This one hits #11 on the Want-O-Meter for me. The top car on my master wish list a decade or so ago was a first-generation Falcon, preferably a Ranchero or Sedan Delivery. Sadly, that’s back when they seemed cheap, but as with everything else, prices go up as time marches on. This 1962 Ford Falcon Ranchero is posted here on craigslist in Arlington, Washington, and they’re asking $12,000 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Scott for the tip!
$12,000 in 2025 dollars isn’t unreasonable at all for a nice-looking first-generation Falcon Ranchero. That’s the value that Hagerty lists for a #3 good-condition car, and this one certainly looks at least that nice. It’s maybe a bit too nice for me, but some of those extra flair items can hopefully be removed, such as the faux knock-off wheel covers and the chrome rails on each side of the bed. I love the Raven Black in this case, but there is no bad color for a first-generation Falcon Ranchero.
I’d go with standard black-painted steel rims and dog-dish hub caps, with black wall tires rather than white walls on this one. The chrome rails would go away, and it would also have a red interior. I sure wish we had gotten to see under the tonneau cover to see what the hauling bed looks like. While I’m wishing, an underside photo or two also would have been nice. But, the seller has included more photos than a lot of craigslist sellers, so nice work. The backup light placement is interesting, and that’s factory correct.
I was hoping for a red interior, and the seats appear to have been reupholstered in black vinyl. Bucket seats and a center console, fancy! I’m not sure if that would have been available in the first-generation Falcon Ranchero from what I’ve seen in brochures, but one of you may know for sure. That’s a Falcon Futura feature, and it’s cool as heck. I’d keep it, although a bench seat would work, too. The seller says this Ranchero has been “garaged” for at least the last 35 years, but we don’t know if that means stored and not driven, or just parked inside a garage when not in use. In any case, this looks like a really nice example.
The engine is Ford’s… something; the standard engine was an 85-horsepower 144-cu.in. OHV inline-six, and there was an optional 170 six with 101 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque. I’m going with the 170, but again, one of you will know instantly by looking at this engine. A 260 V8 was available in 1963. This one is backed by a three-speed manual and column shifter, and if 2025 wasn’t a total dumpster fire for income, I’d be on this thing like ______ (insert un-pc phrase here). Any thoughts on this Falcon Ranchero?
I Like it!!! Really nice Falcon Ranchero. My favorite generation as well. The black looks great. And like Scotty said, there is no bad color on these. I agree , a red interior would just look like a million bucks in this one. I like the console, and of course, My Falcon would be a 3 speed stick on the column too. Very nice find here and the price seems very fair too, a rarity in our day.
They had a cool sedan delivery version. 😎 also.
Years ago I remember thinking that the early Falcons were really simple and basic and cheap. That they were. But now, in our world of computers on wheels, that makes them charming. They were pretty good cars for their day and purpose. And I still think their styling looks clean and attractive.
This is a nice Ranchero. I’m with Scotty and Driveinstile, a red interior would be great. I would even be fine with black wheels and dog dishes. And it’s even a three-on-the-tree. Would be fun on those Home Depot runs.
And it could carry a crushed Lincoln with $1,000,000 worth of gold in the trunk and a dead body in the back seat!
You barely beat me too that, but I forgot about the gold, not the body!
Clean Ranchero survivor, and fairly priced. I’m hoping that’s a 170 six cylinder, as they were preppy with a manual 3 speed. Wonder where he got the bucket seats and console, because I dont think they weren’t available in a 1962. On the wrong coast for me.
I was with my mother when she bought a new 62 Falcon Squire and it was equipped with bucket seats and the console, whether it was available in the Ranchero I wouldn’t know for sure but I wouldn’t see why not!
That’s a factory console. Used in Falcons and Comets. It is correct – and pretty rare in a Ranchero. Buckets were also an available, I assume these are the correct ones, but can’t see enough to be sure. The consoles have gotten quite expensive just on their own. The sears were used in a couple different rigs, but the bottom frames/mounting brackets are like hen’s teeth. Because of the unique floor board configuration, it has to be nearly Falcon or Comet to fit properly.
$12k is a lot of money for a 6 cylinder- but it looks pretty nice, and the buckets and console help considerably.
Was this the same type Ranchero or a little later one that hauled away the Lincoln “cube” in Goldfinger? That was unbelievable.
Goldfinger was made in 1964 and released on 09 January, 1965, so I’m guessing that Odd Job’s ride was either a late 1964 or a very early 1965, most likely a ’64 example.
Unbelievable is an understatement! A Lincoln Continental sedan of that era weighed close to three (3) tons (6000 pounds) with full fluids, adding in a million 1964 dollars of gold would add several hundred pounds on top of that. The Ranchero had a rated cargo capacity of 1500 pounds (3/4 ton) tops, so that Ranchero would have broken its back trying to haul that crushed Lincoln back to Goldfinger’s lair! Even an F-350 of the era might not have been able to manage it! Hollywood movie magic, indeed!
My five-year-old self believed it, my retired adult self, with an engineering degree in hand, not so much!
The statuary price of gold in the United States in 1964 was $42 per troy ounce, which was used to set the statutory value of the US dollar, before Richard “Tricky Dick” Nixon ended the convertibility of paper dollars into gold in 1971. So, one million dollars of gold in 1964 was 23, 809.52 troy ounces of gold, or 1,632.653 pounds of gold, more than 3/4 of a ton! The Ranchero wouldn’t have been able to carry just the gold, let alone the gold, the car and the dead body! Of course now that the Federal Reserve has printed many times the number of dollars that were in circulation in 1964, the market price for pure (24 karat) gold is now $3342.64 per troy ounce!
Remember, before “Tricky Dick” came along, printed on every Federal Reserve note were the following words: “Legal for all debts, pubic and private. Redeemable for lawful money at any Federal Reserve Bank.” “Lawful moneys gold and silver coins! At least until Tricky Dick stole the money from us and just gave us worthless paper instead!
You barely beat me too that, but I forgot about the gold, not the body!
Scotty, I am right there with you on this. The 62 is at the top of my wish list. I was born in 62 so that is the year I want but this one is too nice for what I want to do. Narrowed ford 9″ with a healthy 351 Cleveland and 5 speed standard trans and possibly a straight axle in the front. I am actually dealing on a 62 delivery right now with the same plan in mind.
Loving the patina. My changes: wheels and tires (Keystones or keep the dog dishes) and swap in Ford’s 310hp 2.3 ecoboost 4-banger, and keep the 3 on the tree.
The perfect sleeper
A great little truck/car to get into the hobby or just use for an errand car. I agree, take of the chrome rails and hubcaps.
Bunky is right. I had the same console in my 1963 Mercury Comet SR-22. I t was black with a red interior. Bucket seats and a four speed/260 V8. I have no idea if that setup was available in the Ranchero. This would be a great little hauler. GLWTS.
I dont think the Falcon bucket seats and console were available until 1963 in the Falcon Sprints. And I don’t know if they were ever offered in these year Rancheros. But they sure look nice. My dream build would be a 60s Sprint Ranchero with a 260 V8. And an 8.5 or 9″ rear end
i like it. really cool looking but it lost me with the stick shift
Finally a clear enough picture of a Ford with the same hupcaps as my 66 ‘ Mustang.
…..m-m-m-m-m-m…..this Falcon appears to have done service as the all important “Flower Car” within the funeral procession…the hubcaps were merely to “tart her up” and the chrome rails located on the bed were very common on this type of service vehicle….I appreciate the look….