Ford Ranchero
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford Ranchero | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1957 - 1979 |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style(s) | Coupe utility |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine(s) | I6 and V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed and 4-speed manual, and automatic |
| Related | Ford Fairlane, Falcon and Torino |
The Ford Ranchero was a coupe utility produced between 1957 and 1979 based on full-size, compact and intermediate automobiles by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market.
Variations based on the original 1960 US Falcon for home markets in Argentina and South Africa were produced through the late 1980s.
Though Ford car/truck combinations had been around since 1934 when Ford Australia's lone designer Lew Bandt penned the world's first coupe utility, thereby spawning the popularity of the so-called "ute" in that country, the Ranchero was the first postwar American vehicle of its type from the factory and did well enough to spawn a competitor from General Motors in 1959, the Chevrolet El Camino.
A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run.
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[edit] 1957-60
- See also 1957 Ford
Introduced in December 1956, three months after the traditional September model year start-up, the Ranchero was based on the standard and new-for-1957 full-size Ford platform, specifically the two-door Ranch Wagon station wagon and utilitarian Courier sedan delivery, the wheelbase of which were actually shorter than that of the sedan. Essentially a Courier with an open, reinforced bed, its own unique rear window and integrated cab and cargo box, the Ranchero was initially offered in two trim levels and, throughout the model run, was built on the corresponding automobile assembly line but sold as a truck through Ford's truck division. There was an extremely basic standard model, marketed to traditional pickup truck buyers such as farmers, and the Custom which picked up most of the options and accessories available on the Fairlane line, including stainless steel bodyside mouldings and two-tone paint. Upscale models were badged both as a Fairlane and Ranchero, with a stylized representation of a longhorn as the symbol for the model located on the tailgate. Indeed, print advertising of the time played on the theme of the American Southwest that the Spanish model name and longhorn symbol were meant to evoke, showing artistic representations of the vehicle being used in ranching and outdoor activities, proclaiming it as "More Than A Car! More Than A Truck!" The Ranchero was a a hit with both the automotive press and the buying public, filling an untapped market niche for vehicles with the utility of a light pickup with the ease of operation and riding characteristics of a car. In fact, the Ranchero had a marginally higher cargo capacity by about fifty pounds/23kg than the half-ton F-Series pickup. Both standard and Custom could be ordered with any engine available for Ford cars, all the way up to the 352 in³ (5.8 L) "Thunderbird Special." In Canada, the Ranchero was also available in the Meteor line-up. The 1958 version would remain largely unchanged under the skin save for the new front sheetmetal and its new four-headlight arrangement. The 1959 model was built with the same 118"/300cm wheelbase as the sedan as were all 1959 Fords, giving the Ranchero the advantage over its predecessors of a longer bed. The new Galaxie 500 introduced that year would, like the sedan, become the new top-of-the-line trim level for the Ranchero. However, this would be the last time that the vehicle would grow either in size or trim for several years to come.
[edit] 1960-66
| Second generation | |
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| Production | 1960-1966 |
| Engine(s) | 144 in³ Thriftmaster Six 170 in³ Thriftmaster Six 260 in³ Windsor V8 289 in³ Windsor V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic 3-speed C4 automatic |
| Related | Ford Falcon |
In 1960 the Ranchero became much smaller, becoming based on Ford's compact Falcon. The popularity of small, economical cars like the Volkswagen Type 1 and Renault Dauphine perpetuated a shift in thinking among the three largest American manufacturers; 1959 would see the introduction of the 1960 Falcon along with the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair and Plymouth Valiant. The economic recession of the late 1950s certainly played a role as well. Ford believed the market wanted a more practical vehicle, one much smaller, lighter and cheaper than a full-size pickup truck, and indeed the Ranchero sold well in this incarnation. Now marketed in print as the "Falcon Ranchero," the new vehicle's standard powerplant was an economical 144 in³ (2.4 L) straight-6 delivering 30 mpg, as good as most modern vehicles, better than any pickup of any size the time, including the compact Corvair-based Chevrolet Greenbrier. In 1961 the 170 in³ straight-6 was offered, and in 1963 the optional 260 in³ V-8 was offered in addition to the 144 and 170.
The Ranchero evolved along with the Falcon in 1964, becoming just a little larger along with its parent and using the same basic body style for 1964 and 1965. In 1965, the 289 in³ (4.7 L) V8 was offered.
[edit] 1966-67
1966 was a one-year model, when Falcon and Fairlane were redeveloped on the same basic platform. (The 1966 Falcon and Fairlane were so similar that station wagons used the same basic body with different trim and front fenders.) The 1966 Ranchero used Falcon front sheetmetal, trim and interior accents. Engines available were the 170ci I6, 200ci I6, 2v-289 V8 and 4v-289 V8. Transmissions available were the C4 automatic and Toploader 3 speed by way of column shift.
[edit] 1967-68
The 1967 Ranchero, based on the post-'66 Falcon/Fairlane chassis, used the basic 1966 Ranchero body with Fairlane trim, front sheetmetal, and interior treatments instead of Falcon.
This was a well-received and unique one-year vehicle, with clean, straight lines, dual stacked headlights, and plenty of power; engine options started with a 200 in³ (3.3 L) straight-6 and went up to a 390 in³ (6.5 L) FE-series big-block V8 giving 315 hp (235 kW). 1967 also saw the largest expansion of trim levels since the vehicle's introduction ten years prior. Supplmenting the base model were the new Ranchero 500, 500/XL and GT. The GT-A Ford's label for '66 and '67 automatic transmission-equipped GT's given to both the Fairlane and Mustang, did not apply to the Ranchero. But like other models of that era, you could order the Ranchero with any number of features/options.
[edit] 1968-72
1968 saw the Fairlane line supplemented by the new Torino and the Ranchero followed suit, becoming the largest model since the full-sized 1959. Overall, the new Ranchero was not only bigger, but more angular than before with its more upright grille and the loss of the 1967 model's unique stacked headlights. The interior was all new as well, sharing the Torino/Fairlane's distinctive four-pod instrument cluster. Though the four round pods gave the illusion of an engine-turned dash, viewed from left to right they instead featured warning lights for coolant temperature and the left turn signal in the left pod with the speedometer in the second pod directly in front of the driver. Warning lights for the charging system and oil pressure in the pod were located third from the left. In upscale models, this pod was supplanted by a tachometer. An optional clock filled the fourth pod; a decorative "clock delete" panel otherwise filled the space. A seat belt warning light was a new feature as well, lighting briefly in the far left pod whenever the engine was started. The model line also featured wraparound front side marker lamps which doubled as parking lights and rear side reflectors, mandated by US law for the 1968 model year and still in force today. The rear side reflectors are of particular note since the new law mandated that the markers were to light up when the headlights were switched on. Because of production issues, Ford was granted a waiver on the Fairlane/Torino/Ranchero as well as on the Mustang. The Mustang complied with the law in the all-new 1969 version; the Fairlane/Torino/Ranchero followed suit by the 1970 model year. Three trim levels were offered: The base Ranchero, the Ranchero 500 and the top-of-the line Ranchero GT. Engine choices began with the 250 cubic inch I-6 and ran to several V8 choices including the standard 302 with two-barrel carburetor, the new-for-1970 351 Cleveland and the FE-based 390. The powerful 428 Cobra Jet, another FE derivative and the largest engine offered in the Ranchero to date, was a mid-year option. Like the Torino/Fairlane, the Ranchero could be had with virtually all of the same options as its cousins including air conditioning, bucket seats, AM/FM radio, optional wheels, front disc brakes, hood scoop (standard on GT) and even a vinyl top. The 1969 Ranchero saw slight cosmetic changes. Changes across the model line were in the flatter grille less the horizontal crossbar and Ford crest, relocation of GT grille badging from the crest to the lower right corner of the grille as viewed from the front, a change from black-faced instruments to silver and a new steering wheel with slimmer spokes similar to that across the Ford product line unlike the wheel with its broader "safety pad" used in the 1968 intermediates and compacts. The only change unique to the Ranchero was the relocation of the "Ranchero" script from the rear quarter panels to the front fenders.
A little-known and extremely rare offering in 1969 was the Rio Grande. Available on special order, this was essentially a GT in the so-called "Grabber" colors of "Wimbledon White", "Poppy Red" or "Calypso Coral," partially blacked-out hood with scoop, side stripes, bed rails, vinyl top and unique "Ford Ranchero Rio Grande" wheel centers. As a result, Rancheros so equipped received Ford's "SPECIAL PERFORMANCE VEHICLE" identification on the data plate regardless of engine choice. These vehicles may be identified by the aforementioned designation as well as a blank space where the trim code would normally be found. Production figures are unclear, but may have been around 900 total units.
1970 saw another face-lift for the Torino line. Both the Torino and Ranchero featured a shallow-pointed grille and front end with smooth, somewhat more curvaceous lines. Again, three models were available. Like in previous years, all Torino options could be ordered, including all-new Ram-Air 429 Cobra Jet or Super Cobra Jet engines (7 L) with a slightly different "shaker" hood scoop borrowed from the Mustang, so named because it was directly mounted to the carburetor and shook with the engine at idle. Also available was a stylish grille that featured hide-away headlights as well as an optional hood with an oversized scoop which was standard on Torino GTs. Through 1971 the Ranchero followed the changes in its parent model.
[edit] 1972-76
1972 saw a radical change in the Torino and Ranchero lines. The sleek, pointy look of the previous year's model was replaced with a larger, heavier design. Most prominent was a wide, gaping 'fishmouth' grille and a new body-on-frame design. There were still three models available; the now-standard 500, the new Squire with simulated wood "paneling" along the flanks and the sporty GT. Engine choices remained basically the same beginning with the 250 cubic inch six-cylinder and a selection of V8s that ranged from the standard 302 to Cleveland and Windsor series 351s, plus the new-for-1972 400. The 385-series V8(429 1972-73; 460 1974-76)was still available. However, all suffered from lower compression ratios to better meet new emissions standards. The 351 in³ (5.75 L) Cleveland could still be obtained in tuned 4-V Cobra Jet form through 1974. A four-speed manual transmission was available on Cobra Jet-powered GT models.
The 1973 Ranchero saw a redesigned front-end to meet new federal standards for front impact protection. Aside from slight cosmetic differences, the Ranchero would remain basically the same until the Torino's final year, 1976.
[edit] 1977-79
With the Torino ending production after 1977, the Ranchero needed a new platform. This was found in the somewhat unlikely guise of the Ford Thunderbird personal luxury coupe, which was undergoing a reincarnation that year also, and sharing features with that year's Ford LTD II mid-size car. The same three models available since 1968 were still offered and the Ranchero could be ordered in quite luxurious form. Engines fitted went up to the 400 in³ (6.6 L), a small-block despite its large displacement. Production ceased in 1979 with, among the traditional choices, a commemorative "1979½" model. Although the LTD II was not produced for many model years, this body style with stacked rectangular headlights is among the most popular among collectors.
Cars were getting smaller and increasing government restrictions and requirements on a car-based pickup truck made such a vehicle less and less attractive from a manufacturing standpoint. Meanwhile, purpose-designed light trucks had to meet much less stringent requirements for emissions and fuel economy. Ford saw the way the market was going and decided that small light trucks were the wave of the future, beginning with the Mazda-built Courier pickup. This vehicle would be a "stepping stone" during which time Ford would develop their homegrown replacement, the Ranger.
[edit] South Africa
The Ranchero name was used on a rebadged Australian Ford Falcon pickup during the 1970s. Similarly the "Chevrolet El Camino" badge was utilized on the Australia Holden ute.
[edit] Today
Rancheros are reasonably collectible, though they are nowadays often overlooked in favor of the later-arriving Chevrolet El Camino, which stayed in production eight more years. Miniatures, with the exception of the 1957 model, are almost non-existent compared to the 1959-60 and 1964-65 El Camino. There are no Matchbox versions, but Johnny Lightning makes a 1964 model, Hot Wheels an adult collectible '57, Racing Champions made a 1957 Ranchero, Revell-Monogram produced a 1/25-scale model kit of the '57 in both stock and chopped-top custom versions, AMT/Ertl currently produces a diecast '57 which doubles as a bank; the same company has reintroduced a 1/25-scale model kit of the 1961 Ranchero based on the dealer promo model produced that same year. AMT was also responsible for other early dealer promotional models as well, including those of the aforementioned El Camino. Tonka produced a resin toy version of the 1968-69 model in roughly 1/24 scale as part of an auto transporter set; the front end of that toy arguably resembles the 1969 model more closely.
The idea of a car-based pickup remains an attractive one, and is an illustration of how favorable treatment for light trucks over cars by United States regulations skews the marketplace. There are many Ranchero and El Camino owners, indeed, who stopped buying new vehicles when those models were discontinued. Aftermarket conversions of the Fairmont Futura and Mercury Zephyr Z7 sport coupes to a Ranchero-like "Durango" pickup were sold in select Ford dealers in the early- to mid-1980s. Recently there has been more interest in producing such vehicles again, including those like the Subaru Baja, essentially an Outback station wagon with a stubby pickup bed instead of an enclosed cargo area. The Baja, like the Ranchero, is titled in most American states and Canadian provinces as a commercial vehicle. The current market has tended to lean towards compact and midsized crew-cab four-door pickups such as the Ford Explorer Sport Trac and Honda Ridgeline.
In Australia, Ford Australia continues to produce Falcon-based pickups as does Holden with the Commodore-based Holden Ute; there is even a stock car racing class for these vehicles. Chevrolet produces a Lumina-based ute for the South African market. The Holden Ute is currently going to be introduced into the US market as a Pontiac G8 sport truck (currently unnamed).
[edit] See also
- List of Ford vehicles
- Pickup truck
- Ute
- Ford Ranchero Rio Grande, a little-known and extremely rare version of the 1969 Ford Ranchero
[edit] References and external links
- Ranchero in the Netherlands/Europe
- Dearborn Classics' Ranchero history page with photos
- Bill's Classic Cars - 1967 Ranchero
- Naming the Unnamed Pontiac Sport Truck
- The Ranchero Fan Club
- Falconparts.com
- Official website of the Ford Discovery Centre of Australia
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