Simon Cars - Ford Ranchero

Ford Ranchero

Ford introduced its first 'Ranchero' in 1957, it was based on the Ford Custom 2-door Wagon. The smart pickup, sometimes called a 'Coupe Utility' offered both style and the confort of a car with the practicality of a utility. In fact the first Ranchero was able to carry more than Ford's 1957 'official' pickup, the F150. In 1960 the new compact car for Ford, the Falcon, spawned a new version of the Ranchero, shrinking from a 118-inch wheelbase by 9-inches. For 1965 Ford took the Ranchero to the Fairlane range with a 113-inch wheelbase. Then Ford turned out a Ranchero based on the Torino, and finally based it on a Ford LTD II.

aa Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero badger

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero - badge on front wing

aa Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero badge

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero - badge on front wing

aa Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero badger

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero - badge on tailgate

aa Ford Ranchero 1978 badge

Ford Ranchero 1970 351 - badge on front wing

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero front

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero . The Ranchero was based on the 2-door Tudor Wagon, and was only equipped with a choice of two sixes, no V8s

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero rear

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero. The Ford Ranchero was launched in 1957 based on the 116-inch Ford Custom 2-door Wagon. When Ford launched the Ranchero it decided to shrink it to the diminutive 109.5-inch Ford Falcon 2-door Wagon platform

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero 289 front

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero. The Ranchero pickup was a body style offered for the Falcon from the start, but in 1961 a less utilitarian version with the higher trim of the upgraded 'Futura' sedans was available for the Ranchero.

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero 289 rear

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero. By 1961 Ford recognised the need for s street pickup, not just a goods vehicle and offered an upgraded Ranchero. The 'hardtop bed cover' was an original accessory

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero front

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero, new Falcon styling for 1964, and the option of the 289 Challenger V8 engine

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero rear

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero. The Ranchero received all the Falcon updates, including the near side styling and grille of 1964

Ford Ranchero 1970 351 front

Ford Ranchero 1970 351. For 1970 the Ranchero was based on the 117-inch Ford Torino with steeply raked windscreen. Rancheros could be ordered with a six cylinder engine or a 302 V8. This vehicle has a Cleveland 5,766cc 351 which was available in 2 tunes. But Ranchero Gts could be ordered with the Cobra Jet 429.

Ford Ranchero 1971 front

Ford Ranchero 1971

Ford Ranchero 1978 front

Ford Ranchero 1978. The 1977/78 Ranchero was based on the new Ford LTD II, but underneath it shared much of the outgoing Ford Torino. V8 engines were the only option, including hot 'muscle car' units, but these ran low compression in the interests of pollution.

s Ford Ranchero 1978 side

Ford Ranchero 1978. The 1977/78 Ranchero was based on the new Ford LTD II, but underneath it shared much of the outgoing Ford Torino.

t Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero tail

Ford Falcon 1962 Ranchero. Based on the Falcon Tudor Wagon, the similarity to the tailgate on this pickup to the Wagon's rear hatch is obvious; both drop down.

t Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero 289 tail

Ford Falcon 1965 Ranchero. The 1964 Falcon restyle was also given to the Ranchero, which gave it this sculpted tailgate in place of the rather bland earlier one.

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