Despite the cold conditions and swirling wind the first half produced five goals with the scoreline sitting at 3-2 as the players walked up the tunnel.
The second half, however, was a more one-sided affair with the Light Blues shifting through the gears and showing the quality which will surely now take them to the title.
Elgin, who had won five of their seven home fixtures going into this afternoon’s clash, were full of confidence in the opening 45 minutes but the visitors had more firepower in the last third with Little and McCulloch, in particular, a constant threat.
Indeed, Rangers flew out of the traps at the start of this top of the table clash, clearly intent on increasing the gap between themselves and the Black and Whites.
David Templeton, Macleod, McCulloch and Hutton all saw plenty of the ball in the opening five minutes before Little opened the scoring with a terrific finish.
Templeton played him in and the Ulsterman showed great composure to round keeper John Gibson before rolling the ball into the net.
It was no more than the Light Blues deserved following their positive early play and within a couple of minutes a poor challenge by Elgin’s Mark Nicolson on Templeton in the centre circle meant referee Brian Colvin had to have a word in the midfielder’s ear.
From there Elgin started to enjoy a bit more possession and on 18 minutes Ross Jack’s side replied in stunning style.
Number 11 Daniel Moore was picked out 20 yards out and his left foot drive took a slight nick off a defender’s foot before it flew across Alexander and nestled inside his far post.
It was just what the home side needed and having got back into the game they started to put the Gers backline under sustained pressure for the first time.
Rangers, however, always looked dangerous going forward and on 24 minutes they were back in front.
Templeton jinked his way into the box from the left and his low cross found Little who hammered the ball into the empty net from close range.
It was another good goal from Rangers’ point of view but Ross Jack must have been frustrated at the ease in which Templeton was able to pick out his teammate.
Before the half hour mark the hard tackling continued albeit Sean Crighton was the first player to be booked for a late foul on McCulloch.
The ref, however, only had his pencil away for a couple of minutes before Chris Hegarty was also shown a yellow card after he halted an overlapping run from Elgin skipper David Niven.
This gave the home side another chance to test Alexander from 25 yards and Nicolson stepped up to the plate, curling a beautiful free kick over the wall and beating the Gers keeper at his near post.
It was proving to be an epic tussle and with 34 minutes on the clock City could have taken the lead when the ball dropped to centre back Brian Cameron who sclaffed his left foot shot from 18 yards straight at Alexander.
On 40 minutes, however, Rangers were back in front. Hutton played in Little down the right and his cut back cross found McCulloch with his back to goal.
He swiftly turned his marker before blasting a high, powerful shot which hit the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line.
McCoist made his first change to his team for the start of the second period with centre half Perry replacing Argyriou which meant Hegarty filled in a right back.
Chances kept coming for both sides though and the sixth goal of the game arrived on the hour mark.
Templeton found McCulloch who was given space and time to turn and his low shot across Gibson had the power and accuracy to find the bottom corner of the net.
It was another moment of quality from the skipper who continues to impress week in, week out.
Rangers were now firing on all cylinders and Macleod made it 5-2 with a terrific drive from 20 yards.
With 22 minutes remaining Templeton, who was holding his hamstring, was replaced by Crawford and almost immediately the youngster brought out a good save from Gibson after excellent wing play from McKay.
McKay then sent in a teasing right foot cross and McCulloch guided his header a foot wide of the keeper’s near post.
On 82 minutes Hutton made it 6-2 when he fired a tremendous shot past Gibson but, remarkably, the drama was not over yet.
Hutton was guilty of a late tackle on Stuart Leslie in the box and the ref immediately pointed to the spot.
Moore stepped up but Alexander was there to make his second spot kick save in consecutive games.
The result means there is now real daylight between Rangers and the rest of the teams in the fourth tier and with big games coming up against Clyde on Boxing Day, Queen’s Park, Annan and Elgin again at Ibrox on January 5 there will be further chances to extend this lead.
RANGERS: Alexander; Argyriou (Perry 46), Hegarty, Cribari, Wallace; McKay, Hutton, Macleod (Sandaza 78), Templeton (Crawford 68); Little, McCulloch
Booked: Hegarty
Subs: Currie, Naismith