Do you ever scratch your head while looking at some cars wondering the history of that vehicle could be? Well this ’57 Ranchero is described as a native California car, but the rust in this old pick up is more than what you think California could produce. Despite the rust concerns, the body is quite straight, and seems to have been a solid working vehicle up until it was garaged. Currently not running, this Ranchero is quite stylish, and even boasts a bigger engine than its factory unit. Offered for an opening bid of $3,800, this old Ford could make a great utilitarian classic project. Check it out here on ebay out of Garrison, Iowa.
With the factory heart removed, a larger and more modern 351 V8 has been swapped into this Ranchero certainly offering a bit more “umph” from the towing and load perspective. The front clip has been described as rust free, and from what we can see of the engine compartment it would certainly seem that way. The engine is not currently running, but is not seized up either. Perhaps with a bit of tinkering and fluids this old engine would run again.
The interior is lacking its carpet and door panels, but the bench seat and dash components are in place. There are a few cracks in the steering wheel, and the bench seat is ripped in the shoulder area. There is a large patch in the driver floor, and there are some pin holes to be found on the transmission tunnel as well as in the passenger side floor.
As a whole the body appears quite straight with no major dents or dings. Rot can be found in the lower portion of the inner body panels as well as in the bed itself.
The bed has been repaired in two places with two large patches, but the exterior of the bed appears in very reasonable shape. The lower portion of the quarters have some rot, and there is some rust along the rear apron of the bed. Also the tailgate looks to have been repaired before, but appears to be a solid unit for the most part. I personally really like the styling of the early Ford Ranchero’s and often think that it’s a shame that there aren’t as many on the road. This particular Ranchero may not be the truck for a concourse restoration, but it is certainly worth getting back on the road and enjoying. Would you save this Ranchero?
Nope
since the experts did such a fine job of picking that 57 chev apart[ elcamino] lets see them tear a strip out of this ford I had a 57 ranchero 292 stick, it was my walking car! go some place break down walk home! I burnt it in a gravel pit to get rid of it!
California rust? I wouldn’t be surprised if the bed got rusty after being used as a pool cleaning service vehicle. It was pretty common for SoCal pickups to have their beds rotted out.
Stick the truck by the coast somewhere and the tin worm will get in…
One of the rust spots on this generation of Fords is just behind the front wheel openings. Crud gets stuck between the inner and outer fenders and blocks the drains. I’ve seen this on a number of SoCal cars I repaired during my misspent youth.
One of my bucket list cars but……..if this was a California car it lived , parked at Swamis for thirty years ….lol….someone has already had their way with poor old gal….but keep finding the ’57 Ranchero’s…I ve got an itch.
The blue Calif plate is about 1979-80, so it may be from another state
Way bucket list car for me too Woodie. Didn’t that guy Barry on that Storage Locker show have a 57 Rancho?
Hmmm…..don’t know :)
Could have been in one of the Mountainous Snow areas, Big Bear/Lake Arrowhead or maybe the beach? Venice? We have lots of climates in California….Not just Rose Parade blue sky day.
I say let the rat rodders have it. It would take so much to repair the body correctly you may as well just make it into something odd/interesting and be done with it. The rear wheel wells are already cut out and it has extensive rust in the floors and bed. Sad it got this way but, it could enjoy a new life as a rat rod cruiser. It’s better than it becoming a parts car.
Those blue license plates were issued in the early-1970’s, or later. There is a good chance that was when the car was first entered the state.
Steve R
I don’t normally say this, but this looks like just the thing to restomod. Keep it all Ford though.
I really like 57 Fords. I had a 57 Fairlane 2 door hardtop. It was black with black tuck n roll interior. I bought it with no engine or trans for $50 back in 74. I had a 64 352 with 3 speed manual trans to put it, but alas destiny called and I moved from California to Oregon for a new job.
The fenders behind the headlights aren’t rusted out. That tells me not a rust belt car. Three winters of salt would show that on late ’50’s fords.
Candidate for a body transplant to a later model frame?
I agree, Dave. If anybody came from where they use salt, they would know this didn’t come from there. ’57 Fords were some of the worst rusters, and I remember entire headlight assembly’s gone. That tail gate, as well. It’s amazing this car even has one at all. I heard they are pretty rare.
Instant collectable. These were scarce to begin with, and the ones that did sell, rusted away. Ranchero’s are hot right now, and are already out of my league with Falcon Ranchero’s, my favorite besides these ’57’s, are already approaching 10g’s. I say this is a super deal, and here’s my wild idea of a resto-mod for this,,,an original straight 6!
I’ve seen plenty of rust come out of California – it depends on where the car is from in that state.
Save all the old Fords if possible if only for the parts. Rube, enjoyed the picture of your old Pete, will try to post one of my K W 900-A when appropriate.
Thanks man, the “Dubja 9” was my 2nd favorite truck. Love to see it. There’s a guy in my town that has an old “butterfly hood” Pete water truck, ’60’s maybe, been sittin’ a while. My 1st semi I drove for a friend was ’76 W-900, single “coffin”, 350 Cummins, 13, and “torture bar” ride suspension and manual steering. That was learning the hard way. It looked very similar to this, I’m sure you recognize this rig!
http://pics.imcdb.org/2/i010238.jpg
Geez! Even the rust has rust on this crapbox.
We own a 57 chero’ brought it with us from northern Ca.
It had rust too,even in drier climates 57 fords rusted…sometimes badly.
the rust is starting to come back again..here in Ohio..!
The bed floor,,left unsealed will allow massive amounts of
water into interior floors rusting out floor pans.The
tailgates are almost always rusty,..as well as the stock rear wheel
arches/rockers on these 57’s.They are really fun,and handy,
and always draw a crowd.I love 57 Fords,we own a Skyliner
also.Even with the rust issues,I’d rather see it be saved,
and enjoyed by someone than parted out,I’d also
rather see it more than another famous 57 vehicle..!
No where in the add does it say this was a southern California car. Contrary to popular opinion, California is not “Baywatch” or something. It rains heavily in the north, with snow in the mountains statewide. Be wary of the “California Car” listing that implies there is no rust, it means nothing.
in the write up it is mentioned that it is missing it’s carpet, most likely, being a ” work truck” it didn’t have carpet, but, rubber mats , the door panels are easy to find
When I was a kid there was a family in the old hometown that had a Ranchero similar to this, and a ’57 Four-door sedan. They were both well optioned, including matching wheel covers and the same tu-tone green paint jobs. The oldest boy in the family took the Ranchero out to the farm (where it is today) and is doing a full body-off restoration. The car (unfortunately) got used and traded, then traded again, and probably is living a new life as a washer-drier combination in some suburban household. The boy once told me that if he had another chance, he would’ve latched onto the car as well. Both were powered by 292 motors and automatics.
Cars from the west side of San Francisco Bay were often rust rot plagued, due to the salt air from both the bay on the east side and the ocean on the west…
Sometimes you could almost taste the salt in the fog……..
@Doug, you are absolutely correct on that as I have bought cars out of the Bay area and sold more to buyers in the S.F. Bay area. I am in the CA central valley and you don’t see many classics all rusted, some surface rust is normal but this Ranchero could have come from any west coast location Humbolt to Orange County and lower.
On these ’57 Fords I have a real liking since a HS buddy drove a ’57 Fairlane 500 softtop, was so much fun back in the day cruising before and after school, top down cool days as well as sunny days!
Those discussing license plates are generally correct. Using the plates as a guide, the car was registered 10 years after it was built in California, leading one to think that the rust came to the state from elsewhere. You’d be amazed what’s running around on the street out here. Pass on this one.
Obliviously has not spent it’s life in CALI from the rust on the car. Maybe a parts vehicle, nothing else. Renovation would cost a fortune……..
Working on mine now,texas car,I installed 390 4 speed.Been waiting for this car since 1970!!
All 57 Fords were good looking, but RUST took a toll on them all. I really wonder how many 57’s still survive today.
With the steel strike of 1956 Ford used a lot of Japanese steel of inferior quality, thus a lot of ’57 and /58’s rusted pretty fast. A weak spot is over the headlights where the mud collected and usually rusted thru. This car looks pretty clean considering and the original engines had plenty of soup. I had 2 with the y block 312 cu in. and nobody ever run me over.
I don’t think it’ll ever look like gaspump’s above.
Gimme the ’60 – ’63 model (or even up to ’65) any day.
Some upgrades for rally or pylons, co-exist as DD. Now that
I’d like. Its for parts if askin me…
Any vehicle that sits for long periods of time anywhere on the coast will rust like cancer. that car is done
A drinking buddy of mine had one of these back in ’75. His was blue and
white with a matching interior (very well worn) It also ran a ’58 Mercury
410 cube V-8 that ran a pretty hot cam and solid lifters. This was mated
to a 3-speed (?) stick with O.D. His had a ’58 hood complete with scoop–
which he made functional! Sadly, the truck was worked to death. But how
did we know?…it was just another old truck.