The bed mouldings are the same 1972/79, all have D2OZ part number prefixes.

1973: The feds mandated that all passenger cars (this included Ranchero's, El Camino's) have 10 MPH front bumpers.

Behind the chrome front bumper is a heavy steel bumper reinforcement, the bumper brackets (called isolators) have pins that allow the brackets to collapse when the bumper is hit, allowing it to slide back several inches.

All 1973/79's have this setup, but no 1972 did. Since day one, the 1972 Ranchero has been the most popular (at least here in SoCal). Peeps just love that fish mouth grille. I prefer 1967's.

1972/76 Ranchero's same as Torino's, 1977/79's same as LTD II's (not LTD's!). Most mechanical parts are also shared with 1974/79 Cougars, 1972/79 Thunderbird's, 1972/76 Continental Mark IV & 1977/79 Continental Mark V.

What fits what? The 1965/72 & 1973/79 Ford Passenger Car Parts Catalogs are available on CD's from hipoparts.com.

MEASURE the bolt circle pattern before buying/swapping wheels. 1972/79: Some have a 4.50" bolt circle pattern, some have a 5.00" bolt circle pattern.

Caveat Emptor! = Let the buyer beware.

All Ranchero's tend to be rust buckets, because undeneath the bed floor pan is the station wagon floor pan, has foot and seat wells, the wagons spare tire well.

Ford used caulk to seal the Rancheros bed pan. The caulk chips off, water seeps in, rust begins. Not only is the rust hidden from view, but there are no drain holes in the wagons floor pan.

If the rust is not caught in time, the fuel tank could fall off! Above it...is the wagons spare tire well.