1958 Ford Ranchero

Description

Chances are, you've never seen a 1958 Ford Ranchero before. Chances are even more remote that you've seen a 1958 Ranchero resto-mod as slick as this one. It's got a thundering 410 cubic inch V8, a slick two-tone paint job, and plenty of practicality if you need some other justification to own something this cool.

The '58 Fords were attractive cars and the Ranchero is one of the most successful hybrids of the period, combining passenger car comfort and looks with pickup truck utility. A mild custom, this one keeps all the wild 1958 body styling and accentuates it with a slick two-tone paint job. Colonial White forms the foundation, but a slick copper accent along the lower body and on the roof gives it an updated look. It was refinished about four years ago and still shows well, although it has been driven and enjoyed so it's no longer perfect. Workmanship is quite good, with crisp masking between the colors, which is highlighted by original stainless trim along the separation line. Straight sheetmetal suggests that this Ranchero wasn't a workhorse during its previous life and I'm guessing that all that stainless trim is virtually impossible to find, so it was all carefully restored and reinstalled. The massive bumpers, headlight buckets, and cool hood scoop are also nicely chromed and the bed is finished to the same standards as the rest of the bodywork. Of course, with that custom tonneau cover, it's also the world's biggest trunk, making this a practical car that can go cross-country.

The interior has a very '50s look, complete with more copper-colored upholstery. A stock bench seat, custom door panels, and rich-looking carpets give it a mild custom makeover, but the view from behind the wheel is pure 1950s cool. Ford's arching instrument panel is a great-looking piece of industrial design, complete with plenty of bright trim to accentuate the dash itself. Secondary controls are lower on the dash with a modern AM/FM/CD stereo hanging underneath, along with a temperature gauge to monitor the big block up front. The factory AM radio still lives in the dash so it looks complete and correct and there are big speakers behind the seat to fill the cabin with sound. The big steering wheel is a good idea on a vehicle without power steering, but this one is actually pretty easy to maneuver thanks to clever gearing and you can't beat the factory look.

OK, the engine under the hood is a pretty big deal. It's a 390 block stuffed with a 428 crank, which makes 410 cubic inches of Ford muscle. Dressed in period finned valve covers with matching copper accents, it has an old-school vibe and performance that can keep up with almost anything on the road today. A big aluminum radiator means no worries about keeping it cool and it's fed by an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and intake manifold. A dual exhaust system sounds ferocious with a pair of glasspack-style mufflers managing the soundtrack and the 3-speed automatic transmission doesn't have a lot of work to do with all that torque on tap. A rugged 9-inch rear end was standard under the Ranchero and it remains in place, supported by air shocks so you can fine-tune the rid. Between the shift kit in the transmission and the 3.55 gears out back, it feels very strong around town but still cruises easily on the highway. The lowered stance is exactly right and the vintage-looking American Racing wheels carry very modern 225/70/15 performance radials.

A cool custom with an old-school vibe and big performance, this Ranchero definitely delivers. Call today!