I like to think that I’m up on my 1960s American cars; after all, I’ve spent many of my waking hours thinking about them, working on them, and writing about them. But today I learned a lot about the 1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, and what I learned is that this example, which is being sold with no reserve on Bring a Trailer, might be the rarest Ranchero of them all.
A total of 990 of the 19,263 Falcon Rancheros built in 1965 were Deluxe models with bucket seats, but this one is exponentially more uncommon than that. Let’s break it down.
- 66H: Ranchero Deluxe with bucket seats
- CM: Honey Gold paint with Wimbledon White accents
- 86: Black interior trim
- 04A: Scheduled build date of January 4, 1965
- 71: Los Angeles District Sales Office
- F: 2.80:1 Limited-Slip Axle
- 5: Four-speed manual transmission
And the VIN:
- 5: 1965 model year
- H: Lorain, Ohio, assembly plant
- 27: Ranchero
- A: 289 four-barrel engine
- 160983: Unit number
Yes, what makes this Ranchero so wild is its driveline, the A-Code, Premium-Fuel, 225-horsepower 289 four-barrel mated to a four-on-the-floor. You may already know that the top engine choice in the Falcon was the C-Code 289 two-barrel, but Ranchero and Sedan Delivery variants were available with the A-Code engine. Combined with the four-speed and Traction-Lok axle, this Ranchero was ordered for maximum hauling, showing off, or…whatever. It’s kind of a mystery.
It was also ordered with no power steering or power brakes, so it’s a mini-muscle truck. Also notice how rust-free the engine compartment is; anyone who’s worked on a unibody Ford of this vintage knows where they rust and where they need to be repaired, and there are no signs of corrosion anywhere that I can see. However, the BaT ad says that there is “corrosion…noted near the battery tray,” but it’s not very obvious in the photos (perhaps the speckling underneath the “Battery OK” tag. The truck has had the usual recent service of all fluids (and a new battery), along with a new fuel pump, fuel filter, and plugs.
The interior is familiar to anyone who’s spent time looking at Falcons, but the bucket seats and mini-console are a nice touch, as is the period “Sprint” tachometer on the dashboard, which was most likely a dealer add-on, although it might have even been ordered from the factory.
The undercarriage is rust-free but familiar to those who spend time under 1960s “drivers.” There are some fluid seeps here and there, but the dual exhaust with H-Pipe undoubtedly sounds great. The brake hoses have been replaced and an entire suspension rebuild kit installed, including springs.
You may have noticed the 1964-style “hashmarks” on the rear of the quarter panels, and they are correct for two-tone Rancheros for 1965, a little tidbit I did not previously know. You may have also noticed the mismatched paint on the driver’s quarter panel, a repair brought about by an errant shopping cart. The seller (located in San Diego) is representing the owner’s estate, and the car has a “clean Oregon title in the name of the owner’s trust.” The Ranchero sold previously on BaT in 2022 for $34,000, but as I mentioned, it’s now being offered with no reserve, so it will be interesting to see what it brings this time. Whatever the number is, you’re unlikely to find another Ranchero like this one.
Related Reading
A 1965 289 V8 4-Speed Ford Ranchero Finds Its Way Into Our New Four-Car Garage (by Stephen Hansen)
There are lots of things here that I did not know at all – that the two-tone paint included the side spear, that you could get this engine in a Ranchero but not in a regular Falcon, and that a Ford from the mid-60’s could exhibit a near zero rust experience.
✅
My daughter had a 1967 Ranchero we bought her for her 16th birthday . It had bucket seats . It had a 289 in it . Shecloved that car and she worked her butt off to pay to have a pearl white paint job with ghost flames . It was so nice only to have it stolen from a woman that married her Dad 8 weeks before he died of brain cancer . Her Dad and I never changed the title into her name . The woman forged my name on the title and had my ex husband sign everything over to her so that none of his 4 kids got anything . We think she took her car to Pennslyvania but it could also be in Spokane. That was back in 2010 . If anyone comes across a 1967 Ranchero with black and white leather bucket seats , white with orange ghost flames a 289 auto on the floorv.glass packs please let me know . I have looked and looked and my heart still breaks for my daughter . She worked so hard to pay for everything and it was her first car.
So no other cars from the mid 60s rusted? Yeah ok😅😂🤣
I didn’t know I could get a 302 in a 1983 Ford Ranger 4×4, but I got one 🙂 This is one sweet Ranchero.
What you have is a transplant
Closest thing to a Mustang pickup truck out there.
Yep! Definitely some Mustand DNA there. There’s plenty of room under the hood for that 289, with what looks like good access for servicing
Here’s a look at a Ranchero of another color, the Hooniverse Lemons racer which started with a six but now has a V8 and one bucket seat.
https://www.hooniverse.com/24-hours-of-lemons-thunderhill-2024-the-ranchero-is-better-than-ever/
Wow ;
This is a factory Hot Rod ! .
Only up to $12K now but I imagine some deep pockets Boomer will send the price sky rocketing near the end .
Looks very nice to me .
-Nate
The year before in 64. As far as rust in 60’s Fords engine compartments I can say both my 68 Cougar and 67 Parklane have never had any rust whatsoever. The 68 Mustang in the typical spot under the battery tray (acid) which ends up taking out the apron and the radiator support. The 65 F100 just a few little holes in the bottom of the radiator support that were handled easily.
I have a question that is not specific to this car that “you all” may be able to answer. As a non-serious car guy that enjoys reading these articles because of their connection to my youth, I am always amazed as to how many options the new car buyer had back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s to differentiate their cars, whether it was with the engine, accessories, paint or whatever, plus the many different models cars could come in. As a used car buyer for the past many years, is that still true today? If I was to go to a dealer and order a new car (like I did in 1976 with my Camaro Rally Sport), would I have the same or similar set of choices that I would have had in 1966 when designing my new car? It’s fascinating to me just how much choice the new car buyer of the past had if they had the money to do it. Thanks.
Not at all, Kevin. I’m starting to casually look at new cars for my wife, and two things that she’ll insist upon are heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Unfortunately, you end up having to order option packages you don’t want or need to get them (at least most of the time). The days of looking down the option list and ordering things ala carte have been pretty much over for decades.