Did ford ever build a four door SUV before the explorer?

[dablack00]

Ok guys. My wife drives a 2002 explorer. Four doors, quiet ride, AC, etc. Well it is getting up in miles and I would like to get her into an older car. I know she want four doors, but I don't think I'm going to be able to get her into a crew cab. Did ford ever build a four door SUV? I know the big bronco came out in 78, but it was just two door. I really need four.

There is no way I could put her in a cheby, but what about a grand wagoneer, or something like that?

Why didn't ford have somethink like the cheby's Suburban?

[dablack00]

I know what you are about to say. What about a 60s galaxie wagon. No go. Not high enough.

[68half/step4x4]

I don't really know if they ever had one from the factory, but there was a company that would take a new bronco from the factory and convert it to a four door bronco. They were called a Centurion. Actually a nice looking rig. I've seen a couple of them. Never got to talk to any of them about it. Some one here probaly has more info than me.

[1970F250]

i always thought the the centurion was from the factory but i guess not. heres a pic of one. (wish it was mine)

i like the grand wagoneer too.

[dablack00]

Well, those are really cool, but I'm trying to go 60s/70s. I think I'm just going to have to talk her into a crewcab. Or maybe, I could get a crewcab and put a 78/79 bronco back on it. I know it would be alot of work and I would have to attach the bed to the cab and splice in some peices from a 78/79 bronco, but it could work.

[trukcrazy]

Here is the buildup North Country Specialties did on combining a crew and bronco together. This might help you build a 67-72 Centurion.

http://www.ncspecialties.com/autobody/f ... /index.htm

[willowbilly3]

There used to be several of those, in the late 80s body style, running around Alaska. I think the mayor of Wasilla had one.

[19674x4]

let me get this straight, you have a 2002 and are getting high on miles???, nothing against you but we have a 92 exploder, and have 366,000 miles on it and have only had to do minor repairs besides, transmission and head work. still runs like a champ. exactly how many miles are on it?

[mrung0wa]

I remember those Centurion factory/custom rigs. They used F350's and removed the bed added either 2 or 4 more doors, then installed the back top from a 80-96 Bronco. They were and to the best of my Knowledge still FORD factory approved/authorized builder. A Quality engineered setup as far as I'm concerned...

I had a 2002 Explorer 4.0 (they've got those 4.0's dialed in now)that I sold to my Brother when I bought my 2003 Expedition. It had about 40k when I handed the keys to my Bro and he's probably put about 100k more since then. It's still in primo shape with no problems what-so-ever.
When I had my 76 Bronco 302 I always wanted to fabricate a 4 door version. I know that it would look and perform exceptionally

Lawrence

[marz68]

You can find those 70's 4 door broncos in mexico. I saw one up close.That is mainly the reason I go to mexico to look at all the cool cars and truck that they get that we don't.

[72hiboy4x4]

here's what you need!

[wt4speed#2]

Saw several in Texas in the '80's . I belive they were called the "Metropolitant" the resembled a full sized Bronco , had four doors and were probably a custom by Centurion .The back half came off like the Bronco , even saw one with dual rears an F-350 if you will


Tony B

[mrung0wa]

You can find those 70's 4 door broncos in mexico. I saw one up close.That is mainly the reason I go to mexico to look at all the cool cars and truck that they get that we don't.

I've been to Central America a couple of times and South America (Ecuador) in 74', 79', and 90. When I was there in 90 I could've sworn that I saw a 4 door U100 Bronco. There are a lot of different variations of the vehicles we here in the states are familiar with. My Brother (20+ years of FORD Exp.) says NO and when I worked at FORD I called the main Parts hub and talked to an Old timer and he said NO. I do know that the F150's in Central America are called LOBO. So as far as I'm concerned FORD probably did make a 4 door U100 Bronco but won't admit to it so that guys like us won't look for 'em and try to bring 'em back here to the States...

Lawrence

[dablack00]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the great ideas. I never thought about going down to Mexico and getting one. That would be cool.

Don't laugh, but what about a long bed F100 67-72, w/ a crew cab and really short bed. I don't know how short the bed would be, but it would be like a classic sportrac. I know it would look a little goofy, but it would be exactly what the little lady needs.

About her explorer. It has 85,000 miles on it and I'm not worried about it falling apart right now, but when it does, I want to be ready. It take a while to build a good truck so I need to start now.

thanks
Austin

[72hiboy4x4]

Don't laugh, but what about a long bed F100 67-72, w/ a crew cab and really short bed. I don't know how short the bed would be, but it would be like a classic sportrac.
thanks
Austin

I had an old crew cab that I was going to transplant the body onto my 4x4 std. cab chassis. got so far as pulling the crew cab off the chassis and did a bunch of measuring.
the way I had it figured, there would be a box about 2 1/2-3 ft long behind the cab.
but what killed the idea for me was where the rear wheels ended up. they were almost underneath the rear of the cab. didn't look right to me, and I would have no room for the larger tires I wanted to put on it.