The factory auto shift lever for a tuff wheel was shorter that a truck with a standard wheel. Regular shifter is 9 3/4" from roll pin to tip of the shifter handle. Tuff wheel shifter is 8 3/8". My understanding of Tuff wheel on a truck was first year available as a factory option was 78. Based on this fact I probably own the first factory equiped truck with a tuff wheel. My 78 Adventurer SE step side 440 truck is a super early78. It is vin# 21.
for a stand alone option standpoint, the tuff wheel was available by itself starting in 78, but was apart of the Warlock Option Package on 2wd Warlocks.