The Ford Ranchero: Car or Truck?
The Ford Ranchero is a unique vehicle that blurs the lines between a car and a truck. It is a coupe utility vehicle that was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform, integrating the cab and cargo bed into the body. This allowed it to offer the utility of a truck while maintaining the handling and drivability of a car. The Ranchero was marketed as “More than a car, more than a truck” and was a pioneering concept in utility vehicles.
The first-generation Ranchero was introduced in 1957 and was based on the Ford Ranch Wagon and Courier Sedan Delivery. Over its production run from 1957 to 1979, a total of 508,355 units were produced. The Ranchero was derived from full-sized, compact, and intermediate automobiles sold by Ford for the North American market, showcasing its adaptability across different vehicle classes.
The Ranchero’s unique design and versatility made it a popular choice for consumers who desired a vehicle that could serve both as a practical workhorse and a refined mode of transportation. Its innovative concept and dual-purpose nature have solidified its place in automotive history as a distinctive and influential vehicle.
The Ford Ranchero’s adaptation from a station wagon platform and its ability to combine the utility of a truck with the handling and drivability of a car make it a truly unique and groundbreaking vehicle that defies traditional categorization as either a car or a truck.
Contents
- How rare are Ford Rancheros?
- Is the Ford Ranchero a ute?
- How much is a Ford Ranchero worth today?
- What car was the Ford Ranchero based on?
- What was the Chevy version of the Ford Ranchero?
- What engine is in a Ranchero?
- What is the difference between the El Camino and the Ranchero?
- How much horsepower does a 1970 Ford Ranchero have?
- Is the Ford Ranchero a muscle car?
- Are El Caminos cars or trucks?
How rare are Ford Rancheros?
Ranchero production was modest, with 508,355 sold in 22 years. The best years were 40,334 in 1972 and 45,741 in ’73, but sales were usually half that. The rarest model is 1958, when only 9950 left the factory—fewer than half the 21,696 sold in the launch year.
Is the Ford Ranchero a ute?
From 1957 to 1979, Ford produced the intriguing Ranchero pickup, officially classified as a ‘coupe utility’ vehicle or a ‘ute’ in Australia, where it had its own Falcon Ute counterpart.
How much is a Ford Ranchero worth today?
Q: What is the average sale price of a Ford Ranchero? A: The average price of a Ford Ranchero is $22,933.
What car was the Ford Ranchero based on?
First Generation: 1957-1959 Ford Ranchero
Nice! The Ranchero’s underpinnings began with the chassis of a full-size two-door Ford station wagon, the Ford Courier. It was basically a Courier with an open-top truck bed, and although it was built on that car’s assembly line, it was sold as a truck.
What was the Chevy version of the Ford Ranchero?
Ford built the Ranchero until 1979. GM built the El Camino up until 1987.
What engine is in a Ranchero?
V-8 is standard in all Rancheros. Optional engines range from 250-cu. in. Six (Ranchero 500) to the big 4-venturi 460-cubic-incher.
What is the difference between the El Camino and the Ranchero?
With tailgates open, the two beds are the same length. With tailgate closed, Ranchero has the longer bed and the El Camino has the wider bed. Note different rear windows. RANCHERO—Only one model is available for 1959, the Custom model.
How much horsepower does a 1970 Ford Ranchero have?
six-cylinder, rated at 155 hp during 1970; its gross output dropped 10 hp a year later, due to a lower compression ratio. As to the performance-trimmed Ranchero GT, it received a two-barrel 302-cu.in. V-8 as standard equipment — code “F” in the fifth digit of the VIN — that was rated at 220 hp.
Is the Ford Ranchero a muscle car?
The Ford Ranchero was a car turned into a truck turned into a muscle vehicle that was unique in many ways! The Ford Ranchero may be the first pickup combined with a car that comes to mind, but it was not the first of its kind.
Are El Caminos cars or trucks?
The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility vehicle that was produced by Chevrolet between 1959–60 and 1964–1987. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the El Camino was adapted from the standard two-door Chevrolet station wagon platform and integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body.