(Updated 9/13/2026) I ran into this in my neighborhood earlier this year, and forgot to share it sooner. It’s a bit odd, but I suppose fairly mild compared to a few other oddities I’ve found over the years. It’s not so much a hood scoop as an exposed and elevated air cleaner. Makes sure that mill gets plenty of fresh air.
It was across the street from where that white 635i has sat for over a decade now, as well as a slew of vintage Volvos.
Shall we take a closer look?
Even closer? It’s pretty obvious that a small block V8 is being supplied by fresh air from this, and the air filter housing looks quite original too. Just elevated.
Otherwise, it’s just a Ranchero.
From Nevada.
Looking a bit odd. I presume that’s the point.
I passed by this Ranchero some time later on a rainy morning with the dog on our walk, and there was a plastic bucket sitting upside down covering up the scoop. I’m sure I took a picture, but cannot find it now.
Looks like an original slacker 144 six cylinder air cleaner.
The 1963 1/2 260 V8 engine had a different one.
That’s a nicely-styled hood on an otherwise mostly unmolested, quite clean example of a somewhat obscure vehicle. Why would someone cut a hole in it and ruin it?
Exactly.
Any improved performance effect from the raised air intake would be negated by the stock air cleaner. And you”d have to take the air cleaner off to open the hood.
I can only think someone actually likes the look of this. Remedial aesthetics team to the white Ranchero, stat!
As a Nevadan, it is truly bizarre that the trucklet wears “Classic Vehicle” plates. Unlike most other states, these plates cost *more* than a “daily driver” plate.
All they accomplish is exempting the vehicle from emissions inspections, and they limit the vehicle to 5000 miles per year to boot. Since pre-1968 cars are already exempt from smog check, there’s really very little reason to shell out the extra dough for a “Classic Vehicle” plate on anything from ’67 or before.
My friends don’t like it
Tut tut, looks like rain. Ummmm…crap, now what?
I’m thinking the intended look the owner was going for was for the velocity stack alone to stick out of the hood, like a traditional period hot rod, which matches the chrome steelies and slight rake in the suspension. I think the stock air cleaner assembly wasn’t about looking deliberately odd, but is a sort of reality check solution when the prospect of driving around with exposed carb venturis proved to be the bad idea that it is.
My take is this is someone’s Rube Goldberg solution to an OEM carburetor problem which necssitated slapping on a taller aftermarket unit (probably with a new intake manifold, as well) and the OEM air cleaner assembly and snorkel then wouldn’t clear the hood. So, a hole was cut into the hood, the velocity stack was called to duty, and the OEM air cleaner gets slapped on top of that. Whether it’s done all the time is anyone’s guess.
Frankly, the whole thing is kind of funky, mainly in using the garish OEM air cleaner assembly. I mean, a simple chrome Mr. Gasket unit which approximately matched the diameter of the velocity stack would have looked infintely better that just spray-painting the original unit.
But, then, something like that might have been attractive to thieves. I doubt anyone is going to be making off with the air cleaner that’s on it. Then there’s the issue of replacing a dirty air cleaner element. It would be a whole lot easier (and cheaper) to find elements for the OEM air cleaner than an aftermarket unit.
I don’t know, Falcon hoods have a good amount of height room under them, and not many other V8s will fit between the shock towers beyond a 289/302. There are tons of low profile air cleaner assemblies that can be pilfered at a junkyard if a too tall intake/carb was the case.
Given the Nevada plates I still think this is roadtrip preparedness
Is it for sale?
It’s all about air velocity, it’s been proven on the engine dyno that such intakes increase power.
Now throwing the 60s single snorkle air cleaner on it would probably negate that, but it’s still funny.
I think he would’ve been better off turning that non-functional hood-scoop into a functional one by cutting two horizontal holes in the decorative chrome piece, and ducted it back to the air cleaner somehow under the hood.
Did anyone notice the old dirty air filter in the back? And the box? Perhaps he goes through these so fast with this setup, that he has to buy them by the 1/2 dozen. 😂
Otherwise, it’s a nice looking Falcon-Ute as our friends from down-under would say.
Rotate 180 degrees if it looks like rain
Um, water injection? (c:
Cowl induction
I think our current COALer Connor Kleck has a trailer hitched up to a 4Runner right now and is heading out to pick up that 2door Volvo that’s for sale right across the street from the Ranchero.
As for me, I’m liking that green on white C/K 10 and the Toyota longbed in the background of the second to last pic. Tell me more!
A cold air intake works better with a hose from the intake horn into fresh air in a low pressure area, at least thats how manufacturers do it. Nice ute other than the intake pity we didnt have the little V8 available in Falcons back then, all we got from OZ was the asthmatic 144 or mildly better 170.
“A cold air intake works better with a hose from the intake horn into fresh air in a low pressure area…”
HIGH-pressure area, typically near the base of the windshield where the HVAC also gets it’s air supply.
Is the air cleaner even bolted-down? I don’t see an “El Toro” wing-nut.
First Guess: Velocity Stack as a styling effort. Used to be fairly common around here–some High-School doofus would jigsaw the hood and cram a velocity stack on top of the carb, he and his doofus buddies all thought this was impressive. Air cleaner on top keeps the rain and debris out while the car is parked. Removed for actual driving.
Am I wrong?
I cut a NACA duct in the hood of my ’82 Cavalier back in the day. Not sure it added any actual performance, but it looked cool (at least to me, at that point in my life).
VAROOOOOM!
I prefer to imagine it’s a recycled filter housing for the velocity stack on the souped up 302. Summit Racing now sells a more professional looking variant.
At least it’s in the center of the hood, try doing that with a Mopar.
Another post for the House of Volvo 240s across the street?
Would it not ingest water when raining? I imagine that would soak the filter element pretty badly
Pretty good looking Ranchero overall, pity they ruined the hood .
-Nate