?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Any ideas where one can find one of those chrome “station wagon” roof racks you see from time to time?

Junkyard. Problem is most of the stuff this old isn't in yards anymore. So it is starting to look in yards that specialize in vintage vehicles, and that starts to come with special pricing.

Don't know of anyplace that has new old stock or reproduction station wagon roof racks.

 

[DirtDonk]

Where is good old JC Whitney when you really need them!
They are actually still around at jcwhitney.com, but it looks like they’ve fallen into the same modern era as everything else. Lots of black powder coated cross bar type racks. Even a few of the basket racks like we’re looking at here.

 

[ntsqd]

The basket may or may not be Con-fer, but those mounts do not appear to be Con-Fers. I cloned the Con-Fer mounts in 304 SS and had to reverse engineer a set that I have so I'm perhaps more familiar with them than most. They are incomplete as best as I can see, so the missing pieces are needed to get a better idea.

 

[StnePny]

I'll add my $.02,

It does look like an old Conferr Rack. The grating/heavy chicken wire is added. I use plywood as my base.

The mounts look different than mine or they are not complete aka the rain-gutter clamp tighten device.

I would also consider this a Thule Roof Rack because of that mount.

If, it was a true Conferr Roof Rack, I think the price is set right. (Should take pictures of mine to compare the two of them).


Many, many years ago, I drove from Santa Monica to Big Bear just to buy a Conferr Bronco Front Skidplate (with Steering Damper mount) for a good price...(he had 2 of them, I should have bought them both.) Maybe, one day I will put it to use.

 

[StnePny]

This is My Conferr Port-hole Roof Rack (minus the Bulldog Bracket Clamps), but, you can see the single bolt hole at the top of the sliding bracket.

 

[ntsqd]

This is a screen-grab of the CAD model of the Conn-Fer gutter mount early in the design process:

Gamiviti makes clones of the Conn-Fer gutter clamps:
Gamiviti Roof Rack Clamps

 

[mdainsd]

Where is good old JC Whitney when you really need them!
They are actually still around at jcwhitney.com, but it looks like they’ve fallen into the same modern era as everything else. Lots of black powder coated cross bar type racks. Even a few of the basket racks like we’re looking at here.

I loved going through the JC catalog. I dont know for a fact but it seems the highly coveted Stroppe center seat was bought from JC Whitney. I have catalog pages with it shown. I too have one of these Confer roof racks, mine is square in footprint. I bought it to put on top of the Baja, but not sure anymore.

 

[DirtDonk]

Many, many years ago, I drove from Santa Monica to Big Bear just to buy a Conferr Bronco Front Skidplate (with Steering Damper mount) for a good price..

Just had to move mine to a different place to do some work on the side yard.
Can’t remember why I took it off the 71 but I think it was to change the steering linkage and didn’t put it back on for some reason.
Loved it, though, and even though it was a pain sometimes, it was a stout piece that gave good peace of mind.