1961 Ford Ranchero

The Ford Ranchero was produced from 1957 through 1979. These were unique vehicles - they were part car and part pickup truck. In total, there were 508,355 examples constructed during its production lifespan. The Ford Ranchero constructed from 1957 through 1959 was built atop a full-size Ford Fairlane platform. In 1960 the second-generation iteration of this truck/car was switched to a Falcon platform.

For consignment, a cute little example of the 1961 Ranchero which is now based on the Falcon platform. This example is very nicely restored and is looking very original, all bathed in red. Trimmings in chrome are looking swanky and shiny and the bed is now lined with a sprayed in bed liner, which is also seen on the rear tailgate. Working on the farm on weekdays and taking it to church in your finest on Sundays was the original concept stemming from the Australian Ute.

Exterior
Look! From the B pillar forward it's a Ford Falcon. From that point rearward it's a Ranchero pickup bed. You have the best of both worlds in this vehicle. Straight body panels in all steel line up to mind their gaps and create the solid exterior. It was then bathed in miles deep red. Sporting the Falcon front grille with single headlight and V shaped egg crate grille there is a framing of a shiny bumper below. Window trimmings are looking good as are door handles, mirrors, and badging. On the back the bed has a few dents and dings and sports a sprayed in liner, but nothing out of the realm or ordinary use. The tailgate also sports the liner and moves up and down with ease. Flanking this on either side are round taillights reminiscent of a jet age engine, with a round shiny bezel on each. Rear quarters are expertly sculpted to rid themselves of the pointed fin but retain a rounded bump out which frames the tail lighting. Red wheels have a shiny center cap and are then wrapped in black wall tires all around. A spare resides within the bed currently.

Interior
A swing of the doors and we reveal what can only be called mid 60s snazzy! Here we see red painted sills expertly stamped to wind its way around a large central spear which is covered in aluminum and houses the door pull in red vinyl. Below this spear is more red vinyl in vertical tuck and roll and all panel delineations have a nice thin chromed trimming complete with shiny actuators and cranks. Slipping inside we enter utilitarian heaven. A long beach covered in red tuck and roll insert vinyl and a smooth white bolster stretches from door to door. A simplistic metal dual elongated “eyebrow dash” houses an instrument cluster surrounded by aluminum, and a radio in the center. Save for a few plastic knobbed pulls the dashes described! Red carpeting floods the floors, and all is very clean and shiny on this interior…Nearly showroom.

Drivetrain
A flip of the hood and I have an AH HA! moment, seeing a restored engine bay with a slightly patina blue painted block and valve covered 144ci inline 6-cylinder mill. It is topped with a filtered air cleaned 1-barrel carburetor and has a Ford 3.03 3-speed manual transmission shifted by the tree lever. On back is a Ford 7.25 3.10 rear axle, and all is good in Ranchero Land!

Undercarriage
Looking very clean and totally restored and rust free, the underside emulates the top side as to quality and finish. All rust free black painted solid metal stamped and framed surfaces. For the suspension we see independent coil springs for the front and leaf springs for the back. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners and a stock exhaust is snaking its way rearward through a shiny muffler.

Drive-Ability
An effortless starter, smooth, (albeit high), idle, and I was off to the test track. Here it performed beautifully handling nicely, a smooth cruise, and decent acceleration. Bias free braking from the drums, other than the steering wheel being mounted upside down, and the radio not working all else is good.

One fine example of this 1961 Ranchero. Small and compact, with a fuel efficient inline 6-cylinder engine (who cared in 1961?). Fully restored and looking good, and certainly a driver and survivor, but has had plenty of TLC performed to get it up to its current snuff.

VIN DECODE
1R27S111491
1-1961
R-San Jose, CA Assy Plant
27-Ranchero
S-144ci I6 1bbl 65hp
111491-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.