The 1966 Ford Ranchero is an odd one. After Ford’s unique UTE moved from a full-size platform to the compact Falcon in 1960, it stayed there through 1965, and then something interesting happened for the ’66 model year. And today’s Houston, Texas find is perfectly representative of the mixed-up model year change. This subject truck, according to the seller, has undergone quite a journey so let’s take a closer look. It’s available, here on craigslist for $10,000.

In model year 1967, Ford’s Ranchero was built on the intermediate “Fairlane” platform and looked like an altered Fairlane, the same way a Chevrolet El Camino was an obvious derivative of the Chevelle. The ’66 Ranchero, however, wore the Fairlane’s side and rear sheet metal, was built on the Fairlane platform but still used the Falcon’s front clip just as it did in ’65 when the Ranchero was built on the Falcon’s smaller 109″ wheelbase platform. It was a Falcon upfront/Fairlane in the rear mash-up. The extra size appears to have helped with the sales, however, as the ’65 Falcon-based Ranchero sold about 10.5K copies and the larger ’66 edition doubled that number to 21K units.

The seller of this Ford states, “It has been quite a journey from a car in pieces with rust in the bed and flimsy floorboards to get it to the condition that our Ranchero is in today“. Apparently, rust and lots of it was this car’s biggest headache but it appears to have been well mended. The finish is claimed to be a respray of its original Dark Cherry Metallic and it looks good – especially in contrast to the brightly polished stainless trim. The chrome-plated aftermarket wheels are a matter of choice but I would suggest that there are many worse options that could have been chosen.

Interestingly, the original 200 gross HP, 289 CI V8 engine is still working under the hood and appears to be in non-modified application – no one has messed with it! Obviously, the air cleaner is not a born-with item but originality abounds beyond that. Considered to be “peppy”, the seller adds, ” The engine has had some attention paid to it & at only 77k miles it is running fine. What’s new? Water pump, plug wires, belts, hoses, and the fuel pump. The motor is tuned & has new plugs, points, condenser, and cap as well as a new dual exhaust to let the engine breathe easily“. A C-4 automatic transmission makes the rear axle connection.

Inside is a simple arrangement and it is stated, “A good look inside of this vintage Ranchero reveals that it is a driver and that it has a couple of rough spots and a piece or 2 missing. BUT…only 77,988 miles AND it’s all-original“. The odometer reflects the 77K mile recording but there is no documentation authenticating that reading. I would say all-in-all, it looks pretty good. The steering wheel center is missing (though included in the sale), the door cards are wrinkled and there is a small chunk of vinyl missing from the driver’s side backrest but those items are, as the seller states, “small stuff“.

If I compare this Ranchero to the full-on ’67 Fairlane edition, I think I actually like this Falcon/Fairlane version better – and it’s just appearance preference as the Fairlane’s stacked headlights aren’t my favorite.  Here’s a walkaround video that will give you a little better idea of this car’s condition. Seems like a reasonable price to me, what’s your thought?