Vehicle Description
Cool 'RanchBird' custom. Fresh build with rebuilt 351W V8,
automatic transmission, and lots of options including A/C, bucket
seats, and gauges. Runs and drives great, very clean bodywork,
ready to haul and have fun! Following a fairly comprehensive
makeover, this handsome Ranchero is priced all out of proportion to
the level of work that was done. Starting with a straight, clean
car that's still wearing all its original sheetmetal, an equally
clean Thunderbird front clip was installed to give it a unique
look. And the nice thing is that it bolted right on like it was
designed that way. Even the headlights work properly! The paint is
a correct Ranchero color called-uninspiringly-Cream, but it works
rather well when you add the upscale T-Bird nose. Proper gold
decals were added on the B-pillar and bed sides, nailing the '70s
look perfectly. Finish work is good throughout, with decent
factory-style gaps, doors that close solidly, and a hood that sits
flush, which probably wasn't easy to do. The bed doesn't appear to
have ever worked for a living and has been finished with a
color-matched bedliner so it won't mind a trip to the home store or
garden center now and then. They even added 'Thunderbird' emblems
on the quarters and tailgate to enhance the illusion. Factory
chrome bumpers finish it off. The same Thunderbird donated its
bucket seats and console, which-of course-bolted right into place
in the Ranchero's cockpit. The upholstery is all brand new and
includes a subtle ostrich skin look on the seat inserts that gives
it an upscale vibe. It's also loaded with options, including
factory A/C, full gauges including tachometer, remote mirrors, and
an AM/FM/cassette radio that was cutting-edge tech in 1977. There's
also a new dash pad, fresh headliner, and a bit of burled walnut on
the dash and more on the floor mats, which isn't particularly
convincing, but somehow it all works. There's a bit of storage
behind the seats in case you don't want to leave your gear in the
bed and from behind the wheel it doesn't feel at all truck-like.
The engine is a freshly rebuilt 351 cubic inch Windsor V8, which
was on the options list in 1977 and is a great choice today given
the vast aftermarket that serves the 5.0 Mustang. This one is
rebuilt to largely stock specs, so it's smooth and torquey, fed by
a Holley 4-barrel carburetor and lit by the original Ford ignition
system. All the A/C equipment has been overhauled, the engine is
painted proper Ford Blue, there's a giant radiator up front, and
the alternator is new, too. A correct aluminum air cleaner gives it
an OEM look and it exhales through stock manifolds. Look carefully
and you'll see that almost everything under the hood is new or
restored, from the core support to the inner fenders to the wiring
and plumbing. There was A LOT of money spent here. Ford's reliable
C4 3-speed automatic is the right choice here, and it was rebuilt
at the same time as the engine. The undercarriage is largely
original and in very good condition with stock suspension, a
correct exhaust system with dual catalysts and a new muffler, and
power front disc brakes. The floors are clean save for a small area
around one of the driver's seat bolts but it appears to have been
repaired some time ago. A 9-inch rear end was standard equipment on
full-sized Fords and this car features rather tall 3.00 gears so
it's a comfortable highway cruiser. Coil springs in back are one of
the benefits of the LTD platform, giving the Ranchero great ride
quality, augmented by new shocks all around. There's also a fresh
gas tank hanging out back. Polished Torque Thrust wheels look great
on the vintage truck/car and carry brand new 215/75/15 blackwall
radials. Extras include a few boxes of spare parts, touch-up paint,
interior parts, and more. This is one of the nicest Rancheros we've
seen, and we love the RanchBird look. Someone spent a huge amount
of cash on the build, ensuring that all the details work properly,
so it feels very OEM. With a bit of practicality to go with it, the
Ranchero remains a great way to have fun in an old car and this one
certainly stands out in a crowd. And it's still eminently
affordable. Call today! Harwood Motors always recommends and
welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.