The 1957 - 1958 Ford Ranchero and Courier were pioneering sedan - pick-me-up conception that sent the other major car manufacturer scrambling to entrance up .
FordRancheros are among the most collectible artefact of the 1950s , right up there with 45 - rev records , pink and turquoise piece of furniture , and Philco Predicta telly set . Unlike some of those , its influence was far reaching .
Classic Truck Image Gallery
set off by the achiever of the combination car - pickup arm Ranchero , Ford andChevyoffered sedan - pickups for another 20 days or so .
In essence , the Ford Ranchero was a two - room access Ranch Wagon with the rear roof plane section cut off and a bed liner slipped over the floor pan . Though evocative of the old Hudson sedan - pickup and 1937 - 1939StudebakerCoupe - Express , its root lie " Down Under . "
Ford of Australia introduce the concept in 1932 , call it a Utility or , affectionately , a " Ute " : a runabout with the body section behind the driver replaced by a fleetside bed . In 1957 , the open - bed Ford Ranchero fall in Ford ’s Wain card and was joined by the more coaster wagon - same Ford Courier Sedan Delivery .
Marketed by Ford Truck Division , build on the short 116 - inch wheelbase , they share Ford ’s snappy new 1957 styling . Semi - ovate rear springs with six farewell ( rather of four ) and othersuspensionimprovements supply a variable - pace effect and stiffer action .
Engineswere unconstipated 1956 menu : a stock 223 - cid six and optional V-8s ( 272 - cid in the base Ranchero , 292 - Criminal Investigation Command in the Custom ) . The 1957 Ford Ranchero followed the main 1957 line by two months , present at the New York Auto Show in December , and made its melodic movie unveiling inApril Love , with Pat Boone .
It caught GM and Chrysler off precaution . Dodge hurriedly cobble the integral rear section of a rider paddy wagon onto a tone arm to create the finny Sweptside ; Chevy and GMC merely continued their Cameo and Suburban , but Chevrolet caught up in a big way with the El Camino in 1959 .
So the spectacular Ford Ranchero was all alone in 1957 . The 1958 Ford Ranchero ’s facelift was less successful , aping the Thunderbird ’s bumper - radiator grille with strange - looking quad headlamp and a dummy goon scoop . Both Ranchero and Courier keep 1957 ’s great pear-shaped taillights .
Ford Ranchero production was 21,705 in 1957 , and 9,950 in 1958 .
