Decades before the F-150 and Ranger Raptors, Ford ingeniously fused utility with tire-scorching power in a car-based pickup that continues to intrigue enthusiasts fifty years on. The Ranchero saga commenced in December 1956, as Ford expanded its full-size lineup for the 1957 model year to include a pickup variant.
The initial generation endured until the close of the 1959 model year, facing discontinuation due to lackluster sales. However, rather than fading into obscurity, the Ranchero evolved. From 1960 to 1965, a fresh compact Ranchero emerged as part of the Falcon line.
Transitioning to the intermediate Fairlane platform from 1966 to 1967, followed by the Torino lineup from 1968 to 1976, the Ranchero underwent several transformations.
Ultimately, the 1977–1979 Ranchero, rooted in the new LTD II intermediate, marked Ford’s final foray into car-based pickups on American soil. Among the seven distinctive Ranchero generations spanning the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the GT-trimmed, 429-equipped fifth generation stands out as the pinnacle, leaving an indelible mark as a cornerstone of the muscle car era.
