Ranchero was the answer to a plea from farmers and ranchers all over the rural universe: Could somebody please produce a vehicle that combines the utility of a pickup truck with the style and drivability of a passenger car?
Ford was first with the 1957 Ranchero, beating Chevrolet and everybody else to the punch.
The Pick of the Day is from that first year, a 1957 Ford Ranchero with a few resto-mod upgrades for performance and reliability, such as a 289cid V8 with chrome flair in a well-detailed engine compartment.
Ford had a great design year in 1957, all of its cars from mundane sedans to flashy retractable hardtops were longer and lower, with attractive details such as the Frenched single headlights, slanted chrome grille, and taillights and tailfins that were influenced by the Thunderbird.
This makes the ’57 Ranchero a particularly desirable collector car, especially with the gleaming chrome trim, two-tone paint and “smoothie” chrome wheels on this example.
“The two-tone treatment looks particularly nice on the ’57s, because the full-length trim is an artful wave of silver and gold that provides a well-defined separation line that gives this a premium appearance,” according to the Lutz, Florida, dealer advertising this Ranchero on ClassicCars.com.
“The black interior has a clean and quite tasteful look. In fact, the split bench has a hint of tuck-and-roll pattern. And all the darkness of the upholstery really makes the bright dash pop. There are nice classic elements, like the artful steering wheel and bright classic gauge panel.
“But as you gaze across this, you’ll also see well-integrated upgrades. For example, the retro-style radio is a modern AM/FM digital tuner for upgraded driving music. The auxiliary gauge trio has a polished housing to fit in with the rest of the brightwork.”
The Ranchero was built to be an enjoyable cruiser, the seller notes, with a C4 automatic transmission backing up the 289 and disc brakes added up front for improved stopping power.
The Ranchero is priced at $29,995.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Very Nice!
This is a beautiful truck. I have owned 9 Ranchero’s and even made 2 into 4×4’s one being a supercab with a back seat. LOVED THEM ALL.
I love it
Yes, very nice indeed. But in Charlotte, like I would imagine Lutz, Florida, us older gents reallyh need the AC to make it an “enjoyable cruiser”.
Dennis J.
Beautiful!!!
Is this for sale ?