1971 Ford Ranchero

[@dennislettich4035]

"Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed Truth

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah buddy congratulations you got it =)

[@20CentMotors]

@@What.its.like. dang, how did I miss that one? Great song

[@What.its.like.]

@ totally agree great song =) from 1971

[@ronkemperful]

When I was a freshman in high school, my youth pastor drove me at high speed from highway 395 outside of Reno to Virginia City Nevada in 20 minutes on a winding road during a moonless night, , weaving up a mountain, a drive that should have taken at least 40 minutes. The road was a narrow 2 lanes but lightly traveled. To make the corners the madman driver cut well into the wrong side of the road. Nervous, I said, “What about cars going the opposite way?” The youth pastor laughed and said, “I’m looking for approaching headlights, we’ll be alright!” So, we squealed on the polyester belt tires and somehow made it safely to our destination. The ride was in this vehicle, or one like it… my heart still pounds thinking of that night!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing that story

[@steveking4203]

Boy, does that bring back memories. I bought a 1973 Ranhero squire with the 302 motor. One of my favorite cars.

[@leedaniels7196]

One of my favorite Rancheros!.Love the lines on these!.

[@thecarguy7238]

1970 and 1971 I think are the best looking of all. I like the 50’s ones also.

[@fidobite3798]

This brings back fond memories of my early h.s. yrs! I loved these Rancheros & El Caminos! I prefer the Chevelle based El Camino SS myself but both are quite nice!

[@paultresham1483]

66 Falcon/Ranchero has always been one of my favorite Fords

[@davidjernigan8161]

The 351 4V was likely the Cleveland engine with the large port large valve cylinder heads which raised the rpm at which peak torque was made.

[@ernielaw]

Although the Falcon & Fairlane were restyled in 1966, with the Falcon looking more similar to the Fairlane,[especially the wagon variants]. The 1966 Ranchero still had the Falcon grill and lights for one last year. The Ranchero also bore the Fairlane name for '67 only as it began having a Fairlane grill. My choice pickup shown here would be the 1971 Ranchero, although I like the late 70s Ranchero even more. On a final note , take note of the Falcon grill on the '66 Ranchero in WYR.

[@danielcheatham3400]

I always liked Rancheros. A friend of my dads offered to sell me his 57 ranchero.... i passed it up. still regretting that. I always look forward to seeing the dashboards

[@What.its.like.]

Bit of background yesterday I went to a Packard collection and was going to shoot a couple, but the weather was so bad that the owner asked me if I wanted to come back in the spring and I said hell yeah.. going to get some out and drive them I've been working on three episodes this one the glass par and Bugatti W16 engine glass par needs more work before I can release it that one is going to be sort of hard to do because it could take any v8 of the day I forgot the button switches and knobs segment on this one

[@buffdelcampo]

I always liked Rancheros and El Caminos. I had a '57 Ranchero many years ago.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome

[@timothysotelo3868]

For a short time I had a 1958 Ranchero with a 352 FE and a 3 speed on the column. It was well used when I got it. It started its life as a delivery car for a feed and grain store and the name of the store was faintly still on the door. With out any weight on the back this was a crazy tire smoker I was told the payload was higher than a F100 at the time

[@1936Studebaker]

Australia was the first to build a hard side Ute (utility) It was make by Ford in 1934, it came to be due to a letter written by a farmers wife asking Ford to build vehicle she could go to church in on Sunday and take the pigs to market on the Monday! Australia continuously built Utes from 1934 until 2017 by both Ford and Holden (GMH) until both companies shut down manufacturing down in Australia.

[@What.its.like.]

Great information I wasn't sure if they still made utes

[@darrenharvey6084]

The first purpose built car based truck was designed by Ford Australia in 1934 . Called the coupe utility truck . We just call them utes .

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hey Jay! I still think these were all a fabulous concept! Wish they were still around! With trucks costing so much these days, these type of vehicles would be welcome. Love the styling of pretty much ALL the Ranchero's up to the seventies. And that 351 2V was a GOOD engine! Enough power and torquey, too! Same engine was in my first car. Think, though that they have put a twin snorkle air cleaner assembly on the one shown, those were more common on 4V engines, as far as I can remember. Might be wrong, though! The warning in the bed to not cut holes in the gas tank was pretty clever!! Knew your camera wouldn't fit in the glove box, the 1968-1971 Torinos had the same size box! Mine would just about fit the owner's manual package and some other papers. But still these are FINE vehicles! Would love to have one today! WYR 1971 Ranchero, 1957 Ranchero.

[@DSP1968]

I really enjoyed this video, Jay. And I'd take the Ranchero, of course! Make mine a Squire with the 351 (4V) engine and AC, please.

[@What.its.like.]

You bet those looked awesome

[@davebodi]

1972 was THE best year for The Ranchero !

[@stevenaylor5163]

Elcamino and 1966 Ranchero

[@luisvelasco316]

I've always liked the '70-'71 Torino and Ranchero, especially the GT with the "Laser" stripe, though the Cobra was pretty cool also. The Chevelle/Malibu/ El Camino/GMC Jimmy of the same era was also sweet, especially the SS models. A local guy had an estate sale with nearly 100 cars, including 2 1957 Rancheros, one of which had only 42K on the clock. Unfortunately, most of the cars were stored outdoors, and were pretty roached, including the Rancheros. Unfortunately, the Ranchero never seemed to be as popular as the El Camino. There's a Dodge Rampage 2.2 GT (same as the Scamp) for sale on FB Marketplace now - green with a cap that makes it look like a sedan delivery. I think it is in PA or OH.

[@ColtonRMagby]

WYR: All of them. I've seen Elvis' Ford Fairlane 500 Ranchero at the Museun of Automobiles here in Arkansas, and it's amazing.

[@P_RO_]

Everyone knows that Elvis was something of a car buff. Never knew he had a Ranchero though!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

My 1st vehicle was a 1971 Ranchero Squire. The standard engine was the 351C-4v, which mine had. It also had the C6 automatic and a 3.0:1 rear end gear ratio. I put 15" chrome wheels on it. I could bury the 120 mph in 2nd gear. I got a few speeding tickets, but none were more than 10 mph over the posted speed, though. My biggest ticket(and I was proud of it) was for leaving 2 black streaks on the pavement, 175 ft. long. If you looked inside the glovebox door, at the sticker, it showed which model came with which engine. Side note. The last year that you could get the 10.7:1 compression ratio in the 351C-4v , in a Ranchero, was 1970. The 1971 Boss 351 Mustang had 11.7:1 compression with 330 governed h.p. My 1971 Ranchero Squire still required premium, but it's compression ratio was 9:1. I've never seen that double-snorkel air cleaner before. Somebody must have put it on. There were actually 3 different 351 V8's available in the '71 Ranchero: 351-2v(Windsor), 351C-2v(Cleveland) and the 351C-4v(Cleveland). The 351 Windsor and 351 Cleveland were from 2 drastically different engine families with only displacement in common. There were several automatics too. 49-state cars got the FMX or C4 for the 2v, California only got the C4. All with the 351C-4v got only the C6. The sticker or plate on the driver's door jam, showed which drivetrain it left the factory with. Overall driving impressions on my Ranchero Squire was that it accelerated like a bat out of hell. Handling was so-so, due to the antiquated front suspension and the antiquated linkage-type power steering. We fashioned a rear anti-sway bar which improved handling a stability quite a bit. I learned how effective it was when one of the brackets broke. I'm lucky that the car didn't flip. My Ranchero Squire had power front disc brakes(standard), but those were also under-performing and panic stops required me to put both my feet on the brake pedal. As far as choices go, I would have chosen the '71 El Camino. When I got my Ranchero, I had just missed out on a '69 SS396 El Camino. Choosing among the 3 Rancheros, although the suspensions and steer was the same design, I'd go for the '71, as it had the highest power potential.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this Great information and insight

[@49VinCom]

Very nice motorcycle hauler!

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree

[@abcullens2328]

Question, did they not offer the 351 Cleveland V8?

[@P_RO_]

This one is a 351Cleveland.IIRC there was also a 4bbl option offered for this engine. Ford used the 351W in Rancheros for 69 and 70, then switched to the Cleveland and later the 351M variant of it.

[@P_RO_]

Always a Ranchero fan, the 5th gen ones are IMHO the best looking ones. The engine in this one is the vaunted 351 Cleveland but a 429 was optional. Though I don't know why the Ford chrome bumpers through this era lack shine and depth even when they were new- the one thing about them I don't like. The 'do not drill' area in the bed is where the fuel tank is. On the WYR you might think I'm nuts, but first choice is the Plymouth Scamp, not many were made and they're very rare today. I've seen just one in my lifetime and what really sucks is that I could have bought it if I'd had the money for the downpayment. Second round goes to the 71. Some Ranchero Trivia: The 66 shown in the WYR is early production with a Falcon-based front end. Late in the year Ford switched to a Fairlane-based front end with both styles being titled as 1966 models.

[@geebs76]

Really enjoyed this video. This is a car I would like to own. I think these are handsome years for the Ranchero and the color and decals on this one look nice. Although I don't hate it I'm not as much of a fan of the Squire as I think the wood looks out of place on the car. Tough choice between this and the '71 El Camino but since the Chevy has a 454 I'd choose it and change those wheels. I'd choose the '71 in the second scenario.

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

el camino, 66 ranchero.

[@jasonnaimie5465]

Great video. Question 1 #3

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices

[@jeffreykurth2703]

The Ford then 57. Hands down.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choice

[@OffTheSkooma]

Gotta do a 1972 Gran Torino plz

[@What.its.like.]

Hahaha great write in

[@ernielaw]

Same car as in the movie by the same name.

[@OffTheSkooma]

@@ernielaw I own two of them, my gold white fastback and a brown square wagon

[@20CentMotors]

when was the first factory clear coat 2 stage paint? I'm thinking Lincoln Versailles 1980ish.

[@ginoperretta373]

I believe it was european cars that started doing that in the early 70's

[@Frank-sf1wh]

On the first scenario, I choose the ford. In the second one, I would choose the 57 model. I really like the 57 having owned a 57 ford station wagon in the 70s.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices

[@davidjernigan8161]

The rear bumper looks a lot like what would be used on a station wagon ; the tailgate may also use a lot of the wagon tailgate sheet metal and trim parts. The firewall forward is all Fairlane/Torino

[@greglammers9905]

I had a 1971 GT. 351 2bb automatic. It was orange. The thing would haul!ss. My wife hated it.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience Wives tend to hate what we love lol

[@asteverino8569]

My guess for the tune is 'Long distance information'. Very nice year for Ranchero. I prefer the El Camino over all. My dad had a Chevy 2 door of the same year.

[@What.its.like.]

Hahaha great guess Dennis got it smiling faces

[@jasonnaimie5465]

What is the red car next to it on driver side?

[@What.its.like.]

Not sure but it would be a truck that was the truck room

[@ernielaw]

There is the back end of a red pickup to the left. It would be either a Rampage or Plymouth Scamp identical to the one shown on 'Would You Rather'

[@jasonnaimie5465]

@@ernielaw can you add it to the list of possible future car videos, thanks

[@bparksiii6171]

I'll take any Ranchero from the 57 to 77, but the really big catch would be any GMC Sprint, those are extremely rare, built from 1967 until the end of El Camino production. A suggestion maybe do a segment similar to an engine episode on Australian utes, a lot of folks don't know about them, I think Hopless car guy and Ed's auto reviews might have covered them, that would be a great comparison to the Ranchero and El Camino.

[@What.its.like.]

That would be an epic comparison Sweet choice

[@ernielaw]

The Sprint was replaced by the GMC Cabalaro in 1978.

[@gabrielsandoval4994]

1971 Chevy El Camino all day. But that’s a nice looking Ranchero even if it is a ford. I’m wondering if they gave them Spanish names to give them a rugged appeal.

[@What.its.like.]

I often wondered that myself they both look good but man that Chevy

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

Similar to What We Call a Ute Or Utility In Australia 1:49

[@AML-FRL]

👍👍👍

[@gman3109]

I'll take the El Camino and the 66 ranchero

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices

[@jamesjohn834]

You didn't spend any time on the dash. That use to be a unique feature of your videos.

[@What.its.like.]

I forgot the dash footage on this one