Hooniverse Truck Thursday – A Last Year Ford Ranchero with only 2,300 Miles


Welcome to another edition of Hooniverse Truck Thursday. Many of you have left a comment (or a few) suggesting that a Truck Thursday Posting should highlight either an El Camino, or a Ranchero (or better yet, an Aussie Ute). So I took this suggestion under consideration, and while looking through eBay Motors I spotted this low mileage, last year Ranchero.


The 1979 Ford Ranchero was the last year the car/truck from Dearborn, and this is a great looking Time Capsule. It is a Ranchero with the GT Tape Stripe Package, Magnum Wheels, Factory A/C and an AM FM Radio. According to the seller the spare has never been out of its original compartment, and the engine still shows all the inspection stamps and decals. About that engine… the listing doesn’t state whether its a 302, a 351, or the optional 400.

With three days to go, the bidding has stalled at $10,000, with a Buy-it-Now price of $24,500. Even I know that the seller is asking for the moon with that price, but how much do you think its worth? See the listing here.

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  1. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    Though I wish this had more options (buckets, power windows, etc.) it's a nicely preserved example, and has a certain disco-era charm. Besides, the El Camino had been downsized the year before, so a car-truck buyer seeking a traditional size would have had no other choice.
    And as collector car to be enjoyed in a warm climate (Arizona, Palm Springs, Florida), this one's air conditioner could freeze a penguin, providing you're willing to pay the freight for R-12 servicing and recharging. Think about it: the a/c system was designed to cool a sedan or a station wagon, so this comparatively small cabin would be a beat-the-heat winner.

  2. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Blechh. These LTD II-based Rancheros are only slightly less ghastly than the blobby and overly-curvy '72'-'76 line. The last genuinely good-looking Rancheros were built in 1971, and they had such things as unfettered engines, available hidden headlights, and bumpers that do not double as a front porch. Not only is this IIchero ugly, it's not been driven enough, so all the rubber, seals, and soft bits are probably like chalk. Besides needing a lot of money and work to make it truly roadworthy, every mile you drive it chips away at its "low mileage" value. Wouldn't you rather have this 70,000-mile 1971 Ranchero for $14,000?
    <img src="http://www.chooseyouritem.com/classics/photos/103500/103953.1971.Ford.Ranchero.jpg&quot; width=400>

    1. Lotte Avatar
      Lotte

      No kidding. Searching for a 1970 Ranchero, I came up with this:
      <img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/1970_Ford_Ranchero_351_V8_For_Sale_Front_1.jpg&quot; width="400">
      :drool:
      (thanks BAT)

  3. muthalovin Avatar

    I think we have reached a point where everyone with a -amino's and -chero's think they can get a ton of cash for their trucks. Not so much. This guy is asking an obscene price for a fairly undesirable model.

  4. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The ID tag in the second picture lists the engine as a 302. I briefly owned a '79 Ranchero a couple of years ago. Mine wasn't in as nice of shape as this one, but it did have the 351. However, it only had the 2bbl carb. I grew up driving big engined Malaise era cars but always one with 4bbl carbs. Floor it, wait for the secondaries to kick in, and then get a nice little shove. The Ranchero was missing the shove, floor it and wait for some forward progress.
    I had traded a 1988 BMW 750il for the Ranchero, after try to haul my riding lawn mower once, I traded it back to the same guy for a '84 Chevy K-10 longbed.

  5. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Perhaps if Ford had made a Ranchero in 1956, it would have looked something like this.
    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3747477081_57ef93a185.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

  6. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    According to the emissions label on the driver's side valve cover (pictured in the ad listing), it's a 302.

  7. Black Steelies Avatar

    I dig that caramel cream interior but that's basically it. If I wanted a late Ranchero, I'd only want it to beat on and I'd want it cheap.
    Perfectly preserved Malaise-era cars baffle me. Yes OK, it's basically mint but there's no way in hell it's worth more than 4 digits.

  8. ZomBee Racer Avatar

    I dig it. I loves me some Malaise.
    But there is one too many zeros to be truly interesting. Dirty Craigslist find > hiny Evilbay creampuff any-day.
    Look, here's even one with a cool stripe package! (spell-check and punctuation optional as always)
    1979 ford ranchero – $1100 (danville / san ramon)
    Date: 2011-02-08, 10:45AM PST
    Reply to: sale-yqqsg-2203765151@craigslist.org
    good running vehicle has originals miles on motor a little over 73,000 351 cleavland motor i was told.selling for a friend.it has a non op now but we will have smog check done and have all dmv paper work done so buyer will just have to do change of ownership.call if enterested 925-785-7594
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3n23oa3l45O35U65X1b285a59587269e11208.jpg&quot; />

  9. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
    Mad_Hungarian

    I do realize it is one of the commandments of Hoonitarian Hooniversalism to love all -aminos and -cheros, but let's face it, that has got to be one of the ugliest front ends ever put on a motor vehicle. Also, something about the truck body accentuates how ridiculously long the front overhang is. I am pretty sure the driver's head is behind the front-to-back centerline of the vehicle.

  10. saskterry Avatar
    saskterry

    hi internet dwellers,
    I own the exact same ranchero in the listing (Not the same miles but identical car) I can understand why the guys asking an arm and a leg for her. Once you drive it at night down the city streets man it's unlike anything in the world. If i was that guy i'd just keep it and drive it like god intended. Truth be known, driving it's got me flashed by young ladies driving down the highway on more then one ocassion. I'd say totally worth the $24500 but then again i only paid $5000 for mine.