The 1977-79 Ford Ranchero strike me as the most truck-like of the utes offered for sale in America. Seriously…the 1973-77 GM trucklets were close, but felt more like the Chevelle than the C-10, the other years of both the El Camino (GMC twins included) and Ranchero were much more car-like, and as for the Dodge Rampage and Plymouth Scamp…well, let’s leave that alone, shall we. Maybe it’s the added size that the Ranchero gained when Ford gave their ute the nose cone of the LTD II, complete with the massive front bumper and precariously-mounted cornering lamps, but every time I look at one I see the best blend of car and truck for the money out there, especially since Rancheros tend to be underrated compared to the GM offerings. So, it’s off to Craigslist to check out what is out there.
The usual offerings of run-down, beat down and generally trashed cars cropped up, but a handful of nice Rancheros came up under the five thousand dollar Rough Start budget. In the end, it came down between two twenty-footers that needed work: one from Florida that had a tailgate with a huge rust hole in it and one from North Carolina that overall was decent, but the paint looked like hell and the chrome was gone on both bumpers. Instead we have this 1980’s inspired 1979 model from Pennsylvania, and on the surface, it’s a nice shot: black paint with a retro but restrained graphic, with painted 14″ Magnum 500 wheels and a bed cap. Inside, the only thing it needs is a cleaning. Outside, the paint isn’t perfect, but some very minor work would bring it up to standard. The 302/FMX powertrain is just fine, and the brightwork looks good.
Our take: the bed cap goes to the landfill or onto Craigslist, along with the 14″ wheels. Locate a decent set of wheels in a much more appropriate size, have the paint repaired (we’d ditch the side stripe for a factory GT stripe kit) and drive. Room for days and looks that stand out from the parking lots full of rubber-bumpered sedans and crossovers.
Craigslist Link: 1979 Ford Ranchero
