One again, the Cohort is chock full of fab finds, but we haven’t had us a Falcon Ranchero in way too long. And this one is a beaut; posted by Matthew Gagnon. Doesn’t it make a nice contrast to that big Ford in the background? Even with the 260 V8 under the hood, this Ranchero is not going to be hauling serious loads.
Matthew left a comment saying that Piston Ring Auto Parts is a Canadian parts distributor. And of course, I don’t know whether this Ranchero really was in their delivery fleet or not, but it looks the part, for a company that was started in 1953.
Sweet little rig.
Now this made my morning! Love it, love it, love it! I want to take it home.
I agree. I have no real use for a ranchero, but it’s just so friendly looking.
I’m trying to imagine a Focus-based Ranchero as the modern equivalent of this, and failing miserably. Though the later ones were 90% “lifestyle vehicles” that might actually carry something 10% of the time, these early ones seem more ready to “Get to work!” even if the capacity isn’t too high.
Agree, the Focus is too um, organic. (Read: toddler with a lump of clay). But maybe a Fusion would work, especially a few years back with the big three chrome bar grill?
I could even see a C Max version, though it rather lacks that V8 vibe…
Its enclosed, but the Transit Connect is the closest modern equivalent I can think of. Not in style, but function.
Until 2013 there was this Ford Courier from Brazil. And South Africa had its Ford Bantam Bakkie; also with a Fiesta front end.
Of course none of them had a V8…
Fun little truck! These early Falcon Rancheros are so appealing to me, like a cute little puppy.
This is a sort-of CC effect car for me. Over the weekend, I was driving through a small town and was passed by a gorgeous ivory 71 Ranchero – the first one I have seen in maybe decades. But I was running late and could not turn around and give chase, sadly.
Nice looking car. I’ve always preferred the convex grille of the 1962 through the ’64 Falcon any day than the 1960 Falcon.
Nice little Trucklet .
I nearly bought a similar one with a Perkins Diesel engine off E-Bay but the seller was a total flake and lied to boot so I passed .
-Nate
Nice looking small pickup. It rather looks like an AMT scale model especially with its graphics,but that ain`t a bad thing. I`d love to have one
The 60’s falcons have a soft spot in my heart because the cars we drove in driver training at my High School were 60 or 61 falcons, 6 cylinder and auto of course. This would have been in 62 or 63.
Was RM still in charge when Ford had both this and the Econoline pickup in production? Maybe because Chevy dropped the El Camino from ’61-’63 and Dodge never had a car-based trucklet, Ford sold enough to justify it.
I really like it as the original mini truck.
Graphics and lettering are period perfect. The way the red rims pick up the lettering and interior color really adds to the overall appeal and the ’62 Fairlane caps are a nice “custom” detail.
A sweet little truckette, whether it’s used just for promotion or to deliver the odd box off piston rings.
A guy down the street from me has one from ’65 or so. Faded red. I covet it. Perfect lift-over height for bicycles and lawnmowers. Maybe not quite so hot for forest service roads.
My first car was a 1962 Falcon 4 Door..:-(… 144CI six… slow but what a cool first car….These Falcon Rancheros are always a good look, add the 260 V8… and it couldn’t be better….
Had a friend that was a roofer and had a identical except brown paint truck. I helped him change out the 2 speed auto for a 3 speed auto upgrade. The first junkyard trans was bad, so we got to do the job twice. It was a cool little truck.
Did the three speed (? C4 ?) Slush Box help drivability ? .
Who knows , I might buy one of these yet .
-Nate
It was a big help. Made the little 260 V8 move it right along.
I have a running 1962 Ranchero in my garage. 170ci straight-six, three on the tree. It’s a great little machine — simple, no-frills, and capable of cruising at 70mph on the freeway.
With regards to those graphics, they are NOT period correct all. In fact, they seem overwrought — the product of a graphic designer who probably was born long after the 60’s. They are superficially reminiscent of the era, but back in the day the business name would have been hand-painted on the doors by a local sign painter, and would be completely faded by now.
And that’s the biggest problem with the truck. It is too shiny, or “too nice to drive” as I like to say. Not a curbside classic in the actual sense. That poor, underused truck probably sits in the parking lot only to be taken to car shows. I bet the owner would be petrified to use it as a delivery vehicle. Mine, on the other hand, has hauled engine blocks in its bed. She always responds well to doing tasks she was designed to do!
My dad had two Rancheros, one was this early bodystyle with a 6-cylinder and a three-on-the-tree that I learned to drive in and a ’64 with a 260 and an auto trans, both of which he used to get back and forth to work (and the occasional trip to the dump) in… fond memories of both
And here’s the Aussie version, with a different C ( or should that be a B) pillar.
The March/April issue of Vintage Truck has an article on the Ranchero won by “Ohio” George Montgomery at the National Hot Rod Association Nationals in 1960. You can see it peeking from behind his Willys in the photo. AMT issued a 1/24 scale model. George still has the truck. He has kept it in pristine condition.