What year Bronco did I buy?

[Patrick]

interior photos

I assume this is a T-shift.

 

[NY-Bronco]

I assume this is a T-shift.

Yep, yours is like mine. J-shift came shortly after. You also have the newer 73 dash layout.

 

[DirtDonk]

Cool to hear about two such late '72 built trucks.
In yours Patrick, you can see the lighted dash labels (a '73 addition), but the T-shift transfer case shifter ('72 production). Plus the power steering, which is also a '73 and later option, but could also have been added later by a PO. In your case though, it sounds like PS is listed in the VIN info, so you've definitely got one of the "transition" models.
Besides, any time you get a late-year build, it's "usually" the next years model. But not always, as you're finding here. Sometimes a manufacturer changes the model year designation later than normal, sometimes earlier than normal. Usually "normal" is September when the new model year is starting to be built. But what's "normal" with a Bronco anyway?

Keep the pics coming. Good looking rig. That green is getting to be a popular color again among Bronco owners.

Paul

 

[Patrick]

Thanks all for the help.

This has been very interesting an educational. Green was the reason I bought this one. I wanted to restore a Bronco to its original condition as much as possible, and when I saw this green/white striped exterior and green hounds-tooth interior, I knew this was the one for me.

I have some work to do on the cosmetics, but its mechanics appear strong and I'm very pleased to have found this one only 175 miles away.

 

[NY-Bronco]

This has been very interesting an educational. Green was the reason I bought this one. I wanted to restore a Bronco to its original condition as much as possible, and when I saw this green/white striped exterior and green hounds-tooth interior, I knew this was the one for me.

I have some work to do on the cosmetics, but its mechanics appear strong and I'm very pleased to have found this one only 175 miles away.

Thats one sweet looking rig. And now youre gonna catch the disease we all have. Some go restore and others go butcher. I went the butcher route. I cant believe that my truck once looked like yours. I like that green a lot.

 

[Patrick]

photos

another look

 

[DirtDonk]

We've got one of those in our group too. Only see it at a BBQ here or there on nice weekends now, but it's a pristine, fully resto-modded '74 or '75 I think. Same color, Ranger stripes, un-cut, beautiful new interior when they found some material laying around at a fabric supplier, and a nice EFI engine.
Sweet rig.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Nice. It even has the old side-mount for locking the swing-away spare tire carrier out of the way to run with the tailgate down.
Can't wait to see what other little gems you find on this rig, as you go through it.

You know, things like snakes and rats and geckos under the dash, in the vents and under the seats.
Fun stuff like that.

Paul

 

[broncnaz]

Interesting you have the Ranger stripes but no Ranger emblem on the glove box. So it could very well be classified as a early Ranger. I'd keep it as a 72 like the current title says. As was said there are always oddballs in the change over years. I'd say you have one of these oddballs.

 

[Patrick]

Thanks again for helping me figure out the Bronco's story. It's good to understand where my Bronco fits in the timeline. I ordered the build sheet from Ford so that should also help answer some of these questions.

 

[DirtDonk]

Definitely let us know what it says Patrick. Be interesting to see if it has (or lacks) any intriguing and useful info.

Paul

 

[HGM]

I just got my build info today. The build date was 11/24/72 and my vin is Q76572.. I'd say its safe to say you've got a '72..

 

[Patrick]

I just got my build info today. The build date was 11/24/72 and my vin is Q76572.. I'd say its safe to say you've got a '72..

Thanks Greg. will let you all know when i get the build sheet.

 

[Patrick]

Build sheet for the 1972

Finally got around to posting the build sheet for the 1972. Pretty cool. It's like a birth certificate for your car.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hmmm, dual remote mirrors too eh? Interesting.
I know they kept a lot of the wording between the truck lines (ie "custom cab"), but I didn't know you could get 2 remote mirrors on an EB?
And power steering too. Cool.
That sure was one late-build '72 for sure, but sounds like it's probably still one of the very earliest factory p/s units I'd bet.

'Bout darn time you posted that up ;D
Thanks for letting us know.

Paul

 

[HGM]

Hmmm, dual remote mirrors too eh? Interesting.
I know they kept a lot of the wording between the truck lines (ie "custom cab"), but I didn't know you could get 2 remote mirrors on an EB?
And power steering too. Cool.
That sure was one late-build '72 for sure, but sounds like it's probably still one of the very earliest factory p/s units I'd bet.

'Bout darn time you posted that up ;D
Thanks for letting us know.

Paul

My '73 Ranger apparently had the dual remote mirrors too. Never know it now though.. I'd like to see them as the were intended..

 

[Viperwolf1]

Hmmm, dual remote mirrors too eh? Interesting.
I know they kept a lot of the wording between the truck lines (ie "custom cab"), but I didn't know you could get 2 remote mirrors on an EB?
And power steering too. Cool.
That sure was one late-build '72 for sure, but sounds like it's probably still one of the very earliest factory p/s units I'd bet.

'Bout darn time you posted that up ;D
Thanks for letting us know.

Paul

PS should have been available after P40001. That would have been 2-3 months earlier.

 

[JGbronc]

I was confused about the '73 dash layout for a long while, because I would see Broncos being advertised as a '72 model, yet it would have that dash. I thought maybe there was a titling error with some of the '73's. I even started a thread on here about it once upon a time.

Well at Super Celebration this year, ford man had his late '72 there (true '72) with the '73 style dash layout, and there is very little reason to think the dash has been changed, due to it being a very stock Bronco with few mods. So I now believe that the dash change took place in the late '72 model year.

 

[MarsChariot]

Those 72s can be odd about the cross over between 72 and 73. I have a lime green '72 with the full color coordinated interior, Explorer package, 73 body colored instrument panel, white exterior decals power steering, 3 speed manual, and all stock, no mods, built in October of 72. Funny thing is I had a '73 also built in October of 72 just a little later judging from the VIN.

 

[JGbronc]

Those 72s can be odd about the cross over between 72 and 73. I have a lime green '72 with the full color coordinated interior, Explorer package, 73 body colored instrument panel, white exterior decals power steering, 3 speed manual, and all stock, no mods, built in October of 72. Funny thing is I had a '73 also built in October of 72 just a little later judging from the VIN.

Being built in October of '72 should make it a '73 year model. Maybe there is a titling issue. ?:?