- Seller: Matt L (Contact)
- Location: Corona, California
- Mileage: 37,163 Shown
- Chassis #: OR27S154615
- Title Status: Missing
- Engine: 144-cubic-inch Inline-6
- Transmission: Automatic
Even those who loathe the Blue Oval must admit that Ford’s product planners were good at their jobs in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. They found niches before anyone else and they improved upon niches that others found. The four-seat Thunderbird, the Mustang, the LTD, and the Ranchero were just four examples of certified Dearborn hits. Of course, the Ranchero must tip its hat to the Australians, who really hatched the idea long before, but Ford decided that a small car/truck just might be the kind of utility vehicle people didn’t know they wanted. It didn’t sell spectacularly well, but it did average about 20,000 units a year from 1960 to 1962. It was cheap, it was useful, and it was appealing in its simplicity, and those same traits make it a fun collector car (truck) today. These two Falcon Ranchero restoration projects are being offered as a Barn Finds Auction from Corona, California. You can make one good one out of two, or keep one and sell the other to recoup some of your investment.
The Ranchero was based, of course, on the new 1960 Falcon. Although the Ranchero had been around in full-size form since 1957, the Falcon-based model allowed Ford to rebrand the Ranchero as an extremely inexpensive new hauler, with a base price of only $1,882. It also benefited from Falcon economy, with Ford bragging of fuel mileage of up to 30 miles per gallon. It wasn’t going to haul as much as an F-Series pickup, but its six-foot bed was long enough to be useful for average-sized loads.
One thing the new Ranchero was NOT was fast. Neither of these two Rancheros are runners, but Ford’s rugged little six was simple and durable, so there’s an even chance that you could get these old Fords running with the usual tune-up parts and fuel system ministrations. The seller doesn’t know which engines are under the hood of each, but the white Ranchero (which appears to be a ’61) has a red valve cover and air cleaner, which indicates that it’s the optional 101-horsepower 170. This truck has a three-speed manual transmission.
The light blue Ranchero is a 1960 model, and they had the Falcon’s 144-cubic-inch six, which produced 90 horsepower; this one is channeled through the two-speed Fordomatic and a 3.56:1 rear axle ratio.
The nice thing about these two Rancheros is that they are mostly complete, but they will need a lot of work before hitting the road with a load in the bed. As you can see in the pictures below, there is some rust on both, but it is western rust and not salt-belt rust (and there’s a big difference). I for one think that these Falcon Rancheros are handsome little pickups with a lot of potential. If you’re looking for a neat pair of restoration projects, bid now!
Bid On This Auction
Jbkma bid $500.00 2025-06-17 10:36:19
[email protected] bid $200.00 2025-06-12 00:48:37
This is NOT a RANCHERO, maybe, ? a Falcon Ranchero!
How about, since most of you car guys seem to know a lot about
vehicles, we start calling these vehicles what they are relative to how they were originally sold, as I believe there is/would be a cost difference between the two, Ranchero/Falcon Ranchero.
Yes, it is a technicality. Ouch, glad we’re not playing Automotive Jeopardy…what would call a “Ranchero” version of a Comet (not Mercury Comet of that era) or if Ford had unleashed a Canadian Ranchero under the Mercury PU line up.
Was called a Ranchero, if your a car guy you know which platform the manufacturer used for the year . Chevy never called their downsize a Chevelle El Camino, nor a Fairlane Ranchero. Yes it is built on the Falcon platform for 5 years. Before a full size Ford, later intermediates. Is what it is They fit the bill as pickup trucks were still trucks yet.
they were just called a ranchero I’m a car guy and was driving when they were new saw them on the show room floor and yes I’m a Ford guy
Just don’t call it a Falchero.
please don’t call it a truck either. It’s truly just a Falcon wagon with half the roof lopped off.
Shall we get into a discussion of the first forward-control Econolines sold in the United States? Marketed by Ford in the first few years (concurrently with this Ranchero) as Falcon Club Wagons and pickups?
These are heavy haulers as evidenced in the movie Goldfinger where one hauls a Lincoln Continental crushed to a cube along with a gangster and a million in gold with nary a spring sagging.
Works like a truck. Rides like a car.
Dad wanted one of these for a project, but alas, he paid 3 tuitions instead. After that, restored examples were really expensive.
Always had a soft spot for these year Rancheros. Lots of work to bring one of these back again, and there are better, already driver examples out there.
These are perfect performance projects. Everything that you can do to an early Mustang you can do to these. Since the Mustang is a Falcon with a different body. 5 lug wheels, disc brakes, V8 engine 5 speed gearbox, and all the suspension goodies available. If my project list wasn’t already full. I would be “doing” a Falcon Ranchero.
My dream truck is a mid 60s Falcon Sprint Ranchero with a 289 V8 5 lug and manual trans. These 4 lug sixes would take too many modifications to get there. That, and it’s in California.
I’m probably in the minority here. But if I had one, restored, I’d want it to be bone stock, straight 6 3 speed manual trans on the column steelies with hub caps and white walls. I just like them that way.
I totally agree that also just what I would do
We had a Falcon wagon of the same year down under when I was a kid. This car would be worth way more in Australia than it is in the US. These are still highly regarded and sought after back home.
This basic body style was carried over in Argentina until 1977! That’s how popular they were in South America as well.
Yea, it’s crazy. Longer than 1977 though. They actually produced them up to 1991 with mostly just cosmetic changes. I live in the south of Brazil and I’ve actually seen them in Argentina and have an Argentinian friend here who recently sold his, a 1991 that looks nearly the same as the one my dad had in the late 60s. Freaky. They also used Peugeot 504s as taxis long after the rest of the world had moved on from the 504. (I haven’t, I love the 504). Google Argentinian Falcon.
as one who likes to flip cars for a little profit these would be kind of fun to tackle depending on the reserve price and what it would cost to get them shipped the 1000+ miles to my house. get them both running and driving and get them up for sale again in time for hot August nights car show but with my work schedule they would become back yard ornaments and who knows how long it would take me to get them on the road good luck to the seller
I’m not sure I’d spend more than what it would take to wake these cars back up mechanically. They’d be interesting daily drivers!
:-)
all ways wanted to do one SCCA livery (use stang GT equipment). Lower it, breaks, suspension, 1/4 tub for 3, 4 inch wider tire, etc. Use the 4L or 250 motor I got in my 1st gen bronk but w/this head:
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package … Too late now. Gunna keep the bronk nother 43 yrs.
I Ioved the meatier, Torino platform Rancheros even more than the Falcon Rancheros. 1969-71 V8s, PS, PB and front disc’s and cold AC.
I had a ’71 that was in excellent shape except for the original paint. I only had it for a year or 2 and it made it through a wild fire untouched except for the embers that ended up in the bed. (close one)
I sold it and made a good money on it. But should never have sold it.