I guess I could have entitled this post, “The End”! From the company that created the hybrid car/truck, known as the Ranchero, Ford decided to pull the plug on their very functional Ute at the end of the 1979 model year. This particular example has a documented 1,300 miles and was a member of a Ford dealership’s collection. Looking now for a new home, this like-new Ranchero 500, located in South Plainfield, New Jersey, is available, here on craigslist for $45,500. Shan gets the nod for this find!
Introduced in 1957, the Ranchero transcended different Ford platforms during its twenty-three year run. In 1966, it occupied the mid-size Fairlane platform and there it stayed, moving through iterations including the Torino and then the LTD II. Three trim levels were offered in ’79, the Ranchero GT, Squire (faux wood sides), and the 500 such as our subject car. Actually, an argument could be made that this Ranchero is really a 1979.5 “Commemorative Model”, offered to signify the end of production. Approximately 2,100 Ranchero 500s got the pizazz laid on and that mostly consisted of very nice leather seats and a vinyl roof covering, though there were some other niceties included too.
Powering this half-and-half is a 151 net HP, 351 CI V8 driving a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller claims it, “Runs and drives like new“. Also stated is that this car is up to date with complete routine maintenance. A tune-up has been performed as well as new shocks, mufflers, tailpipes (dual exhaust system added), a carburetor rebuild, new tires mounted, as well as a new intake manifold and valve cover gaskets installed.
Styling is always subjective and this Ford looks large, it almost seems too large for its station in life but that’s probably more of a visual illusion due to its very creased/formal look. Actually, at 220 inches in length, it is large. There’s nothing to nitpick here, of course – this Ranchero just hasn’t lived the life that usually knocks one of these out after a few years. The only styling miss that I would note is the wire wheel covers, it seems that they would be more appropriate on an LTD II than a Ranchero, but that’s just an arbitrary call.
Inside is very nicely finished with its, what are said to be, Thunderbird seats. There’s lots of red going on in there but it all matches nicely and flows together really well. For utility use, which is how one would expect a Ranchero to be used, the interior is really too elegant. But if an occasional suburban big-box store, round trip is the intended use, then this Ranchero would have you covered.
What more can be said? This Ford is fantastic but then one would expect that of a 1,300-mile vehicle that has played indoors for the last 43 years. The only outlier is the price, low mileage or not, I can’t see $45 big ones for a Ranchero regardless of its condition. My parting thought is GLWTS, what’s yours?
One of the nicest ugly cars I’ve seen…
So perfectly said!
Woo hoo a 151 hp. First on race day against mopeds.
Very nice low mileage mid 70s car.
My fave is 1972 .
People can list cars for sale for whatever they want. It doesn’t mean that they are selling. I’m actually surprised how much more expensively people are attempting to sell cars for now than a year or two ago. This tells me that more people are dipping their feet into car buying/selling who don’t know anything about cars. I can’t give away my Porsches and exotic cars, but people are listing 1980’s station wagons and rusted out Broncos for $30,000… If anything, these rediculous prices (that the cars never sell for) are amusing..
After the ten seconds of fame wears off of this car for sale, just for fun, I’m going to follow it on its rocky road through internet sales and report back how much this car actually sells for…
I do agree that prices are way inflated on all vehicles. But, most guys and gals in this country do not yurn for an 80s or 90s euro as their 3rd car. Most want something that attaches them to their youth. And, the average didn’t know anyone in their family with Euro / exotic.
Right front fender looks like it has been painted.
but its just so damn ugly
My reaction as well.
First, Ford missed the boat twice on these. The first was using the Grand Bloatino chassis for it…I get it, it worked well when it was the Fairlane and a reasonably-trim chassis. I also get that the original manifestation of this version, the 1972 Grand Torino, was a styling home run. It drove like a cabin-cruiser, it weighed more than a Lincoln of ten years earlier…but doggone, every styling trick in the book, they pulled out.
Then came, in rapid succession, bumpers, EGR emissions stuff, and a public weariness of the Coke-Bottle design language. Translating the Gran Torino into the LTD II, didn’t work so well.
But obviously, the Ranchero’s days were numbered, by that time.
And that was the second mistake – not moving this over to the Fairmont chassis. Yes, I know of the Durango; but a handbuilt third-party conversion won’t make it on either price or quality. But the ute-style vehicle, smaller like in Australia or a bit larger, is really a lot more practical than these gargantuan trucks of today, together with their five-foot boxes.
Seems that every attempt has had its problems. The VW Caddy suffered from a way-too-small cabin…should have used the two-door’s doors and stretched out the seat track on the Caddy. The Dodge Rampage…that went too far the other way. A body not overly rugged, low-slung styling, and by a company whose future was not assured (at that point). And didn’t give it enough time.
This sort of rig would be the second-most practical truck arrangement for the private owner – the first one being something similar to 1980s Japanese trucks, only with, one hopes, more rust protection. But it appears I’m an outlier, and that the market for these isn’t deep.
In putting the Ranchero out to pasture, Ford was betting on something smaller that would do the job. So, they focused on the Mazda-built Courier and their own Ranger trucklet. CAFE standards drove the market. Anyone remember 55 mph freeway speed limits and 85mph max speedometers?
I had the 81 Ford Durango in 2018. I bought it from a guy who obtained it from an estate sale. I loved the fiberglass bed which held out better than the body which had a few areas of rust. I was able to sell it and get my money back. The 3.3L was bogging down at around 50mph. I wasn’t in a position to spend more money on getting it figured out. That engine is good though. I had a good running one in an 81 Mercury Zephyr before.
These late 70s Rancheros look long. A couple of years ago I was kind of interested in a 78/79 Ranchero with a rebuilt motor for about $4500. However, I wasn’t sure, and it was in another state, so I just forgot about it. Ford should have gone with the Fairmont platform. The size was good, and it didn’t look too bad.
IMO the least desirable Ranchero iteration but in that shape, I’d take it. The price is a major sticking point. If he gets that $ he should be awarded salesman of the year.
Seats may be mostly common to a Thunderbird and the wear pattern is that of real leather making them absolutely top of the line, but note that they lack headrests or any sign of ever having had them. That means the seats are original equipment – the Ranchero was legally a truck and they weren’t required on them yet in ’79.
And it was very much the era in which Detroit’s attitude to anything classed as a “safety feature” was “if the gummint doesn’t say you HAVE to have it, you damn well CAN’T have it!”
As long and heavy as this truck’s nose is, I’m surprised it doesn’t tip forward when you hit the brakes.
But no A/C!
It has A/C. How can you miss seeing that big compressor in the engine photos.
Wow, beautiful car and styling. Always loved the long low looks of these cars.
Practical, as well as beautiful 😍
Oh my, ugly as well as expensive. Looks like my ex.
Looks pretty big now that it’s 2022, but in 79 it was what it was. I like it, but $45,000? If I had that$$ I would buy some thing else.
I had a 1979 T-Bird a special edition and a friend of mine had a Ranchero, the exact same trim as this one. At the time they were OK ,for a luxury car. We are both car guys and I don’t think then or now we would say 45 K is a reasonable price for this era . It seems like B/F readers concur.
I had 2 a couple years ago.
A 73 and a 76 one after the other.
Last decent looking year was 76 imop.
The 77-79 last year made were too BIG looking.
Does anyone know what that blue plastic electrical looking coupler (device?) is on the left inner fender? It doesn’t look like it belongs there.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Very practical vehicle, luxurious interior for taking the wife out to dinner and hauling home supplies for the honey-do list. However $45K is a deal breaker. Not too many buyers want or need one of these. That’s probably why they’re not around anymore. Other than the price this is a good looking auto.
Having owned and restored ‘67, ‘70 and ‘72 Rancheros I’ve kept an eye on all Rancheros over the last thirty years. That said, the giant bumper, bloatmobile, locomotive front end Rancheros starting in 1973 and becoming extremely ugly by 1978 were reasons for buyers to go to GM for trimmer and far more attractive utes.
It was inevitable that Ford would have to take the 1978 Ranchero behind the barn and shoot it.
And as always, Ford of Europe and Australia got the best rear drive cars and utes until Ford took the whole Australian operation behind the barn.
Google “Ford FVP” for a glimpse of what Americans were missing and check out the Holden Utes as well..
But again, these last two years of Rancheros were abominations.
I think u mean starting in 77.
77/78/79 were all the same bulbous looking body.
Yep
Thank you.
The ‘73-‘76 “Starsky and Hutch” cars with the giant bumpers were never appealing to me having owned a ‘72 Sports Roof Torino but I know that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
But sales numbers continued to slip for the Torino through the seventies and styling probably had a lot to do with that.
Chrysler and GM managed to integrate the 5 mph bumpers into their cars MUCH better than Ford and I’ve been a “Ford Guy” since 1971.