Ford Ranchero

The Ford Ranchero is a pick-up model from the US automobile company Ford . It was built in the USA from 1957 and was a new form of the so-called limousine pickup (also known as car-truck or ranch wagon ). It wasn't until two years later that a similar model from Chevrolet , the El Camino , came onto the market. The rancheros were derived from contemporary high-volume sedans. A bench with three seats and an open loading area were typical. Production of the last series ended in the USA in 1979. In Australia, Ford produces the Falcon Ute still a pick-up that can be seen as a continuation of the Ranchero.

The individual series

First generation: 1957 to 1959

First generation
Ford Ranchero 1958
Production period:	1957-1959
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.7-5.8 liters
Length:	5131 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2946-2997 mm
Empty weight :

The first edition of the Ford Ranchero was presented in December 1956. It was based on Ford's full-size chassis and was technically and stylistically related to the contemporary Ford Custom and the two-door Delivery Sedan derived from it. The design of the front of the car up to the driver's door corresponded to the standard sedans and also took over the annual design changes. In 1958, for example, double headlights were introduced, which took up the design details of the current Ford Thunderbird . For the 1959 model year, a new chassis appeared with a slightly longer wheelbase. This worked in favor of the loading area (in American parlance bed - bed -), which was now 210 cm long. All regular engines from Ford's passenger car series were available as engines. The range ranged from a six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 3.7 liters to an eight-cylinder V-engine with a displacement of 5.8 liters. Ford offered two trim levels: a very simple base version with commercial vehicle character and the higher quality Custom , for which most of the trim details from Ford's Fairlane range were available.

Second generation: 1960 to 1965

Second generation
Ford Ranchero
Production period:	1960-1965
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 2.8-4.7 liters
Length:	4801 mm
Width:	1778 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2791 mm
Empty weight :	1123 kg

The second generation Ranchero was based on Ford's compact model Falcon . It was significantly smaller than the first series and stood out more clearly from the large full-size pickups of the F series . Ford emphasized the proximity to the successful Falcon and at times advertised the pickup as a Falcon Ranchero .

Third generation: 1966 to 1967

Third generation
Ford Ranchero 1967
Production period:	1966-1967
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 2.8–6.4 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2870 mm
Empty weight :

The third generation of the Ranchero were transitional models that were only produced for two years. Ford modernized both the standard Fairlane range and the smaller Falcon for 1966 . Both received the same platform. The sedans, coupes and convertibles of the Fairlane series had a chassis with a longer wheelbase, while all Falcon versions and the Fairlane Wagon were based on a shorter chassis. The third generation of the Ranchero was also based on this shortened version. The 1966 design of the new Ranchero was largely the same as that of the Falcon. In 1966, the range of engines ranged from a 2.8-liter in-line six-cylinder to an eight-cylinder V-engine with 4.7 liters displacement and two or four double carburetors.

In 1967 the Ranchero took over the front mask of the Fairlane with twin headlights arranged one above the other. The pickup was now marketed as the Fairlane Ranchero . The range of engines also changed. The entry-level engine was an in-line six-cylinder with 3.3 liters displacement. The most powerful engine was now the 6.4 liter big block eight-cylinder in the program, which developed 315 bhp.

Fourth generation: 1968–1969

Fourth generation
Ford Ranchero 1968
Production period:	1968-1969
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.1–7.0 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2870 mm
Empty weight :

The fourth generation of the Ranchero corresponded technically and stylistically to the contemporary Fairlane series, which had received a new, significantly longer body for the model year with the chassis unchanged. A new feature was the front section with a radiator grille that stretched across the entire width of the car and into which two horizontally arranged double headlights were embedded. The front turn signals reached into the fenders and contained the side marker lights that were required from 1969 . The engine ranged from a 4.1-liter straight-six to a V8 with a displacement of 7.0 liters. Ford offered almost every special equipment for the Ranchero that was also available in the Fairlane and its luxurious version Torino. The Ranchero could be equipped with single seats, power windows, air conditioning and a vinyl-covered roof.

Fifth generation: 1970–1971

Fifth generation
Ford Ranchero Country Squire (1970)
Production period:	1970-1971
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.1–7.0 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2896 mm
Empty weight :

The fifth generation of the Ranchero, which was only produced for two years, was based on the Torino , which had taken over the role of the Fairlane in Ford's model range. The ranchero got longer. The engine range corresponded to the previous generation; again, all of the Torino's equipment options were available. A luxuriously equipped version was called Country Squire. It had imitation wood on the sides.

Sixth generation: 1972–1976

Sixth generation
Ford Ranchero (1973)
Production period:	1972-1976
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.1–7.5 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2997 mm
Empty weight :

The sixth generation of the Ranchero, produced for four years, was again based on the Torino. He took over the bulky, lavishly designed body of the Torino and made all stylistic changes to the original model during this time. First appeared in the front (1973), a year later the heavy safety bumpers also appeared in the back. From 1974 a 7.5 liter eight-cylinder engine was available in addition to the well-known engine range.

Seventh generation: 1977–1979

Seventh generation
Ford Ranchero (1977)
Production period:	1977-1979
Body versions :	Pick up
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.1–7.5 liters
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2997 mm
Empty weight :

The seventh and final Ranchero generation appeared in 1977. It was based on the Ford LTD II , which had replaced the Torino. The LTD II was technically identical to the Torino; in particular the chassis and the drive technology remained unchanged. The only new thing was the angular body with twin headlights arranged one above the other. The Ranchero took over the front section of the LTD II and had an independently designed rear section. The engine program was reduced. Only eight-cylinder engines with a displacement of 4.9 to 5.8 liters were offered; in the first two years a 6.6 liter version was also available. With the discontinuation of the LTD II, the production of the Ranchero also ended. There was no direct successor.

production

generation	Construction year	total	Custom	Deluxe	500	Squire	GT
1st generation	1957	21,695	15,277	-	-	-	-
	1958	9,950	8,479	-	-	-	-
	1959	14,169	14,169	-	-	-	-
2nd generation	1960	21,027	-	-	-	-	-
	1961	20,937	-	-	-	-	-
	1962	20,842	-	-	-	-	-
	1963	18,533	-	6.315	-	-	-
	1964	17,316	-	7,400	-	-	-
	1965	19,279	-	8,724	-	-	-
3rd generation	1966	21,760	12,280	-	-	-	-
	1967	17,243	-	-	11,385	-	-
4th generation	1968	16,712	-	-	10,029	-	1,669
	1969	19,455	-	-	11,214	-	2,385
5th generation	1970	21,640	-	-	8,976	3,943	3,905
	1971	24,946	-	-	12,678	2,595	3,632
6th generation	1972	40,334	-	-	23,431	4,283	12,620
	1973	45,741	-	-	25,634	4,787	15,320
	1974	32,925	-	-	18,447	3,150	11,328
	1975	16,441	-	-	8,778	1,549	6.114
	1976	16,072	-	-	9,958	1,172	4,942
7th generation	1977	23,041	-	-	9,453	1,126	12,462
	1978	23,287	-	-	9,911	907	12,469
	1979	25,010	-	-	12.093	758	12,519

Web links

Commons : Ford Ranchero  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files