1969 Ford Ranchero 500

Leepers are some of our favorite cars here at Classic Auto Mall. Not only because they're fast and soft-spoken, but also because they represent the ingenuity of putting big horsepower in anonymous and sometimes unpopular packages. It's a side of our personality that, given the pages of polished cars on our website, you probably wouldn't expect to see. And I know what you're thinking...you doubt my sincerity about introducing a genuine, road-ready sleeper. But alas, after you take just one look at this Ranchero, you'll quell your convictions.

Looking original in its paint scheme, this former California car, er...uhh, truck lived the good life from its birth until it was brought eastward in 2014. Wearing 100% Ford sheet metal and having been treated to some upgrades, both on the aesthetics and performance front along the way, this truck was meant to be driver. A grocery getter by day and by night a cruiser with a 351ci Windsor V8.

Exterior
A respray of the factory Wimbledon White adorns this car and is looking top flight with only minor inclusions and a mismatch of the color for the pinned and scooped hood. The gaps are still well minded, and trimmings are used sparingly only as a thin side spear trim down low and polished surrounds for the glass and top of the black tonneau covered bed. Up front, the standard Fairlane grille, slightly sunken back into the body, leads the way with chrome highlighting, GT badging and outboard dual headlamps. A good looking chrome bumper hangs below and gently wraps around the lower edges of the front fenders. More dress up is on the sides in the form of a C-stripe in gold that thins to a point as it races rearward. Out back a FORD badged tailgate hovers above another nice chrome bumper and is flanked on the sides by tall ovoid tail lights. Popping the snaps on the tonneau gives us access to the fold down tailgate handle then exposing the Rhino lined bed which presents with little to no wear. Keeping this hauler grounded are 14-inch styled steel wheels with polished trim rings and GT center caps. These wheels are shod in like new raised white letter BF Goodrich Radial TA rubber.

Interior
A swing of the door and we see black vinyl panels with some chromed trimmings and handles and cranks. Grand Touring badges have been added for a little extra dress up. Inside some black vinyl combines with a tuck and roll crushed velour insert in mostly gray but with a few speckles of black color added. Black piping surrounds the borders and chrome trimming gives some pizzazz to the sides of the seats. Racing between the buckets is a black console with a black padded topper armrest/glovebox as well as a brushed and polished aluminum insert around the chrome T-handle shifter. The dash upfront is a foursome of deep inset circles with antique white face gauges shaded nicely for viewing. These include a factory tachometer, speedometer, clock and pod for warning lights and the fuel gauge. This padded dashtop is in a black much like the seat surrounds. The lower band of the dash shows a band of wood applique that holds the heater vents and Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo. Clean black carpeting, a wood rimmed rally wheel fronts the dash, and above is a stippled pattern vinyl headliner, remaining clean and taut.

Drivetrain
A 351ci V8 in blue is under the scooped and pinned hood and is fed a precise mixture of air and fossils from an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and aluminum intake manifold. Bolted to the back is a 4-speed AOD automatic transmission that sends power rearward to a 3.25 geared TracLoc equipped Ford 9" axle with 31 spline axles from Tom's. Some chrome dress up has been added for the valve covers and air cleaner lid courtesy of Edelbrock and we note the addition of AC to keep you cool as a cucumber.

Undercarriage
Half and half would best describe the undercarriage, with half sprayed in black and the back half left to age with the car. Overall showing some patina and surface rust but all including the unibody remain solid. Independent coil spring suspension is up front along with power disc brakes and in the rear we note leaf springs and power drums. Dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers snakes it way rearward and ends with chrome tips under the rear bumper.

Drive-Ability
An easy starter, smooth idler and comfortable driver. Sinking into the vinyl and cloth seats afforded me the time to gaze upon not only the factory gauges but the additional units installed under the dash. A movement of the shifter into drive and I was off like a prom dress. 3 laps around our test track rewarded me with unlimited acceleration, bias free braking and surprisingly good handling for a truck. All functions were operational at the time of my drive and the AC even blew cold.

A former California car, upgraded in both the looks and performance categories, but not losing the original charm it was born with. Loaded with modern features, this car/truck is ready to haul you right out of our Hallowed Halls, then you can impress your friends by hauling some ass!

9K48M165140

9-1969
K-Kansas City, KS Assy Plant
488-Ranchero 500
M-351ci Windsor V8 4bbl 290hp
165140-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY TAG

BODY 66AB-Ranchero 500
COLOR I-Lime Metallic
TRIM 5A-Black Vinyl
DATE 30L-November 30th Build
DSO 72-San Jose
AXLE-Illegible
TRANS 6-Close Ratio 4-Speed Manual

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.