With spring almost here, we have already begun thinking about what to get for a summer project. This 1971 Ford Ranchero Special was garage kept for most of its life and could be a great project. It was used as a daily driver for many years, but is still on the road. It needs some work, but should make a great starting point. Find it here on eBay or in Woodstock, Georgia.
The Ranchero could be ordered with a variety of engine options. This one came with the base 302 V8 and a three on the tree manual transmission. The 302 doesn’t put out the kind of power one of the bigger V8’s does, but it should be adequate for hauling supplies for those spring projects and evening cruises around town.
The Special Package was a visual package that included two tone paint with special side stripes, vinyl top, black lined truck bed, and a multi-tone interior. This one’s body is clean, but has some dents and dings. The paint is claimed to be original and has the right patina to be. The interior has seen better days and needs some work, but could be used as is.
The seller has already done most of the major work to make this a solid daily driver again, but there are a few things that could use fixing. The seller has set a BIN price of $8k, but hopefully they have set their reserve considerably lower than that. We only wish it had the 429 Cobra Jet in it, but it would make due just as is. If the seller’s production numbers are correct, then this could be one rare Ranchero. Do you think this would make for a good summer project or is there some other classic you already have your eye on?
I like it and I’m a Chevy guy. This era Ranchero was the best looking i think. Until 73 when the 2 ton bumpers started to appear. 3 on the tree… well it’s original, but i think making a hole in the floor for a 4 speed wouldn’t be too offensive would it? A new intake manifold and a 600 cfm four barrel might wake up the 302 a bit too. I think these will gain in value, just like el camino’s are slowly gaining. My 69 el camino has just lately been climbing up, I think these will too, and think 8k might be a bit high now, but won’t be for long.
I’M WITH YOU ON BEING A CHEVY GUY BUT I DO LIKE THIS ONE.MY BODY SHOP SPECIALIZED IN THESE ONLY BECAUSE I BOUGHT A COUPLE AND WANTED A PLACE FOR MY TOYS TO BE DONE.WE DID A LOT OF THE OLDER ONES BUT DID A FEW OF THESE. IF IT WERE MINE IT WOULD HAVE A 429 COBRA JET IN IT OR PRO REBUILD FROM SOMEBODY LIKE ROACH,SHELBY,SALEEN, OR MOTION MOTORS..JUST MY IDEA…….
Fred,
“ROACH”? Really?
How about http://www.roushperformance.com/vehicles/ ?
And, while it hardly seems possible, let me be (possibly?) the first to inform you that using ALL CAPS on the interwebs is generally considered to be SHOUTING.
You’re a “Chevy guy,” huh?
I’d have never guessed it…. ;-)
~ Chill, Peter. There are specific and valid reasons that FRED types in caps.
. When you have been through what FRED has suffered we’ll consider your criticism. ‘Til then sit down.
A guy in HS drove his dads Ranchero to school from time to time. It was this body style. Red with a black top and wood grain down the sides. Ranchero Squire maybe?
Another friends dad had one of these in light blue. Took it to Lake of the Ozarks pulling a boat. Had to run it without the a/c on since it would overheat. That was a fun trip.-)
I would prefer an automatic but that’s because I tend to get lazy behind the wheel. If it was mine, I’d try to track down some original style wheels and caps and get rid of the mags. Other than that I’d drive it the way it is, boring as it may be.
It comes with stock wheels caps and trim rings Mags are not included according to ebay ad
OK. Thanks for pointing that out. For some reason I didn’t go to Ebay; I guess I’d better do that from now on.
a nice old truck.
The seller says the original wheels come with the car. The mags would be negotiated.
~ i agree that this is perhaps the most attractive Ranchero body style. looks more svelte than later models, less inelegant than the earlier Falcons. if cutting a hole in the floor it would be for a 5spd and i’d try to find a tilt column.
I like it, although the three on the tree would be gone for a four on the floor
I drove a ’71 Torino to college so naturally I love this but a vinyl roof on a Ranchero?!? REALLY?? I have no doubt they are rare…I do not remember ever seeing one.
What is all that rust under the hood up by the firewall ( ebay ad)? Otherwise looks like a $6000 ride
Looks like they blew a radiator hose at one point, some people don’t understand the value of keeping fresh anti freeze in, so when a hose blows the result is a very rusty substance all over the engine bay area.
I usually like to keep something as original as this, stock, but I agree with everyone else 5 spd thru the floor & get rid of the dreadful seat & put some nice Recaro’s or something along that line, I would keep the 302 at the gas prices today, also we don’t want to add anymore weight to the front but put the AC back into it.
A modified 302, bored, stroked, balance and blueprinted with aluminum heads can give you 400-500 horsepower. Personally, I would rather have a modified 302 than a stock 429.
Hey Robert, I agree with you on the modified 302. It would be as, if not more powerful and lighter to boot. But in terms of resale value, the 429 is worth more.
Sorry guys. I am a fan of the standard shift on the column. It is fun. No one under 35 years old has a clue how to drive one. It is the way Ford built this machine. The interior space is very small. Try hauling two other people with a floor shift and a bench. No longer fun to drive. Taking out the bench in favor of buckets you remove the utility of hauling that extra person. It is not a performance car so leave the toploader in the bed.
Yes but no, yes I have driven them, but no I like it from the floor.
I WOULD ALSO PUT A HOLE IN THE FLOOR FOR A FOUR OR FIVE SPEED. IF I WANTED TO TAKE FRIENDS TO THE BEACH I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES FOR THAT.AS I STATED ABOVE THE MOTOR WOULD BE REBUILT OR REPLACED WITH A COBRA JET.
I cant afford a pot to pee in, but this would be a very good daily driver while you cleaned it up.
Geez you’d think the seller would clean the engine compartment a bit. Rust or even that red georgia clay dirt would clean off. Definately not an 8k car w that dirty compartment.
Hi, I know this is a late comment, but you wouldn’t happen to know the color code on the plate would you? I have a 1971 F250 with a “White Sale” spring special Explorer Special edition. It’s door plate says color code “B” which crosses to nothing but Maroon. My color and seats, interior, etc is identical to your car. To me it looks like Winter Blue or Medium Blue metallic, but a correct color code would be great.
Thanks,
Marty
Hi, I know this is a late comment, but you wouldn’t happen to know the color code on the plate would you? I have a 1971 F250 with a “White Sale” spring special Explorer Special edition. It’s door plate says color code “B” which crosses to nothing but Maroon. My color and seats, interior, etc is identical to your car. To me it looks like Winter Blue or Medium Blue metallic, but a correct color code would be great.
Thanks,
Marty
P.s. 2 pics of my truck….it has 14,000 original miles!
Hey compyouglobalhypermeganet,
Re: what you wrote, below:
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compyouglobalhypermeganet
Feb 15, 2015 at 8:05 am
~ Chill, Peter. There are specific and valid reasons that FRED types in caps.
. When you have been through what FRED has suffered we’ll consider your criticism. ‘Til then sit down.
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And you, compyouglobalhypermeganet, are…who, exactly?
If you’re a barnfind Moderator, you freaking suck at it–no offense. Why?
A. Because Mods should self-identify, in their screen name/avatar. If I missed it in yours, I do apologize.
B. Because, if “FRED” has special needs, of some sort, I’m VERY, and TRULY, sorry for that. But exactly HOW would I be expected to know that, genius?
And if “FRED” has suffered these many misfortunes that you imply, do you not realize that the internet is rife with people who would be far less…gentle…in their education of FRED and his lack of “webetiquette,” than I was? (Or is this the only forum you visit?). I mean, since you obviously care about him so much, why would you want him potentially “scolded” about his (perceived) SHOUTING, when he is apparently ignorant of this common interpretation of ALL CAPS?
Someone in my household almost got KILLED last year (yeah, I “shouted”–but I knew I was doing it) and as a consequence of their BRAIN INJURY, they can’t type, drive and hundreds of other things they did ALL of their lives, to date. They have tremor, dis-coordination, and a boatload of other, NEUROLOGICAL and ORTHOPEDIC deficits to deal with, and hopefully overcome.
I have been their PRIMARY CARE GIVER, for the past 14 months, and will be, for the rest of our lives….
Consequently, they have to use Voice Recognition Software, just to “type.”
So I am about the SECOND-to-last person that needs a lecture on those with “special needs.” Capiche?
And if you’re such a concerned friend of “FRED,” and he has problems involving typing, why don’t you be an even better friend than picking fights over my (comparatively) gentle suggestion that he not be (mis?)perceived as SHOUTING, in ALL CAPS, and suggest something CONSTRUCTIVE, for “FRED,” like this:
http://www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm (It’s for Voice Recognition Software).
Compyouglobalhypermeganet, I come here to relax, and seek (and sometimes share) info from (and with) like-minded folks. These past 14 months, being the PRIMARY CARE GIVER for a BRAIN INJURY VICTIM have been the most terrifying, and demanding, 14 months of my entire life. And there is no end in sight–the struggles with P/T and O/T (four days out of five, sometimes three appointments per day, plus our Home Exercise Program, etc…, not to mention Cognitive Rehab. Evaluation/Therapy, and the near-weekly, endless battles with H.R. just to try to save THEIR JOB…) are ongoing. I’ll stop there, but even you should get the idea, by now….
So again, I DO understand about “people with special needs,” which you seem to imply “FRED” is/has.
And http://www.barnfinds.com has been a God-send to me, in terms of offering me many things—fond, common memories, of experiences shared by others, the community of like-minded individuals, and hope for a more positive future, in which I might concern myself with my automotive hobbies, and not matters of life and death….
But I don’t come here to struggle through reading ALL CAPS, or be lectured–let alone by NON-mods. But as far as “FRED” goes, I’ll ignore the all caps, and I wish him NOTHING BUT THE BEST, including a HEALTHY, HAPPY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR, now that you’ve (albeit rudely) made me aware of them.
But as far as you telling me to “chill,” again, WHO the **** are YOU? Actually, I don’t care—why don’t you go and **** yourself? (Same amount of letters as “chill,” in case you were scratchin’ your head….)
And as far as you telling me to “…sit down…”, kindly see above. ;-)
And if you ARE a mod then, again, you positively suck at it, and I hope you’re better at your day job.
And if you’re NOT a mod, what does that make you? A “wanna-be mod”? (There are no words….)
So do us BOTH a favor, compyouglobalhypermeganet, and PLEASE IGNORE EVERYTHING I WRITE HERE, FOREVER. (And I do apologize for the “shouting”, in this line–it’s “bad form” as our friends across the pond say).
And TRUST me, I will do you the same courtesy. In other words, I will IGNORE EVERYTHING YOU WRITE. (This will be much appreciated by the other members and stakeholders in this wonderful site).
Deal? Good! (See–no answer needed).
And to Fred–again, I wish you nothing but the best of luck, with whatever you’re dealing with–and for whatever you’ve suffered through so far, you have my deepest sympathies. I meant no disrespect, re: my suggestion about the caps, as I think you can tell, by how I worded it. I actually suspected you were not aware of this (common) interpretation of using ALL CAPS (i.e., many consider it “shouting”) and I thought I would call it to your attention, as I, like many, find it difficult to read.
But I won’t mention it again, in your case, and it is no longer a problem for me, given the (apparent) circumstances. Best of luck to you, Sir.
Peter
~ Apology accepted.
No, I am not a mod. I am a recreational reader who is empathetic to a statement FRED made when previously criticized for typing in caps. Learned to overlook the small **** some time ago. I won’t bother wasting the time it will take to read the blather you felt compelled to spout, but I wish you the best in your future efforts.
The only time I have ever seen this interior trim on anything other than an advertising brochure. I really like it!