Super-Rare Calypso Coral Ford Ranchero Rio Grande is No Myth
Sometimes, all it takes to make a car rare is the paint. Or air conditioning. Or both together. According to the MARTI report on this car, only 211 examples of the Ranchero Rio Grande were made in the color Calypso Coral. And of those 211 cars, only 47 came optioned with air conditioning. So, technically, that means this car uber rare.
To help validate the car, it has a numbers-matching 351W engine and a numbers-matching FMX Cruise-O-Matic transmission. Both have been rebuilt, however, along with a fresh paint job. So what’s up with the Rio Grande trim?
“A little-known and extremely rare offering in 1969 was the Rio Grande,” the eBay listing says. “Available on special order, this was essentially a GT in the so-called ‘Grabber’ colors of ‘Wimbledon White,’ ‘Poppy Red,’ or ‘Calypso Coral,’ partially blacked-out hood with scoop, side stripes, bed rails, vinyl top, and unique ‘Ford Ranchero Rio Grande’ wheel centers. As a result, Rancheros so equipped received Ford’s ‘Special Performance Vehicle’ identification on the data plate regardless of engine choice. These vehicles may be identified by the aforementioned designation, as well as a blank space where the trim code would normally be found. Production figures are unclear, but may have been around 900 total units.”
It’s not completely stock. Magnum 500 wheels with BF Goodrich tires were put on, it has a new exhaust system, it has an aluminum radiator, and a “Shelby-style” wooden steering wheel was added. Originally a California car, this gal is now for sale out in Las Vegas.
[Via BaT]
