1973 Ford Ranchero 500 Junkyard Find

1973 #FordRanchero500 Junkyard Find.This old Ranchero wasn't in too bad of shape that it needed to be junked IMO. The damage to the driver side was caused by the yard. The header panel and grill looked to be the onlt body damage that ut came in with. It had been in the yard for at least a week and the only things missing were the gauge cluster and some engine brackets off the 351windsor. I really think this one could have been saved.

[@rosseganjr9402]

I love rancheros, El Caminos thanks for finding them!

[@marygarner5249]

Poor thing didn't deserve That people are looking for those lot of good parts love your Videos

[@americanmusclemaniac9565]

That’s a rare truck dude. It needs to be saved

[@danteinferno3097]

Never liked that body style until I got to be older now really like them that car deserves to be saved

[@455GP]

Your right about saving them, there will never be another car produced like them, funny thing is about Ranchero’s The ride was so smooth

[@bruceblumhagen2878]

Still looks better than a Jeep Gladiator.

[@DNR5586]

Back in the mid '70's our next door neighbor had a bright red Ranchero with American Racing slot mags on it. I thought it was the coolest car/truck on the block! Every time I see a Ranchero I think of him.

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you Benny I always enjoy your wonderful videos I am from South Africa

[@cobragaming7068]

Based on the Ford Torino and or Gran Torino of 1973 to 1976 . Windsor 351I do like the Gran Torino‘s . I had one and used to watch Starsky and Hutch when younger. My Gran Torino had a rebuilt 351 Windsor in it and was green with a white roof. Beautiful car and brings back fond memories.

[@randywineinger779]

Looks like it worth saving, thanks Benny.

[@davidleland8729]

Would be great if someone would rescue it!

[@tonyfriend7413]

i was a month and 4 days from turning 12 years old when this car was brand new and going into the 6th. grade in the fall of that year!

[@googleusergp]

Whoa Nelley, used to be gold, now it's full of mold.... We got the VIN, we win: 3 for 1973 model year, A for Hapeville (Atlanta), GA assembly aka "Hotlanta", 47 for Ranchero 500 body style, H for 351 V8 with two barrel and the rest is the production sequence. We got the tag, we can brag: 97D for Ranchero 500 body style, 6F for Gold Glow/Bright Yellow Metallic exterior paint, VFA should be for tan interior trim, the A should denote black vinyl top, transmission of X is the FMX automatic, axle of 6 is 3.00:1 rear end ratio, non-locking, and 52 is the Dallas, TX sales district. That light is probably made in China. Most of the plug in lights of that vintage were. Many were made by the same manufacturer, just labeled differently for the customer that was buying them. Typically a Windsor uses six valve cover bolts, while a Cleveland uses eight. The Windsor fuel pump bolts are side by side and on the Cleveland they are top and bottom. There are other differences as well. Plenty of ways to look that up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2SVdH2prNtnq9k Whoa Nelley, Gold Glow, gotta go. 351 and it's done. Going to be scrap at the drop of a hat. That's it, time to quit. Always get the VIN so we win. Don't forget the tag, or we cannot brag, and the Google Man is sad. 1973, going to be set free. Going to be flat, that's that. It's going to get squished and the FOMOCO faithful are pretty pissed.

[@garymckee8857]

When I was young I remember many 73 Torino painted in the same color scheme as the original color on this one

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 What year did you have it?

[@garymckee8857]

@@googleusergp l had a 70 GT in dark green with the stripe. Never had a 73 but l remember there was many around in that color.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 The color similar to the one in the movie. What years did you own it? In the 80s?

[@garymckee8857]

@@googleusergp yes probably about 83 l traded it for a 72 Road Runner

[@richroggio]

Hi Benny, I like that Ranchero. it reminds me of the GMC Caballero!

[@nathankim7664]

Aw man, this was the car I've been DYING to get. The grille with the turn signals is unique to the 73 year. 74-76 had a smaller egg crate grille. The 72 is pretty desirable because of the "Trout Mouth" grille too. Everything from the A pillar back is the same for 72-79. I believe the Ranchero 500 is the base trim level with the GT and the fancy Squire trims. The gauge cluster probably had the optional tachometer and I believe that there was a Quartz clock that came with it. Too bad you didn't get a good look at the radio, looks like an AM/FM non-8 track radio. Don't mean to offend the GM fanatics, but the Rancheros 72-76 looked so damn good while the 73-77 el Camino looked UGLY. Man, the forklift driver sounds pretty retarded if it took so long for him to get the job done very sloppy! The body must've been very straight!

[@googleusergp]

True, but add the sloppy steering, sloppy carburetion and overall lack of Ford quality (GM was no shining star in these years either) and you've got a recipe for a big league heap.

[@michaelwitas9482]

I thought the '77 to '79 models had a shorter bed but I could be wrong.

[@cartoonfoxxx]

I had caminos 1979 and 1982 and i just got me 1973 ranchero 500 few monts ago... is a huge diference and i really love it

[@johnhill8046]

Interesting the different lines of cars rancheos were made from through the years

[@mattshansen9814]

Sad to see it in the yard

[@CR7659]

I used to go to Nash Auto Parts here, which was an old yard he bought from another guy. I remember he cleaned up some stuff in one section and there was a Ranchero... I think it was the 70-71 style. But there was not much left of it, I don't know if they sawed it up or what, there was just enough of the top and rear to recognize what it was and it was folding up and collapsing. I think if you spread it out and set it on the ground you'd have had the top foot of the fenders, the roof, and nothing else. it may have just been rotting, I've run across other cars where all the bottom of it is just gone. Compared to that stuff this car is mint.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@455GP]

I always liked those cars , something about Ranchero’s and ElCamino’s I thought was cool

[@dowen1511]

Maybe the box in the back ?

[@455GP]

@@dowen1511 could be, could be, lol

[@nathankim7664]

I agree. I like both the Ranchero and El Camino. But the 73-77 el Camino isn't my favorite body style while the Ranchero of the similar time period (72-76) looked really good. Same front end as the Starsky and Hutch Torino!!!

[@455GP]

@@nathankim7664 I think my favorite is the Ranchero GT

[@donaldblanton6007]

I had a friend who had one just like that but has was a 72 but it had a 429 in it. And it would Hall butt. It come factory in it has uncle it brand new in 71. Thanks for the great videos 👍

[@samuelvetromile5382]

This is sad It looks like it could be restored I live in Rochester NY I cannot remember the last time I saw one of these 😊😊

[@tonyfriend7413]

Toyota Jan Will be Grinning ear to ear, Waiting for this 2b Smashed and Become A Brand New Shiny Preus or A Camera.

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

Front end reminds me a 1964 Studebaker Cruiser.

[@dowen1511]

That engine looks like it was fresh not long ago.

[@cosmiccharlie8606]

Thanks for the ford man love the Ranchero its ugly but like the old Ltd body style..... if you can call it style

[@doug9066]

Been the same here in Lubbock (West Texas) which temp been getting well over 100 degrees this week.

[@garymckee8857]

Too bad it didn't have a Cleveland and of course waiting on Mr Google. Thanks Benny

[@googleusergp]

Yup, decoded above. We got the VIN...ah you know the rest. LOL.

[@garycrawford2256]

The X on the identification code stands for FMX transmission.

[@googleusergp]

That is correct.

[@chrislemaster2695]

A FORD TORINO WITH A TRUCK BED

[@kc0lif]

wish i had buncha money and big trailer i get that ranchero and suburban lol.

[@kyboy5]

Filled with scrap frame rotted most likely

[@jorgeguillen6884]

🤩🤩👌🏻👏🏻

[@williamkowalczyksr6419]

How was the bed floor any rust?

[@mlow587]

would be interesting to know how much the autowreckers are asking for the vehicles.

[@chrislemaster2695]

I LEASTED IT HAD FACTORY A/C

[@weldyourshitdro5262]

I see wagon i see possy

[@malikdigger4544]

Got to right water boots be in salvage yard talk about mud pit another kool abandoned project gone to waste in crusher I'm more of Elcamino fan but u can't say no to a Ford Ranchero in Australia there called UTEs.

[@OrangeBoss-ww8eb]

tail light and tail gait bring good money up north

[@tonyfriend7413]

tail gate stupid!

[@doug9066]

I'm surprised Ford Motor Company didn't make a retro of the Ranchero (if spelled right) or bring back but they probably wouldn't sell.

[@231gnx]

Ranchero sounds better than the new Maverick.Which was a car '70-77.