The noun Ranchero is associated with nineteenth-century Hispanic California history. A Ranchero was a man who owned a big tract of land. In the late 1950s however, the word took on a new meaning: a light pickup built by Ford using automotive components instead of truck components. Ford built this vehicle in various styles from 1957 to 1979.
The Ford Ranchero is a coupe utility that was produced by Ford between 1957 and 1979. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body.
In 1972, a radical change occurred in the Torino and Ranchero lines. The sleek, pointy look of the previous year’s model was replaced with a larger, heavier design. Most prominent was a wide semioval grille reminiscent of a jet intake and a new body-on-frame design. Three models were still available; the now-standard 500, the new Squire with simulated woodgrain “paneling” along the flanks, and the sporty GT. Engine choices remained basically the same beginning with the 250 cubic-inch six-cylinder and a selection of V8s that ranged from the standard 302 to Cleveland and Windsor series 351s, plus the new-for-1972 400. The 429 V8 was still available in 1972. However, it suffered from lower compression ratios to better meet new emissions standards. A four-speed manual transmission was available on Cobra Jet-powered GT models.
This Ranchero Features:
- GT Package
- Q-code 351 CI V-8 engine
- 4-barrel carburetor
- C6 Automatic transmission
- Factory air conditioning
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Medium Goldenrod paint
- Ginger vinyl bench seat
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