351M OR 400 BLOCK, AUTO, PWR STEER, PWR BRAKES, VERY NICE PAINT & BODY, CLASSIC!

1969 Ford Ranchero GT Description

Can't decide between a muscle car and a cool vintage truck? No problem. You can have them both in this 1969 Ford Ranchero GT. The Ranchero was born out of the idea of having one vehicle that could go to church on Sunday and run a bale of hay into the fields on Monday. But by 1969 something else had happened. The extra power going into the muscle cars were finding their way into these utility vehicles that shared the same chassis. With this added power, these pickups began to look a bit meaner. This Ranchero has the more aggressive appearance that went into the redesigned Fairlane/Torino, and it is turned up a notch with the GT hood scoop that tells everyone there is something mean beneath the metal. The GT package also added a unique grille with a red accent stripe, deluxe GT hubcaps, and a unique black c-stripe that runs the length of this pickup. All of this is perfectly balanced with the factory-correct Meadowlark Yellow paint that does a good job of representing the earth tones popular in the late 60s. The overall straight bodylines of this Ranchero are the perfect capsule reminder of how we ended this iconic decade with plenty of aggression and chrome. Black vinyl is always the best color when you want a mean muscle car interior. The darkness is tastefully broken up with some chrome trim (including the floor-mounted gearshift), silver gauges, and optional wood-rimmed premium steering wheel. This pickup started life out as a Ranchero 500, which means it came with plenty of upgrades over the standard model such as wall-to-wall carpeting, an electric clock, and premium door panels. This one was then further upgraded to include a nice set of high-backed bucket seats from a later model Torino. Even with all these improvements, there is a nice touch of originality with the heater/defrost and AM radio staying intact for over 45 years.The original motor in this car was an F-code 302 cubic-inch V8 the same base motor found in the GT package. That was a fine engine, but Ford offered a buffet's worth of power upgrades for these pickups. So it seems only natural that this one raised its muscle car credentials to a stout and adaptable 351M or 400 block that appears to be stroked. That built block is mated to a C6 three speed automatic transmission. For even more power, there are added performance goodies such as long tube headers and a 2.5-inch performance stainless steel dual exhaust. But more than just horsepower, this Ranchero is also a fine cruiser. Besides riding on a longer wheelbase than Fairlane/Torino coupes, this pickup comes with features such as power steering, power brakes, and 215/70R14 Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires for modern traction with a vintage appearance.A car-based truck is a fun idea for modern times. After all, today we drive pickups like they are sedans, and so now you can get some cool vintage muscle that has been pulling this double-duty for decades.