Luxury trucks have always been a bit of a conundrum to me. Aren’t trucks all about utility and durability? When I think of a hard life of towing and hauling junk, the last thing I think of is luxury. I get that if you can only buy one vehicle and absolutely need a truck, a luxurious interior can make it an enjoyable compromise. I imagine the number of buyers looking for such a vehicle has typically been a fairly small group, so it makes sense that few brands have ventured into the market of luxury trucks, although we are seeing more and more new trucks loaded with leather and every other feature imaginable. Most of the luxury trucks we’ve featured over the years have been custom built, but for once we have a genuine factory luxury truck! This Ranchero GT is loaded with the Brougham package, which added Lincoln level interior comfort to the Torino based Ranchero. So if you want a junk hauler with a comfortable ride, you can find this Ranchero here on eBay in Peck, Kansas with an opening bid of $6,500.
This truck really looks to be in great shape inside and out! I’m not too sure about the seller’s opening price of $6,500, but I guess it is one of the nicest Rancheros I’ve seen in a while. There are a few problems though that make me question the price. For one, the engine isn’t original but a rebuilt 351. That might not be a terrible thing, since it means the engine should be in great shape and producing all 150 horses that it would have left the factory with. That really isn’t a lot of power for a vehicle this size, but I think with some work you should be able to squeeze more power from this V8!
The other issue I have is with the custom bed cover, which while it looks cool could cause some moisture issues. Take a look at the area where the cover meets the back of the cab, you’ll notice the bed is higher than the bottom of the window. This could be problematic the cover doesn’t have proper drainage. The seller notes that the cover was custom made by a previous owner who put drainage holes in the front that ran to plastic bottles. It clearly wasn’t meant to see any kind of serious rain, but hopefully it did its job well enough to keep water from pooling against the back window or from draining down onto the floor of the bed. I would want to take a closer look at the cover, the bed and the floor behind the seats.
Now here is what we have all been waiting to see, the interior! This looks like a very comfortable place to be and definitely reminds me of ever ’70s Lincoln I’ve ever been in. I’m a bit curious what that is laying on the driver’s side floor, it looks like a towel to me. Hopefully, it’s just being used as a floor mat to keep the floors from getting tracked up and not there to soak up water or hid some type of issue. While I do find this Ranchero to be surprisingly appealing (just think about cruising to the hardware store in it), I think the seller is going to have to lower the price to find a buyer that needs a luxury truck. So how do you feel about this Brougham?
Nice looking ride, but that wasn’t one of Ford’s better years…nor the LTD II stying one of Ford’s best. Shame too, it’s a gorgeous car. She’d be awfully tempting with a 1970 351 4V under that cowl.
You are right on target with that tasteless styling. 1973 was when Detroit began build cars for our sleazy govermint, and things haven’t been right since.
Hey…I gotta ask…what DO you like? Is there anything on this site you’d actually spend your money on and own?
That is a good question.
Definitely needs better pictures, drivers side interior door handle looks pitted.
Why would water in the bed be such a concern it (and every other truck) is open the the elements?
Because the bed floor isn’t one piece. There’s a seam. Moisture has a way of finding that seam and rusting the whole bed floor out.
Every truck bed has a seam somewhere, walls, wheel wells, trailing edge etc.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/755142-should-i-buy-a-ranchero.html
Great explanation! So the secret is to simply stay up on the maintenance.
Maybe put drain holes in the wells.
Thanks for following up!
I wish you could find trucks with the amenities (or lack there of) of old. These days, even the base models are loaded with stuff and they’re $35K – $45K. I searched forever to find my ’95 Chevy. I wanted the V8/Manual but I wanted a short bed Silverado. It was like trying to find a unicorn. Every dealer had a V6 Cheyenne with an auto. Finally found one at a little dealership out in the country. Cheyenne with a Silverado appearance package. No carpet, manual windows, bench seat, plastic door panels, 350 and a 5 speed. Drove it for almost 20 years and sold it with 327,000 miles. Other than the typical consumables I only had to replace the water pump, the air conditioner compressor and the throw out bearing.
These days you just about have to buy a fleet truck to get one not loaded.
Those seats are out of a bustle-back Continental.
Oh wow I was just thinking the same thing. Those seats are from the bustle back 82 to 87 style Continental.
That is the nicest one I’ve ever seen
Ugly on top of ugly works sometimes, not so much this time, not for me anyway. I never liked this era of Ranchero, at all.
if i bought this i would remove and resell the bed cover to prevent the trapped water issues. i think it looks nice but i would still use it as a work truck. nice find.
nice car. the right mix of work and luxury and the styling is far better than the early seventies models..
First thing to go would be that cover! There has got to be something better than that.
The 78 Mercury Cougar Brougham I had was actually a great highway cruiser. Leisurely, sure, but absurdly comfy for the era.
Always liked these pickup variants, but the front end of the LTD never did it for me. The Cougars lincoln-esq waterfall grill and side by side sealed beams would look much better on this and should be a direct bolt on. Not sure if it’s just nose bumper and hood or if the fenders have to change, but it’d be a pretty easy swap and would have people guessing what the heck it actually was.
I bought a new 1978 Thunderbird, on this same body. In the town I lived, I used to see a Ranchero of this body style with the Thunderbird front end on it; I thought it looked neat; what a shame they couldn’t have put the T-Bird wall to wall taillights on it too, LOL
Agree Jim and all about the “look”….mine is the last one made 5/79 with the same options plus a posi…bought it off the original owner who ordered it ….yes they came with the Brougham package….same as a T-Bird…etc….at $3500 I might be stuck with it….
forgive me for the plug….
We built these at Lorain and one came down the line with a Cougar front end on it looks really sharp.