The history of Ford is filled with surprises, and although not all have evolved with the company, the Ranchero will always remain a classic. This may very well be the best Ford Ranchero around.
1. The Ford Ranchero
In the 1950s, Ford attempted a creative marketing strategy when they introduced the vehicle with a split personality. The Ranchero was a light pickup with automotive parts instead of truck components that could carry more than half a ton when it needed to. The very first Ranchero was offered to the public in the last quarter of 1956 as the 1957 model, and America immediately loved it. Aside from being a small, unique pickup, the Ranchero featured some things from the sporty Thunderbird, making it as handsome as it is productive with its long, sleek structure.
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2. Bryan Thompson
Fast forward through time to a gentleman named Bryan Thompson and his search for a new vehicle build. After building a few custom motorcycles, Bryan wanted to give a classic piece of machinery a shot. Thompson chose the 1957 Ranchero as his project, and he specifically chose this year because he loved the single headlights rather than the double headlights that were introduced the year after. In 1999, Bryan purchased the automobile and he quickly got started on bringing the part car part truck back to life.
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3. Stance
The very first step in the build was to change the stance to a far more aggressive one, so in went an airbag suspension to give the Ranchero versatility. Bryan worked collaboratively with a team of experts at Steve Prince in California, and they C-notched the frame to the ground, de-arched the leaf springs in the rear suspension, and quickly got the Firestone airbags working. The Ranchero kept the stock 14-inch wheels covered with chrome wheel covers along with the white wall tires to keep that retro feeling. Behind those polished chrome covers are the stock drum brakes to keep the driving experience the same as it was when the quirky creation rolled off the line.
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4. Engine
With some engine modifications by Central Coast Mustang, the 1985 302 cubic-inch Ford engine develops 340-horsepower, thanks to the Ford Racing camshaft and the GT40P cast-iron heads. On top of the motor are Tri-Y long tube headers, which connect to Lake Pipes from Mooneyes for the ultimate exhaust flow. The Ford motor works collaboratively with a Ford C4 automatic gearbox.
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5. Interior
The interior, as well as the exterior, were designed by K-Daddy. On the inside, you may notice the beautiful Tiki shifter, which makes the whole cabin. The upholstery was done in silver vinyl, which contrasts beautifully with the red dashboard and the body. You may not see it, but the floors are covered in black wool, and with the 1/2-inch speakers, this interior is a pleasure to cruise in.
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6. Exterior
The exterior features a ton of unique touches that made the classic Ranchero something unique for its owner. The body features shaved door handles and trim, making it long and smooth without anything disturbing its flow. The red paint can be seen from anywhere within a mile radius, and as you get closer, you will notice the silver pinstripes all over the car, as well as the silver/red combo on the roof; now we know why the upholstery was done in silver vinyl. The artistic creativity that was put into building this 1957 Ranchero was second to none, making it one of the best custom Rancheros we've ever seen.
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For help keeping your truck in great shape, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com
