It’s true, many people don’t enjoy having their classic car, or any car for that, deemed “cute.” Alas, it’s hard not to call this 1964 Ford Ranchero for sale anything but, especially given it’s a drivetrain. Let’s face it, you’re not doing any heavy hauling or towing with this little six cylinder, despite what that hitch says. Alas, this is a great rig for cruising, light duty yard work and so much more. If you want to take it way back, it’s the perfect car for taking pigs to market on Saturday and going to church in on Sunday. After all, that’s what Utes were for in the first place, right? Let’s take a closer look at this one, which could be yours for the low price of $6,800 if you want to snag it out of Idaho.
Finding classic cars on Craigslist is a longtime hobby and I’ve learned that there are a few types of ads. The ones that don’t offer enough information, which is what we have here, and then there are ads that provide way to much, and those that are just right. It’s a real Goldilocks situation, but patience is a virtue. See through the owners minimalism or excessive typing and you can often find a great deal, which seems to be what we have here with this classic Ranchero.
Introduced in 1957, the Ranchero was the US version of Ford and Holden Utes commonly found in Australia and elsewhere since the 1930s. The car based trucks offered an easier driving experience compared to lumbering farm trucks, but still offered the open bed to carry, well, pigs, manure, crops, and so forth. When it first came to market, the Ranchero was based on the full size Ranch Wagon and Courier sedan. However, soon after Chevrolet introduced the El Camino in 1959, both companies began to downsize the offering.
With the launch of the Ford Falcon, the Ranchero found a new platform. The Falcon, of course, would become the basis for a number of iconic Ford models, including the Mustang. Its versatility in terms of mechanicals made it easy to swap engines and transmissions, meaning you could have anything from a durable, though relatively gutless inline six, up to a 289 V8. This particular Ranchero does have that six cylinder and is sporting a three on the tree – that’s a three speed manual column shifter for you youngsters (hey, I’m only 36 and I know that).
As mentioned, this Ford Ranchero on Craigslist near Lewiston, Idaho, but the ad does not give us a whole lot of information. What we do know is that it is “candy apple red” and we figured out the drivetrain. The seller also describes it as having a cracked windshield, but on the plus side it’s equipped with a GT steering wheel and gauges, and a nice interior (although no images are provided). It’s also had its brakes done. In short, it runs and drives well, according to the seller, that is.
There are no shortage of Rancheros from this era, and plenty more can be found from the 1970s, making them a relatively affordable classic. This example shows well and could make a reliable cruiser, given the simplicity of its engine and other mechanicals.
Are you ready to hit the road in a Falcon Ranchero? To be honest, I’ve always wanted one and the six cylinder is actually a bonus in my book. Better fuel efficiency, easy to service and plentiful parts. For $6,800, it’s not a bad deal.
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