I hate to keep asking questions about the difference I see in the Machos. I'm still a new "Macho Man" so please bear with me...

In this shot, the back support bars are completely diagonal. Yet in this shot, (I presume the very same truck since both are 79 long beds), the diagonal bars run horizontal at the top before adjoining the from vertical bar. Was this another mid year update or was it optional?

it is mainly hollywood magic. if you look at some of the S&S shows, Ric's truck changes, the body lines that is......looks like an 81 in some shows, and in others it is a 79. I watched one of those shows that you can watch on-line and it had a red interior, which was not available in a macho....
the canyon red sunfire metalic truck is still wearing its correct roll bar

I'd love it if someone could get a bunch of nice close ups of the truck sitting on the Universal lot. If the individual dealers could outfit them with what was available, I guess that could explain why there is a difference in the rollbar.

First pics wouldn't open.
2nd shot looks like an aftermarket, maybe a Hickey.