Benoît shot this Ford Ranchero in a somewhat unlikely location, the Musée Maurice Dufresne, located in the mill at Marnay, near the Château of Azay-le-Rideau, France. Maybe not so unlikely, actually, as it’s a technological history museum, and as such, the Ranchero might well be an exhibit. “Obsolete passenger car based light truck”.
This one has sprouted a hood scoop, with a “400” call-out. That’s not exactly original, so maybe that’s why it’s out front rather than inside.
Appears the same colour as the ’72 Ranchero Buddy Ebsen drove early in the first season of Barnaby Jones. The logo on the door was for the ‘Jones Ranch’.
Love to know how that got there.
I believe it only appeared in the very first episode of the series. As the Jones family ranch appeared in at least one early episode. For the remainder of the series, Jones drove at least two versions of the ’73-’78 LTD two door. And later, a Panther-based LTD two door.
Useless Minutia Dept-Barnaby was introduced in an episode of Cannon.
That’s where the Ranchero appeared. The ’73 brown LTD was driven by Barnaby’s PI son Hal, who was murdered in the episode. My take?
The LTD was leased thru Hal’s agency, and Barnaby simply started driving it as he took over again. 🙂
And yes…I watched way too much TV as a kid!
Oops…my bad. A quick check of IMDB reveals it was the first ep of Barnaby, Cannon was spun into it.
Excellent recollection Roger! I watched a few episodes of Barnaby Jones during the lock down in April, and Ford certainly got their money’s worth in product placements. Especially LTDs or the Marquis. The F-150 was well-represented as well. Quite hilariously, in an early episode, a character refers to a Ford Bronco as a ‘Jeep’.
Yep, just in the pilot.
I keep wanting to like these. I’m still working at it.
I know my only complaint about one of these. My grandfather had one that he used for towing campers. His has a 351c and also a cap over the bed. My sister and I road in the back when my dad borrowed it back in the early 80’s. Remember, it was during strictly enforced 55 mph speed limits and no seat belt laws in PA. It got so hot in the back of that – so hot I remember that almost 40 years later.
they just look incredibly goofy with the tiny greenhouse sticking up like a wart.
Interesting while they picked up the impact bumpers along with the new clip up front, they kept the old flush bumper in the rear, presumably because it was classed as a truck, and the new standards only applied to cars.
Officer Starsky goes undercover……..