What is it about Rancheros and the absolute lack of respect they get?

I wouldn't take too much offense. It took me outrunning a 71, 74, and 77 of El Camino, and a rather crappily running Camaro before I could get my Ranchero any amount of respect. Many people don't know about the Ranchero, even though it looks very different from the El Camino.

 

First of all my experience has been different. Even with her lousy paint I get complements on my 65 almost everyday and I've never had anyone say "nice El Camino. I will admit that most that say something are older guys that grew up in the muscle car era.

One of the things I think that hurt the Ranchero and not the El Camino is the fact that the later Rancheros were based on Ford's mid size sedans, and yeah have to admit that's not the sexiest batch of cars to every hit the highways. While the El Camino was always based on more sexy and performance based cars, most notably the Impala and the Chevelle/Malibu. I wonder how a Mustang based Ranchero would have gone over?

As for the Torino based Rancheros, well the Torino never did reach the popularity or appeal of the Mustang let alone the other muscle cars of the day. While I like some of the Torinos, I've always felt they were to big and heavy to spend any time on as a performance car. They were always Ford's "other" muscle car, but never really pushed or supported as a performance vehicle by Ford.

As far as no one knowing that Ford made Rancheros up through the late 70's, I think that is due mostly to the fact that by 1973, no one really had any interest in performance vehicles anymore. Gas and insurance prices were rising steadily, horsepower was in the toilet and muscle cars had become nothing but mid size sedans with some decals, emblems and maybe some pinstripes. So while Ford was still making the Ranchero, no one noticed.

Finally, no matter how you slice it, when they came out with the small block Chevy, it was all over for everyone else. Like it or not the small block Chevy was the best performance designed, mass produced factory engine of all time. Even though Ford, Mopar, Pontiac and the others produced some excellent engines, your not going to get the HP/Dollar out of them that you can out of the small block Chevy, even back in the day. This is from a guy that refuses to go the SBC route just because they are "belly buttons" everyone has one.

Scott

 

Mustero.

 

That Mustero looks pretty cool.
I was at a show last weekend and a gal came up to me and said " Thats the sexiest looking thing I have seen in a long time"
I dont know if she was lookin at me or the Ranchero...Hmm

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that a pretty good looking car, maybe stretch the bed a little. I don't think one of those would ever be mistaken for an El Camino.

Thanks for sharing.

Scott

 

I think the 77-79 Rancheros are a classy, nice looking car. My 77 gets lots of looks. I had a little kid at a car show gawking at my Ranchero and his Dad ran up, grabbed his hand and said, "Why you want to look at that? It's just another El Camino!" What a dope. I felt sorry for him if he doesn't know the difference.

 

You are a bad ass!! (the Ranchero). Your Ranchero gets respect for a number of reasons; It's sweet, what with the mint condition, shiney paint, and all; and, it's fast as sheet.

My Ranchero also got a good deal of respect at its first car show in Michigan (the last one up there this year). Dad pulled in a trophy, and a ton of compliments, many of which started out like this; "I haven't seen one of those in years!!!!" If your Ranchero, or any car, is a half painted, rusty, POS, with a crappy looking engine compartment and cheap wheels, who the hell is going to respect that? You get out what you put in.

 

Agreed, all that matters is I like it.

Ken and Sean, both cheros are sweet. Sorry I could never own a 73 on up chero, them things not so nice looking. Only a mother could love em.

 

Thanks Don. Yours is sweet as well. Agreed 100% on the 73 up. It's because of those hideous beast that there are no Ranchero's made today. Nice work, you ugly piles of crap!!

 

never seen a 383 ford.....2 bolts: 239/256/272/292/312 (produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428 (FE engine)
6 bolts: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts: 429/460
8 bolts: 351C/351M/400

 

Your dad did a real nice job on his ranchero, that is for sure!

 

My Dad paid a guy a lot of money to get that Ranchero looking good, for sure. I couldn't afford to do what he did, and I appreciate what he's done now more than you idiots can understand. Same guy did the GTO and Trans Am on either side of it.

I guess you're right, even though I bought three of them Ranchero's, and took them all apart, restored everything, and built the engine and trans, spent thousands of dollars and hours on it, it technically is his now. I signed the title over to him a few months back so he could get plates on it (in MI). He's really enjoying it, but, for some reason, still says it's mine.

 

Green 71

That is a beautiful vehicle. Great work

 

True, but the green ain't too bad. My very first car, I painted it almost the same color (I actually painted it at 15 years old with a $10 paint gun). Maybe that's what he was thinking.

Pre-paint...(hey, if kirkasss can post valve cover bolts, I can post a VW Baja).