Two weeks ago, I wrote a post on a 1972 Ford Ranchero, and I guess the Ranchero is a topic that I’m not ready to let go of. That being the case, and for your review, today’s topic is a member of the seventh and final generation (’77-’79) of Ford’s half-car, half-truck, a 1977 Ranchero GT. Found by PRA4SNW in the Sarasota, Florida area, this LTD II-based Ute looks great, so let’s give it a review and see how, if at all, it differs from the ’72. Those with an interest can find this sharp-looking truck here on survivor-cars, where it’s available for $16,995.
In the post for the ’72 Ranchero, I mentioned that the ’73 and later versions were ungainly looking, thanks to their federally mandated five MPH bumpers. Some auto manufacturers did a better job than others of incorporating those railroad crosstie-sized rammers into the nose of their vehicles – I’d suggest that Ford wasn’t one of them. That, in my estimation, changed with the ’77 LTD II/Ranchero midsizers. The Torino was given the bum’s rush for ’77 and replaced by the much more creased and angular LTD II, though the underpinnings weren’t far removed from the Torino. One of the benefits, besides creating what is subjectively a better-looking car, was the smoother integration of the big bumpers – at least to my eyes. Sure, this ’77 Ranchero can still take a five MPH hit; it just looks a lot better as it prepares for a frontal whack. Trim levels were three for this edition of Ford’s very functional utility vehicle, starting with the base Ranchero 500, and then the Squire (faux wood slathered) or the sporty GT – our subject vehicle. Production stats were fair that year, ringing up a total of 23K units with 12.4K wearing GT garb.
How do we know this is a Ranchero GT? Well, it says so in a big graphic decal on the quarter panel, so it must be, right? And that’s one of the hallmarks of late ’70s domestic vehicles with sporting intentions. They said it loud with the visuals as opposed to their exhausts. Improvements in ride, handling, features, and attention-getting graphics replaced raw underhood power. While not exactly a fan of that movement, this Ranchero presents very well. How much of the externals are original isn’t stated, and it has experienced some use, at least once around on the odometer, but it shows as tight, straight, and undamaged. The graphics are in surprisingly fine condition, the finish and chrome bits shine, and Magnum 500-style wheels cap off the look. The cargo bed has been painted black and obviously was used gently for its intended purpose, but it looks completely sound.
The listing suggests that this Ranchero is powered by a 149 net HP, 351 CI “Windsor” V8 engine, attached to a three-speed C4 automatic transmission. I would have thought it to be a 351 M, but I’ll admit that I’m not sharp at spotting Ford V8 differences – let me know what you think it is. The engine compartment is pretty clean and reveals an original and unmodified powerplant. The seller adds, “The current owner states all service has been kept up on this Ford Ranchero GT and it drives smooth with no issues…”
Inside, we find matching red fabric upholstery that appears to have withstood the test of time and use. The door panels, carpet, and instrument panel are in fine shape, though I imagine there’s an issue with the dashpad that’s lurking under the topper. The seller mentions that there is “a small air conditioning leak,” which I take to mean the system isn’t working as it should.
The seller states, “These late 70s Rancheros are starting to get noticed and have increased in value significantly over the last 5 years.” I’m not necessarily down with that sentiment, though, as I suggested in the write-up on the ’72 Ranchero, I think these can prove to be a pretty good buy when compared to their primary competition, the Chevrolet El Camino, which has seen a significant Chevelle-like rise in market value over the last five years. There must be at least 100 images of this Ford included in the listing; take a look at them all, as this ute is a standout. To me, this one seems like a good buy; what do you say?
Good job Jim. This looks like a fine Ranchero. The red and gold is eye-catching, and I now appreciate the days when interiors could be bright colors like this. Needs a/c work, perhaps a cracked dash pad and steering wheel; if that is most of what needs fixed, I’d say it’s pretty good.
I took a quick look at the pricing data on that “trailer” web site, and I’d say Rancheros have increased in recent years, but not dramatically.
I would have to disagree that the 77-79 is less ungainly than 73-76. The front of these LTD II based Rancheros are literally park benches. We had a brown 79 Ranchero. I vividly remember my folks bottoming ours out on front bumper coming down a paved steep incline near our house to turn right on the cross street. My dad had to back up the steep hill and come to the cross street several blocks away.
The horrid four year period where cars were “updated” to have stacked square headlights ..there’s no car that ever looked better with stacked square headlights :
Monte Carlo
Cordoba
LTD II – ex Torino
Malibu Classic
Coronet
the list goes on….
Not only that, but low beams work like fog lights. They work best when mounted as low as possible. And high beams work like driving lights. Best if mounted as high as possible. If nothing else they need to be swapped to put the low beams in the lower location. (Fog lights/low beams look out over the beam pattern. High beams/driving lights look down the beam pattern)
I’m with you on the “stacked” square headlight look. The El Camino pulled off the square headlight look much better, with the two-light square sealed beams instead of the quad look.
With that being said, the faux Mercedes grille and baroque bumper, with all of its its curves and creases, don’t help the look any. I much prefer the look of the sixth-generation (1972-74) examples, as the front bumper, particularly on the pre-“Bash Beam” 1972 models, is a much cleaner look, but even the 1973-74 versions present a cleaner, more simplified look than these rather inept styling exercises do.
I believe there are two Red Ones list here.
I had a brown ’77 GT that I bought that year. Oddly, I had just started working in the service department of a Chevy dealer in the next town and tried to buy a ’77 El Camino from them. I was 20 and not as dumb as they thought, as I recognized the ’employee discount deal’ they were offering was sticker plus. I was friends with a salesman at the local Ford dealer in the town where I lived and he shot me a deal of $5250 for the GT, which was almost 2 grand less than the Chevy dealer where I worked. I think I had driven it to work for three days before I was confronted by the Chevy dealer owner, who was highly irate that I had bought a competing product. I told him about the deal I had been offered and who had offered it. Last I heard of it from him, and the sales guy was canned. The GT had crappy paint and I got the goofs resprayed. As I recall, it had a 351 Cleveland engine, same as the ’74 Grand Torino I had earlier. That one got bent pushrods from preignition at 50K miles. It had the ‘pleather’ bench seat with individual backs and a raisable armrest between. I only kept the Ranchero a year because the price of gas got stupid and it was a gas hog.
The dash shows a temp and oil guage, but then there are under dash aftermarket ones. Wonder why? Headliner is suspect and back of seats are bleached.
Looks like a Windsor engine to me. I had a ’71 Ranchero that I should never had sold. These last 2 variations of Ranchero do not appeal to me. I will keep my Ford Durango.
Also, smaller light/smaller reflector area = less light output. AND non-round lights, cut off the top and bottom of the reflector area. And the top of the reflector area is what reflects the light DOWN onto the street. So, let’s see, less light, mounted too high, AND less light reflected down on the street. Sounds like a perfect scenario for ultimate night safety to me! (Not!)
This one is in fine shape, but with only a set of factory bucket seats and a console with a floor-shifted A/T between this car and perfection, LOL! GLWTS!