The Ranchero was a “coupe utility” or “gentlemen’s pickup” that Ford produced from 1957 to 1979. Based on a full-size 2-door wagon in the beginning, Ford repositioned it to the new compact Falcon platform in 1960, resulting in a sales bump of nearly 50%. This first-year example was pulled out of a barn where it had been sitting for 20 years – and it runs (sort of)! Located in Bogota, Texas, this smaller Ford truck is available here on eBay for $2,950 and counting.

They say that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” and that also applies to the Chevy El Camino, which was inspired by the Ford Ranchero. Both vehicles enjoyed long runs, with the El Camino going from 1959 to 1987 with a break from 1961 to 1963. Both vehicles combined the driving characteristics of an automobile with the hauling capabilities of a truck, but only the Ranchero did so as a compact for six years. The seller rescued this old Ranchero from a Texas barn where it had been resting with at least two other Rancheros for a long time. The process of finding and fixing it up to an extent can be seen in this video.

As the story goes, the prior owner was in the midst of restoring this Falcon derivative when he/she passed away. The engine was rebuilt – but never ran – and the interior removed, and that may be where things came to a halt. It’s a basic truck, with a 144 cubic inch inline-6 and a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. A radiator hose has been replaced, but the brakes are going to need attention right away. Most of the wiring will need to be reconnected to the wiring harness.

While the white paint is toast, the sheet metal may be relatively rust-free. While not all of its parts are in place – like the bench seat – the rear bumper has taken flight but shouldn’t be hard to source. The glass is okay except for a crack in the windshield. The seat and door panels will need recovering. There’s no title due to the original being lost, so hopefully a bill of sale will suffice for your DMV. Are you up to finishing where the seller has left off?