1964 Ford Ranchero

Description

Dig this 1964 Ford Ranchero. It's got a 289 cubic inch V8 and a 4-speed. Cool. It's also got factory A/C and bucket seats. Very cool. And it's beautifully finished with a trick bed cover and great colors to make it just about the coolest Falcon hauler we've ever seen.

Falcon Rancheros are uncommon. They built plenty of them, but it appears that most were simply worked to death and thrown away. Not so with this one, which has been given a second lease on life thanks to a very comprehensive makeover. Code J Rangoon Red paint is how it came from the factory and who are we to argue with that, because it looks fantastic today. It's an older paint job, but the shine is still quite good and you can tell by the fit and finish of the bodywork that someone took their time to get it right. The white stripe down the flanks accentuates the Ranchero's performance vibe, but none of the sheetmetal or trim was modified or shaved during the build. Of course, this is an F-code truck that originally came with a 260 cubic inch V8, so the badges on the front fenders definitely belong there. In back, the hard-shell tonneau cover raises up on struts and the bed inside is as neatly finished as the rest of the truck. Shiny chrome bumpers and lots of stainless make it look a lot more expensive than it is, both when it was new and today.

Red bucket seats with a temporary third seat in the center make this Ranchero feel far more sporting that most pickups of the era. The upholstery is recent and replicates a factory look, complete with silver piping that makes it look upscale and sophisticated. Red carpets on the floors and correct door panels give it an OEM look and feel, and the color-matched steering wheel looks great. Factory instruments and switchgear, along with a dealer-installed under-dash A/C unit, make this Ford feel familiar, particularly if you've driven an early Mustang. We love seeing that 4-speed manual shifter sticking out of the floor in a car like this and yes, the A/C blows cold. The original radio is still in the center of the dash, and given all the other upgrades, that might be our next stop because a car like this deserves something better than AM.

The original 260 cubic inch engine is gone, replaced by a visually identical 289 cubic inch unit from a slightly later vehicle. No matter, because it runs great and looks right under the hood, from the Mustang-spec chrome air cleaner to the chrome valve covers to the big A/C compressor. A few upgrades include the red plug wires and an alternator, but for the most part, this is a pretty stock powerplant. It starts easily and runs great, offering smooth torque that's right for a pickup, but thanks to the 4-speed, it's eager to run. A nice-sounding dual exhaust system with chrome tips offers a suitably muscular soundtrack, but everything else under the car appears to be stock. It has lived its life in a warm climate, so everything underneath is clean, if not restored to perfection, and it has just the right stance. Custom aluminum wheels are color-matched to the bodywork and wear 185/70/14 blackwall radials that fill the fenders properly.

A very cool combination of features, this Ranchero should get a lot of attention everywhere it goes. Call today!