Most of us have heard of Marti Reports in regard to Ford vehicles, but some of us may not know the story behind this company, including its founder, Kevin Marti. It’s interesting, and this rust-free 1979 Ford Ranchero 500 has a Marti Report as part of the seller’s photo gallery. They have this LTD II-based Ranchero posted here on craigslist in beautiful Northeast Phoenix, Arizona, and they’re asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
Beautiful, and I don’t know too many folks who would refer to the last generation of the Ranchero, based on the LTD II, as being beautiful – other than me, I mean. The two-tone paint scheme is Light Chamois and Burnt Orange Glow, sort of like a leisure suit my dad had in this era. We know the exact color due to the Marti Report, of course. Here it is, although it was a tiny photo and basically unreadable, so I enlarged it a bit, making it somewhat pixelated. Maybe the seller would send a bigger copy to any interested parties. Kevin Marti started selling Ford restoration parts in 1982 as a side business, and it blossomed into a name known around the world. His company has access to the entire Ford production database between the years 1967 and 2017 (!), so if you have a couple’three hundred bucks and want a detailed history report of your Ford, check out their website.
According to the Marti Report, this Ranchero 500 originally had “hubcaps and trim rings,” and the wheels have been changed to the current Magnum 500 chrome wheels. The last gasp for the legendary Ranchero came between 1977 and 1979, and the tailgate appears to have the only ding or other issue on the exterior of this example, at least from what we can tell from the photos. The Ranchero 500 was the base model, if there was such a thing. There was also a Ranchero Squire with woodtrain exterior trim and a Ranchero GT, which required male drivers to have a permanent, a mustache, and to wear a cowboy hat at all times. Here’s a fun brochure showing the ’79 Rancheros.
The seller says this was originally an Idaho car and is rust-free, the two best words in all of autodom. The steering wheel is great, although I’m personally not a fan of the fat cover on it, which isn’t factory spec. This car doesn’t appear to have power windows or a power seat, both of which were optional. The “Chamois Vinyl Flight Bench Seat” (MT on the Marti Report) looks great in the photos. Why is the word flight in there? I’ve seen that before on bench seat descriptions, and this one has a split back with a fold-down armrest in the center.
Sadly, with all of the good photos, the seller didn’t bother to pop the hood to show us diehard gearheads the most important part of any vehicle: the engine. This one is Ford’s 351-cu.in. Cleveland OHV V8. Originally with a two-barrel carburetor, it now has a four-barrel carb and intake, according to the seller’s listing. The two-barrel version had 150 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by an FMX automatic sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says they drive it at highway speeds every day, and it works great. Hagerty is at $9,600 for a #3 good-condition example; this seems like a bargain at $7,500 to me. Have any of you gotten a Marti Report for your Ford?
To answer your question SG, yes I have a Marti Report for my 1979 Mustang. I have the documents mounted on a high-quality display board, which I have on the garage wall with the car. I can also display it with the car at shows.
Several years ago I heard Kevin Marti make a presentation on how he came to be able to access the info. It’s a great story. It took a long time (years), and was full of twists and turns, dead ends, dealing with corporate bureaucracy, and such. But I’m glad he persevered, and I’m sure other Ford owners are thankful for his efforts.
Back to the Ranchero…. like other Fords of this time period, they certainly lost something with the big bumpers. That said, these Rancheros have a sleek, large-and-in-charge presence and feel. This one doesn’t look bad. A vehicle segment we may never see again?
Bob
I am in Knoxville, do you know of any 72 or 73 Torino Sports that are available to buy?
Fran
Regrets I’d never be able to grow the prerequisite facial hair. Never again…
First off, thank you for the history on Kevin Marti Scotty. I’ve heard the name, and of his very detailed reports for Fords and Mercury’s for many years, but I didn’t know about the parts business. As for this generation of Ranchero, it’s not my favorite. However, this one really caught my eye. I don’t know if its the two tone color combination, or what, but this one looks good. I think I had a Matchbox of one of these as a kid that I liked. Or maybe a Hotwheels? I can’t remember now. But anyways, this one looks very clean and quite frankly, the price seems reasonable to me……… Or is it I’m just numb from seeing such high prices everywhere??? A tip of the hat to Rocco B for finding this Ranchero, and of course to Scotty G I enjoyed your write up! Thank you.
Nice one SG, thanks for the laughs. I especially love the brochures,
With a moustache like that, who needs abs?
I hate it when you offer someone a compliment on their moustache and suddenly…. she’s not your friend anymore.
I’m going to use that
Lol that’s awesome Cooter !
2.47 open rear. This Ranchero was designed for the highway cruiser crowd 🏜
Is that a radar detector on the dash? I’m not too wild about the color scheme, but this asking price makes up for it! Again, on the other side of the country from me.
Can’t find the etymology of the term “flight bench seat”, but in small aircraft, certainly after WWII, rear seats were designed to fold down for use carrying cargo. Automakers use the term for seat with a common bottom, and separate backs.
Thanks Scotty/ Rocco. I’m with you Scotty, I think this generation of Ranchero looks good. Especially when they first came off the line. The LTD II, Torino Elite, T birds, Lincolns, etc. of the mid to Late 70’s with the huge front bumpers looked good and were appropriately representing the times.
I am a huge fan of keeping/ restoring a vehicle to the original condition and these are just a part of it.
A Cleveland V-8 in 79 ? Weren’t those Windsors unless a heart transplant was done
The Cleveland in 302/351/400 form was offered through the early 1980s. I had a 1979 Ranchero GT with the 400 cu in V8. It wasn’t well-loved, and it was nearly impossible to pass the stringent CA smog certification. Eventually, I sold it to a certified recycler for $1000.
There are very few vehicles on the road today that give you the experience of looking out over that long hood.
The hood is longer than the bed! Makes it look a little strange.
The engine was a 351M and the M stood for Modified Cleveland, as I remember being told by a Ford salesman.
The 351M was a member of the Ford “335” small-block family, which included the 351 Cleveland. There were two (2) different engine blocks in the family, a “short deck” version and a “tall deck” version. The 351C was a short deck variant, the 351M and 400 were the tall deck versions. Both were fitted with different cylinder heads, depending on the application, including the 351 Cobra Jet (CJ), 351 Super Cobra Jet (SCJ), 351 High Output (HO) and the Boss 351 (see link below).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_335_engine
The 351 Windsor (351W) was a much older design, sharing components and critical features with its smaller sisters, the 221, 255, 260, 289 and 302 engines. Although the listed displacement was the same, the Windsor and Cleveland engines share almost no components in common, even using different valve covers and bell housings to mate the transmission to the engine (see link below).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_small_block_engine
I thought the same thing. Supposedly the Cleveland was made from 1970-1974.
Nice pitch for Kevin Marti – he deserves it. His journey with cars started when he was a student at West (Phoenix) High School. He got a Cougar, wanted a convertible, so he sawed the top off. He then learned a lot about the why vehicle structures. The rest is history. Personal note: he was a classmate of my brother.
I’m guessing the engine is a 351M
351C was only produced through the ‘74 model year, so this is most likely “powered” by the dreaded 351M Smogmotor. Ask the man who owned one…😖
Ford has made some stupid moves over the years. This rig is a good example. The Fairmont Futura 2 door, on the Fox platform, was an ideal basis for a new Ranchero. They even had prototypes built- and then chose this monstrosity. That’s why Rancheros died with a whimper in ‘79, and the El Camino soldiered on through ‘87.
This rig is a nice example of a car/truck virtually nobody wants. Hence the comparatively low price. If you like ‘em- great! You’re in luck!
Bunky and all,
Dang, so much for my writing skills. I tried to stress the Marti Report connection and even showed the actual Marti Report, which is both in the seller’s photos, and I enlarged a copy of it and put a link in the article. It lists this engine as being a “351 Cleveland Modified engine,” so I was just going by that.
Steering wheel is aftermarket. “Flight” bench means it has a fold down center armrest!
I’m not a fan of the styling on the 1976-79 models, it has a “face” only a mother could love, LOL! The condition of this one makes up for it, though. The bench seat is a bit of an issue for me, however, given my short stature (I’m only 59.5 inches tall), so any normal-sized human who wants to ride with me in any car with a full-width bench seat will be assuming the fetal position, LOL! A split bench seat, or even better, a pair of bucket seats with a console would be my preferred seating option, so those who aren’t “vertically challenged” won’t have to suffer when I’m behind the wheel! GLWTS!
P.S. My favorite versions are the 1972-75 examples. The lack of Federal “Bash Beam” bumpers on the ’72 examples helps the styling, but I actually like the grille on the 1973-75 models slightly better, despite the big bumpers. The ’72 examples have a slightly puckered appearance, like a landed fish mouth IMHO!
Scotty, the “hook” for me was referencing Kevin Marti. Like just about everyone, I knew what a Marti Report is. But you included additional information that I didn’t know. Thanks.
clean looking western ranchero. not a fan of that A/M steering wheel. find a factory ford sport wheel. price seems fair
I think you may be right, hairyolds68. The factory wheel is very similar, but it looks like it was silver and had eight fasteners rather than the black one with six fasteners shown on this wheel. Good eye!
Great looking Ranchero for a very reasonable price ,wish it wasn’t so far away. I very got a 429 out of a 71 LTD that would be great for this car. I like the color but the wheels really improved the look
I had a 1977 Ranchero GT with a 400 in it that I bought from a coworker. It handled like a boat, the rear end would sag if you put anything in the pick up bed and I loved it! I wish I still had it.
Nice looking vehicle. Liked them ever since I saw “Hollywood nights”.
Living in the rust belt precludes finding many nice vehicles at reasonable prices. The left coast is too far away.
At 82 I just keep on dreaming.
Mine was a GT Broham built 5/1979…..although a nice runner with the optioned broham? insides it was a hard sale at $3500 a few years back – had the Martini report as well. This is a nice one so if your in the market….
“…Have any of you gotten a Marti Report for your Ford?…”
Y bother? can get it urself, too expensive, usually for those w/extra money and low energy, by those who ID asa ‘car guy’ & sorta arent. Some do as a sales technique. I think Marti started this part of his business when the fire took out ford’s records (but how could he if they vanished in the fire)? Love to hear more on all that.
I’m not a fan either, but the B+W paint job in that brochure is stunning!
El Mirage is the next town over from me,there is a huge BNSF railroad yard where new cars come to get unloaded.