Rare Interceptor: 1958 Ford Ranchero

In 1957, Ford took a Ranch Wagon and removed the wagon roof. The result was a “coupe express” that combined car styling with a pickup truck’s utilitarian appeal. In fact, the 1957 Ranchero had a cargo capacity of 1,190 pounds, putting it in the same class as a 1957 Ford F100 pickup, and it came with a 6-foot bed to boot. This rare 1958 Ranchero edition has been in storage in an Arizona garage for 40 years and is now available here on Facebook Marketplace for only $3,500 in Coolidge, Arizona.

A few caveats, though. It has no engine and no title. The seller claims you can get a bond for $450, then go to the DMV and get a title. The engine is another story. The original Interceptor special came with a 352 cubic inch V8 and a Holley 4160 4 Barrel carburetor. Of course, since you wouldn’t have a numbers-matching engine, you could always stick a 260, 289, 302, 351, or go all the way and put a 5.0 Coyote in it. The original 3-speed, column-shift transmission is still in the car. I’d assume villagers would show up with pitchforks and torches if I suggested an LS engine?

According to the seller, the car is very complete except for the engine. The front bumper and grille are available, and it is believed that all the stainless-steel trim is also present. The interior is not in great shape and needs a lot of TLC to get it back to an acceptable level. The rear end is a Ford 9-inch unit, and if it has the original gear set, it should be a 3.70:1 ratio. The body is straight, and along with the surface rust you can see, there seems to be some bubbling on the driver’s-side rocker panel. However, for an Arizona car, it is not bad.

As a former ’65 El Camino owner, I never gave much thought to the Ranchero. This one is just rare enough to be a worthwhile project, though. I can see it as a restomod or even just a restoration, since you don’t see an Interceptor Special every day. According to Hagerty, a good 1st Generation Ranchero averages $22,000 these days. So, for $3,500, you could get a pretty good deal. Are you ready to put this Ranchero to work for you?