If you were considering buying a Ford Ranchero back in 1971, this car was virtually as good as it got back then. This 1971 Ranchero is a Squire that was built with the optional 429-4V Cobra Jet Ram-Air engine. The original engine has long since departed, but this Ranchero may still represent a good project. You will find it listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the car is offered with either a notarized Bill of Sale or current registration. The seller has set a BIN price of $7,500 for the Ranchero, although the option is available to make an offer.
It has certainly come a long way since it was bright and shiny and new, and those miles have not been kind to the Ranchero. Originally starting out painted Dark Metallic Green with a black vinyl top, there are only small glimpses of its former glory visible today. The seller leaves no doubt that this car will require a full restoration. While the body appears to be quite straight and still retains some nice little touches such as the hidden headlights, other items such as the original tinted glass and the exterior wood trim are either missing or are damaged beyond repair.
Things aren’t a lot better inside, and you can see substantial rust present in the floors. We don’t get any indications regarding the condition of the car structurally, so that’s a great unknown. What we do know is that the car comes with the original dash with the VIN. Otherwise, items such as the power driver’s bench seat are also missing, along with the remainder of the interior trim.
The engine bay of this Ranchero is currently empty, but the news isn’t all bad. There is an engine that comes with the car, and it is a 429 Cobra Jet, but it was removed from a ’71 Torino. The hood shaker is also included, along with a transmission (not sure if it is the same as the original C6) along with the original 9′ rear axle. The front disc brakes are still in place, but these will certainly require replacement. Otherwise it’s pretty much the case of “what you see is what you get.”
The new owner of this Ranchero is certainly going to require a stout heart to tackle this project. There is basically nothing on the car that isn’t going to require rebuilding, refurbishing, reconditioning or replacing. For me the biggest hurdle on this car is not the sheer amount of work that it is going to require, it is the fact that the original engine is gone. There is no denying that the lack of a numbers matching engine is going to have a negative impact upon the value of the finished project. Is that enough to negatively impact this project, or should it be full steam ahead on a restoration?
No windows and parked on dirt? Good luck.
This looks like a pretty rough project, but I’m just here shaking my head in amazement that you could buy a Ranchero with a 429, a shaker scoop, AND fake woodgrain on the sides. That’s wild.
The shaker shown in the ad is for a 69-70 Mustang, not a 70-71 Torino. The “Ram Air” hood is no big deal, there is nothing special about it, all you need to make one is a good flat hood, patience and a tool of your choice to cut the hole.
The ad has been removed, but didn’t sell, at least on eBay. The price had been lowered to $6,500, which might have motivated someone if the engine included in the sale is a genuine 429 Cobra Jet. I’d be surprised if the VIN didn’t wind up on another body down the road.
Steve R
Yeah, now the price has dropped to $6000. In this case, it seems that you’re buying a VIN tag and a unspecified 429 from a Torino, which most likely needs an entire rebuild. If only 20 were made the way this one came from the factory, someone will probably feel it’s a worthwhile project. But these don’t get the kind of money that El Camino’s do, so who knows. I certainly pass….
Thanks Steve R. the “shaker”ram-air and accessories for the Torino are rare pieces, and is the cowl still there…..
I am more interested in the little black hatchback in the weeds. Can anyone identify it?
Gen 4 Camaro…
As far as the Ranchero, seems like a lot of $$, but these days rare does equate to a higher price.
Would be quite the looker restored.
Ah,Camero?
I was amazed to see that a 1971 Ford had a 4 valve engine, so I looked it up. The 4v refers to the carburetor venturis and not the valves. As well the only 4v engine I could find was the 460, not the 429.
I think his mention of the 4v was to indicate the 429 included in the sale isn’t a Cobra Jet engine. The passenger car 429 4bbl engine was available in Torino’s, not just Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet 429’s. The 2v and 4v terms are pretty well understood in Ford circles to signify the number of venturies on the carb. Luckily that usage didn’t migrate beyond the Ford brand but it’s easy to see how it can now create confusion with modern cylinder head layouts.
Steve R
$7500.00 is almost laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic. 😂😭
A family member in California had an early 70s Ranchero with a 400 engine. Holy moly did that car go. So I can’t imagine how fast a 429 would be. It makes me sad to see a once great car in this condition.
Gee, the one I considered buying in 1971 had an interior and glass. Even better, it was parked in a showroom.
Pass…
shes A Ruffian…shame….see lots of rot, and as one of the guys pointed out sitting on the ground…SMH….
Cheers
GPC
You gotta quit doing that. I see the headline: “429-4v beast” and jump at the listing thinking, “wow, this could be a rare one”.
Then I find out it’s all beast and no 429. Bummer…..
October, 1972; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I remember it as clear as a bell, we were at a weekend get together for some of my Dad’s Army buddies.They were mostly still in their early 50’s and still had some partying power left in them.i was on my way to 16 and my drivers license in a couple months.
The motel complex was fairly large with open air parking, terraces and a pool in the center; like a million others across the country at that time.
We had arrived Friday night as did any other families. Some guys- mostly without a spouse or family, dribbled in on Saturday morning And it was a very crisp bright day. We had just walked back from breakfast at the attached restaurant, talking and laughing as the sidewalk neared the steps to the second floor.
Suddenly a horn blew long and loud, and Charlie Rose swung into a parking spot right beside us. Charlie was a successful insurance man, recently divorced and full of life and laughter. He was driving a brand spanking new 1972 Ford Ranchero, bright orange, wood appliqués on the sides and a flat black hood with a scoop.He has just picked it up at the dealer and drove down from Cleveland. The interior was black with bucket seats, an 8-track tape player and really thick carpet. The door interiors were fancy scroll with wood and chrome. Damn it was beautiful. Charlie, deservedly so, was proud as hell.
That car is burned in my memory because it was so flashy and sleek.Right then and there I would’ve donated a kidney to call it mine. Funny, when I look at this one, 46 years old, tired and sitting down in the weeds, I wonder what it looked like that October, 1972. I’ll bet it was a head-turner. Old Charlie would be in his late 90’s now if he’s still alive. If he is, I hope he still has his beauty…..
absolutely absurd price!
That nine foot rear axle is an extremely rare option (original 9′ rear axle) so probably worth all the money :-)
There must be somebody dumb enough to actually buy this thing this thing! It’s apparently sold already? I see nothing worth saving!
I guess I’m the dumb one, but I did graduate high school, and went on to go to an automotive trade school, then took a college course. It will look good next to my other 71 ranchero GT with the 429cj. And I have the correct Torino shaker scoop. By the way “wrong way” did you realize that you said “this thing” twice? and I’m the dumb one.
Be kind, crush it. It will have a new life as Fusion.
October 1972….let me tell you….it sat in that driveway on my paper route….it was a street next to the last on a circle….pretty sure it was a green with that wood grain and shaker out of the hood man what a neat Ranchero….it was sooo cool – my dad at the time had started buying/selling earlier El Caminos so was pretty up on the competition . At about the same time my buddies brother has an 1970 SS 454 El Camino with the cowl induction and vinal top that ran down the side of the bed all the way to the tailgate…sadly he wrecked that SS
Whoever bought this car bought it for the 429 j code and the 9 inch rear. Both are almost impossible to find and command big bucks. The 429 cj was the best engine I ever owned. Out run many a police with it.
Crush it. Without the original motor it is not even worth the scrap price. Too far gone to be restored.
Needs to be crushed save only the hood
desirable stuff is often brought back from Zero…inexpensively…over many years…with out alot of originality ( ‘numbers match’, concourse correct, etc). Some of this is done by folks in the trade, ‘enthusiasts’, hobbyists, and the like. Never by flippers due to time constraints.
I’d rather get something from the former rather than the latter due to the amount of heart involved. The history (who owned it, where its been, which track it ran on, etc) is the least of my interests. But in these same terms “history” – I like pivotal models, items that show transitions in the industry, etc.
Glad there’s chocolate as well as vanilla – that way we all get choices.
Nother great find Adam.
Can U show us some of the mid early 60s – late 70s muscle from Down Under?
You are right, somebody can take this car and bring it back to have a nice car, with time and effort.
What get me is that it looks like it was a parts car for another project and now they are asking a done price for it.
Imagine buying a parts car for $500.00, taking everything off you want, and then asking $7500.00 for the rest.
Thanks’Big Al’,sounds like a nice Ranchero! I have a brother that still has a ‘70 Torino 429 Cobra with ‘ram-air’ shaker hood,an original car,from California loaded with options,my Dad gave him the keys in 1980 when we were just teenagers! Dubbed the Snake!
I have one same thing bb 429 c6 9″ wood squire. Needs restored. N code car. cal. car La craigs. 3/19 2022