Do You Remember?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 409
Likes: 146
From: Tennessee
My first truck was a'66 Ford Bronco (first year vehicle, 
) 170 cu. in. six cylinder w/ oil bath air cleaner for real off road use 
, 3 speed on the column. a transfer case so stiff, you had to shift it with your feet, an AM radio that changed stations on a string w/pulley, metal dash with single speaker mounted on passenger side, hand choke, no seat belts, no back seat, no carpeting or mats, 13 gallon gas tank, manual brakes and steering, vacuum windshield wipers that stopped when you accelerated and a removable top with a fold down windshield that clamped to the hood. Damn, it was probably the best truck I've ever owned. 
) 170 cu. in. six cylinder w/ oil bath air cleaner for real off road use , 3 speed on the column. a transfer case so stiff, you had to shift it with your feet, an AM radio that changed stations on a string w/pulley, metal dash with single speaker mounted on passenger side, hand choke, no seat belts, no back seat, no carpeting or mats, 13 gallon gas tank, manual brakes and steering, vacuum windshield wipers that stopped when you accelerated and a removable top with a fold down windshield that clamped to the hood. Damn, it was probably the best truck I've ever owned. I wonder how many here remember or know what an oil bath air cleaner is or vacuum wipers are? LOL...Showing my age here. Sounds like a good Bronco though
Thanks for the memories!
Cycle For Fun and Health
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 499
From: Toledo
Or using a matchbook cover for setting the gap of the points when a feeler gauge was not handy.
5 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 611
Likes: 116
From: Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania
5 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 551
Likes: 185
From: Mid Atlantic
My first truck was a'66 Ford Bronco (first year vehicle, ) 170 cu. in. six cylinder w/ oil bath air cleaner for real off road use , 3 speed on the column. a transfer case so stiff, you had to shift it with your feet, an AM radio that changed stations on a string w/pulley, metal dash with single speaker mounted on passenger side, hand choke, no seat belts, no back seat, no carpeting or mats, 13 gallon gas tank, manual brakes and steering, vacuum windshield wipers that stopped when you accelerated and a removable top with a fold down windshield that clamped to the hood. Damn, it was probably the best truck I've ever owned.
) 170 cu. in. six cylinder w/ oil bath air cleaner for real off road use , 3 speed on the column. a transfer case so stiff, you had to shift it with your feet, an AM radio that changed stations on a string w/pulley, metal dash with single speaker mounted on passenger side, hand choke, no seat belts, no back seat, no carpeting or mats, 13 gallon gas tank, manual brakes and steering, vacuum windshield wipers that stopped when you accelerated and a removable top with a fold down windshield that clamped to the hood. Damn, it was probably the best truck I've ever owned. I love my 74'.
Blunt
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 1,086
From: Alberta, Canada
Do you guys also remember how much smaller and lower trucks used to be? Same bed size, but you didn't need a step to get in and out, and you didn't have to lift things up to chest height to load things into it either. They just keep making them taller and taller, bigger and bulkier...
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,059
Likes: 396
From: Kansas
Do You Remember?
First truck was a 75 F150 with a 390 and C6. Couldn't kill that thing. Dual tanks, no ac, manual everything, and an AM radio. My second truck was a 73 with a car 302 and a farmer 4 with a flatbed. When I'm done with the crew cab that i have now, I'm going to get another one. They are my favorite body style. I replaced the starter solenoid several times on both trucks. Never had to replace the high beam switch on the 75 though, but did on the 73. Lol. Good times.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 792
Likes: 207
my first truck - a 1985 Chevy S-10... 4 Cyl... no power windows.. NO POWER STEERING.. 5 speed manual... 
Now mine has Navigation, leather, heated/cooled seats/10 way power seats/power outlets/running boards, lit up side mirrors, remote tailgate, auto start... this would have been a MERCEDES compared to what trucks had before - you are correct sir!!!
Now mine has Navigation, leather, heated/cooled seats/10 way power seats/power outlets/running boards, lit up side mirrors, remote tailgate, auto start... this would have been a MERCEDES compared to what trucks had before - you are correct sir!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 162
Likes: 58
From: Cape Cod, MA
Still have my '74. This is what it looked like when it was my daily driver back in the 80's.
Then I put a '70 351C 4 bbl and a toploader in it, raised it and did steel flares to clear the 44's, then added 4 wheel steering, etc........ Now it sits in a garage, since 1989.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 87
From: South Texas
I know some of you here are much younger than myself, I'm going to be 62 this year, however when I was young, getting a pickup truck meant no real nice accessories, like even my 2015 XL has on it. Your parents or grandparents bought a pickup to haul things, with a 3 or 4 speed manual, hand choke, hand crank windows, no air conditioning, metal dash, no seat belts, AM radio if any radio at all, and no carpet on the floor.
My 2015 F150 XL has cruise control, power windows, fog lights, automatic, air conditioned, power steering, nice stereo, etc.!
Back when I was a young kid, getting a "XL", like a 62, 63, 64, or 65 Galaxie XL meant a console, bucket seats, basically the top of the line car at that time. To think that trucks today, even base models, have so many nice features over what was offered many years ago! To those of you that remember the changes, isn't it is really amazing?
Enjoy your awesome new F150's!
Phil
My 2015 F150 XL has cruise control, power windows, fog lights, automatic, air conditioned, power steering, nice stereo, etc.!
Back when I was a young kid, getting a "XL", like a 62, 63, 64, or 65 Galaxie XL meant a console, bucket seats, basically the top of the line car at that time. To think that trucks today, even base models, have so many nice features over what was offered many years ago! To those of you that remember the changes, isn't it is really amazing?
Enjoy your awesome new F150's!
Phil
I have had the same thought about the XL name. I had a friend with a 1970 Galaxy XL with a 429 in it. Some of today's new drivers are so spoiled by the power and luxury of these new trucks. In the early 80's I had a 73 F 150 XLT long bed with a 428CJ from my buddies 69 Fairlane Cobra. My 5.0 would have given that 428 truck all it could handle in a drag race! And use half of the gas! I'm 56 by the way.
Cycle For Fun and Health
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 499
From: Toledo
I know some of you here are much younger than myself, I'm going to be 62 this year, however when I was young, getting a pickup truck meant no real nice accessories, like even my 2015 XL has on it. Your parents or grandparents bought a pickup to haul things, with a 3 or 4 speed manual, hand choke, hand crank windows, no air conditioning, metal dash, no seat belts, AM radio if any radio at all, and no carpet on the floor.
My 2015 F150 XL has cruise control, power windows, fog lights, automatic, air conditioned, power steering, nice stereo, etc.!
Back when I was a young kid, getting a "XL", like a 62, 63, 64, or 65 Galaxie XL meant a console, bucket seats, basically the top of the line car at that time. To think that trucks today, even base models, have so many nice features over what was offered many years ago! To those of you that remember the changes, isn't it is really amazing?
Enjoy your awesome new F150's!
Phil
My 2015 F150 XL has cruise control, power windows, fog lights, automatic, air conditioned, power steering, nice stereo, etc.!
Back when I was a young kid, getting a "XL", like a 62, 63, 64, or 65 Galaxie XL meant a console, bucket seats, basically the top of the line car at that time. To think that trucks today, even base models, have so many nice features over what was offered many years ago! To those of you that remember the changes, isn't it is really amazing?
Enjoy your awesome new F150's!
Phil