#coupe utility

[ranchero500]

Some photos.

[ranchero500]

Genesis

In the beginning, there was born an idea.  “Stephen,” I said, “you need a truck.  Nothing fancy, just something to haul stuff around in every now and then.”

So, I kept my eyes open in hopes of finding the perfect ride.  Even when I wasn’t looking for a car, I would pick up a copy of the Triangle Auto Guide or Auto Weekly magazine, depending on which one was available at the restaurant where we were lunching.

One day, when I was piddling around on Craigslist, I ran into what I thought could be the one:  A 1982 GMC Caballero.  It was unique in that it was made by GMC, even though it was essentially an El Camino in many other ways.  I believe the engine they had in it came from an El Camino.  Someone had even decorated it with SS stickers, SS being a trim package of an El Camino, not a Caballero.  It was mid-restoration.  The dealer selling it had put some money into it, replacing a lot of parts on it.  They let me take it on a short test drive.  When I got it back to the dealership, however, one of the unused radiator ports sprung a leak, shooting steam everywhere.  The more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was going to be more to bite off than I could chew.  (At the time of this writing, the Caballero is, as it has been for a couple years now, still available at the dealer.  I hope they plugged up that leak.)

My good friend, Ken asked me why I, being a Ford man (with the exception of the Isuzu I owned for about 11 years), didn’t look at Ford’s coupe utility: the Ranchero.  I probably checked into Craigslist but didn’t see anything at the time, and I’d let the thought die out.  I did, however, see lots of mid to late ‘70s F-Series pickups that I liked.  Most of them were somewhere between not affordable, and not roadworthy.

Some weeks went by, and I decided to revisit the idea of a truck.  This time, i found some more that I liked, in decent shape, and for a reasonable price.  I also found what I’d missed before:  the Ford Ranchero.

The seller had bought it for his son, but he never really took a liking to it.  He had the car posted for awhile, but seemingly no one else was interested.  I arranged to meet the guy and the car.  I was definitely intrigued by the car.  It had the classic car sound, the classic car smell, the classic car feel...I didn’t taste it, but I’m sure it would be a classic taste.

I didn’t agree on the spot to buy the car.  I spent the next several days looking at Rancheros online.  I found a message board dedicated to the Ranchero.  I looked at some general car restoration websites.  I was hooked.  I had to have it.

Arrangements were made, and...cutting the story short as it needs to be, I bought the car!  Antique plates are on their way to my house.  It’s going to be an adventure, for sure.  Buckle up and hang on!

[74120-731241-blog]

Peugeot Hoggar

[fatcatcars1989]

The 5th and final generation of the El Camino, and this one is beautiful.  2013 New England Summer Nationals

[cargazing]