This Ranchero could make a fun parts hauler. It has a 260 V8 and runs and drives, but obviously needs some work. A few spare parts and a clean title are included. It’s located in Hays, Kansas and William C. is asking $2,995. You can contact him using the form below if interested. Thanks for listing this with us William! If any of you have a project like this that you are thinking about selling, please consider having it featured here on Barn Finds!
William doesn’t offer much information, but this Ranchero looks complete and like a decent project. The interior can best be described as dusty. After a good cleaning, you could use it as is and it actually wouldn’t be too bad.
The 260 is also dusty, but is said to run. Again, a good bath would go a long ways here. It looks like this Ranchero started life in a color other than red. Based on the inner fenders, I would say it was originally Wimbledon White, which just happens to be my favorite Ford color! But the bottom of the hood and cowl look to be painted turquoise, so who knows what color it originally was. If you are into patina, you would always leave the paint alone, but that will be up to the next owner to decide.
It’s definitely going to be a project, but this looks like the kind of project you could drive while you work on it. Heck, you could drive even haul the parts you need to restore in the back of it right now (it looks like it already has a few parts already in there). And given the current condition, you have all kinds of options for it. You could clean it up and drive it as is, give it a full restoration or customize it with a bigger engine and a 4-speed. Again, special thanks to William for listing this Ford with us!
Asking Price: $2,995
Location: Hays, Kansas
Title Status: Clean
I am not a Ford guy, but these have always been a cool little ride. The price seems attractive IMHO and will make a sweet project for somebody. These were dead nuts simple to work on. The only down side (Minor) is that is the SAME front end and suspension and brakes design as early Mustangs and ironically the Novas-ChevyII
(Some parts interchange). If it were me,, I would investigate carefully removing the stock parts and bag & tag them, (SAVE) and install a Mustang II Rack and pinion kit as well as a Disc brake Front kit and upgrade the rear drums to Station wagon along with a manual proportioning valve.
But this is a sweet little ride. I dont care for white (Only for 2 tones and rally stripes) but these look very attractive in Red. I came very close in mid 1990s to buying one like this, but just did not have the cash at the time.
As this one sits right now it is a good town driver and I have looked into a complete drivetrain upgrade to make it a much more pleasant road car but I just lost interest in doing it and figured with the good overall condition of the structure I should move it along to someone with the passion to do it right instead of watching it deteriorate in my driveway
Ahh, now this is a project I could get behind! Unlike the Chrysler pimpmobile, this has style, and character. At this stage in life, it’s pretty much a blank canvas. I like how these early Rancheros look great restored, hot rodded, or IMO, left in it’s current exterior condition.
It’s a fair driver as is , I have accumulated a few extra parts for it and it has new dual exhaust. The brakes need replaced so I have found an 8 inch rear differential with 5 lug axles and a disc brake set up off a mid 70’s Granada for the 5 lug front disc brake
I dont want to sound negative but until you have owned a car with this suspension design its hard to fully grasp how bad the front ends are. I have had Mustangs as well as several early Nova/ChevyII and best example I can give is look up Fred Puhns book on suspension.
See: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Your-Car-Handle/dp/0912656468
He discussed this design as truly defective. The reason I sold my cars while I loved them I was just done with the pucker factor. Nothing is worse than a hot car with scary brakes and suspension. (Death trap on wheels).
What happens is in a corner the camber actually shifts, the wheels tilt and you end up with a contact patch the size of a US 25 cent piece, There is no fixing it. (I spent a lot of time and money trying) The only fix is a completely different design and that is easy, not too expensive and readily available these days. That would make this car a pleasure to drive with the mods I suggested. And, if done right, is all bolt on stuff so originality is preserved.
As to the later rear diffs… Those are attractive as the later Ford 8.8 come with different gearing, traction loc or posi, and disc brakes as well as a LOT lighter than a tradition 9″ or other old school choices. (Unsprung weight is a huge improvement). But a simple change to station wagon heavy duty drums is easier and probably cheaper??? Keep in mind my suggestion of the brake proportioning valve. Virtually no weight in the back end means expensive disc upgrades are largely Superfluous/unneccesary. Discs actually have less contact surface than a drum and only excel in heat dissipation/fade. Since 70% of your braking is in the front (Probably more on this car) save the money and invest in good shocks and improved sway bars F&R and suspension bushings.
Inside the door jams it looks as if the red is flaking to reveal to turquoise. Possibly a two tone white with turquoise which I think would look nice. I agree with Doug about the steering, suspension, and brakes. If it’s running well, keep the 260, but I would really like a 4 speed. A slight resto-mod.
I have a t-5 at my transmission shop out of a mid 80’s s-10 that I was considering installing
One of our car cruise buddies has a 65 with a 302 4 speed ( Acapulco Blue ) with torq thrust wheels. These Rancheros are really sharp when done right. I wish I could handle another project I would be looking in to this.
Body is solid I wish I had the time to finish it ….. the whole front end is without rust or damage which anyone who knows these little gems is rare
Hi William, great little truck you have. Rare indeed. Not many were sold in the Midwest,( full size pickups were the norm, and still are, for that matter) and the ones that were sold, were just delivery or service vehicles and over worked and rusted away. Doug is a bit brash, but what he says does have some merit. We’re used to our cushy cars today, and driving this, especially with the V8, which I feel is too much for the stock suspension, will produce some tense moments. They were never meant to barrel down the freeway at 75mph, or some twisting back road. One side of town, to the other really is what they were for. The 6 did just fine for that. Doug’s updates would indeed transform this into a 70 mph cruiser, but I don’t know if it would be the same car. I’d love to have it.
Should have the standard 1964 260 v/8 emblem like a Mustang and not the earlier 1963 Fairlane badge. Like it though….
We had the wagon. Hated riding in it as I typically got car sick on any trip longer than 30 minutes
Years ago I did the Shelby conversion on the front end of my ’65 Mustang coupe. The kit included anti camber wedges that went between the upper control arm and the ball joint. This made a huge improvement even with only the stock front sway bar. I could really control the car with the throttle and the car cornered a lot flatter.
My hubby had a 64 falcon sprint with a 289 when we were dating many moons ago. His was a convertible. Something happeed to the engine so his mom traded it in while he was away in the service. Such a shame because it was an awsomne car.
This looks like a nice project. I love the bedroom carpet! ( not ). Third pedal is a plus. As to the suspension, there were many upgrades available for these back in the day ( camber wedges ) larger sway bars etc. We found though that just adjusting the camber slightly negative improved handling noticeably. I would restore this bone stock except I’d make it a floor shift.
A 1964 Ranchero wagon was featured in the 1964 movie “Goldfinger”. It was the vehicle used by Goldfinger’s right hand man “Odd Job”, to haul away the crushed brand-new 1964 Lincoln.
Someone needs to go ahead and buy this so I stop looking at it!
Neat little car although at 6’4″, I don’t think I’d fit in one of these very well.
As for the front suspension, it can easily be tweaked to handle better. The aforementioned ‘Shelby drop’ is easy and effective and there are a lot of aftermarket kits out there these days that handle quite well (Total Control Products, Street or Track, etc.).
The local alignment guy ’bout pooped a brick sideways when I brought my ‘Stang in to get adjusted. They HATE doing those Shelby mods.
“Title Status: Clean”
Well, at least it’s a start.
I think that this is like not real to me! I lived in and around Hays for 20 years! I know the history on this ride! LOL, Dejavu !
That’s funny I’ve had it for around 15 years and just watched it sit most of the time
Yeah, but I am sure that it’s the same one the only one around Hays! I am trying to think what the guys name was that used to drive it! I am old and my memory slips occasionally but that little truck is a part of my past maybe before you owned it!