57 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 79 FORD RANCHERO PHOTO HISTORY

INTRODUCED IN 1957, THE RANCHERO WAS PART CAR, PART PICKUP TRUCK AND ALL FUN WITH A LITTLE UTILITY THROWN IN. THOUGH IT WAS CONSIDERED A TRUCK, THE RANCHERO WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A RANCH WAGON STATION WAGON WITH THE REAR ROOF REMOVED.  IT WAS EVEN ASSEMBLED IN FORD'S CAR PLANTS.  IT LOOKED GOOD AND ITS "CAB" WAS AS STYLISH AND PLUSH AS A SEDAN'S.  WITH THE OPTIONAL 300 HORSEPOWER 352 V-8, IT COULD DO THINGS A STANDARD PICKUP COULD ONLY DREAM OF.  FOR MANY BUYERS, THE RANCHERO WAS THE PERFECT VEHICLE. 

FORD SOLD OVER 20,000 RANCHEROS THE FIRST YEAR.  IT WAS BUILD FROM MOSTLY STANDARD COMPONENTS, SO DEVELOPMENT COSTS WERE LOW AND PROFITS WERE HIGH.  IN FACT WITHIN 2 YEARS, GENERAL MOTORS HAD COPIED THE RANCHERO, INTRODUCING ITS EL CAMINO TO CASH IN ON THE MARKET FORD HAD CREATED.

DUE TO SOFTING SALES IN 1960 FORD SWITCHED THE RANCHERO TO THE COMPACT FALCON STATION WAGON CHASSIS.  NOW IT WAS ADVERTISED AS AN ECONOMY PICKUP.  IN 1966 THE RANCHERO WAS SWITCHED TO THE MID-SIZED PLATFORM.  THE TRUCK/CAR HAD FINALLY FOUND ITS PLACE, AND REMAINED ON FORD'S MID-SIZED CHASSIS THROUGH THE END OF PRODUCTION. 

"THIS PHOTO HISTORY OF THE FORD RANCHERO 1957-1979 IS A MODEL-BY-MODEL PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF THESE CLASSICS.  HERE IS THE TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT STORY OF THE VEHICLE FROM ITS DEBUT.

     MORE THAN 200 PHOTOGRAPHS DETAIL THE CHANGES IN THE MODELS, COMPONENTS, AND OPTIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT RECOGNITION AND RESTORATION GUIDE TO THESE VEHICLES.  INCLUDED ARE SPECIFICATIONS, EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR COLORS, OPTION LISTS, AND MORE

"THIS BOOK  IS A TECHNICAL REFERENCE SOURCE YOU WILL TURN TO AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AS SUCH IS A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR ANY RANCHERO FAN. . .   .           

THIS BOOK INCLUDES A  CHAPTER FOR  EACH SIGNIFICANT MODEL CHANGE FROM 1957 TO 1979.   .

MEASURES    8 1/2" X 11"