After three years as a full-size pickup, the Ford Ranchero was a compact “Ute” (utility vehicle) from 1960 to 1965. During that period, it was based on the successful Falcon, one of many cars that the Falcon would spawn (including the hottest one of all, the Mustang). This 1964 edition is a barn find that was an intended restoration project, but the seller’s father-in-law never got around to it. Located in Darlington, South Carolina (one of the homes of NASCAR racing), this smaller truck is available here on eBay. The reserve is unmet at $1,575, so the bid has more to go.

The Falcon got it’s first major restyle in 1964, so the Ranchero followed suit. 1964 also marked the return of the similar El Camino at Chevrolet, but as a Chevelle-based mid-size. The El Camino would quickly become more popular, likely prompting Ford to switch to the Fairlane platform for the Ranchero in 1966. At just over 10,000 copies, the 1964 Ranchero sales were only a third of that of the Chevy. The big news for the Ranchero in 1964 was a V8 engine as an option, 260 cubic inches (what was in the seller’s pickup at the factory).

No attempt has been made to get this Ford running again and the seller doesn’t know when it last moved around on its own power. Besides the V8 (which may be a 302), the Ranchero has an automatic transmission, but at least the motor isn’t likely numbers-matching. The body has some rust, but the all-important truck bed looks pretty solid. While it has a tailgate, there is no rear bumper in sight.

Part of the interior is not original, with bucket seats that look like they could have come out of a 1980s or 1990s car. There was a bench seat found in the back of the truck, and that’s part of the deal. The odometer reads north of 20,000 miles, but is that more likely 120,000? This could be a cool truck when restored, but that end goal won’t come cheaply or quickly. Do you see this as a project to continue forward with or use the truck as a donor for another instead?