Leepers are some of our favorite cars here at Classic Auto Mall. Not only because they're fast and soft-spoken, but also because they represent the ingenuity of putting big horsepower in anonymous and sometimes unpopular packages. It's a side of our personality that, given the pages of polished cars on our website, you probably wouldn't expect to see. And I know what you're thinking...you doubt my sincerity about introducing a genuine, road-ready sleeper. But alas, after you take just one look at this Ranchero, you'll quell your convictions.
Looking very nice with a late 70's/early 80's vibe, this nicely restified car, er...uhh, truck has lived the good life and is ready to continue doing so under your watchful eye. Wearing nice sheet metal and having been treated to some upgrades, both on the aesthetics and performance front along the way, this truck was meant to be a driver. A grocery getter by day and by night a cruiser with a 351ci Cleveland V8.
Exterior A color change to clean white adorns this car and is looking good from a distance, but up close we can note some inclusion, runs in the finish and evidence of prior bodywork. The gaps are still well minded, trimmings are used sparingly and on the sides are traditional Ford style red reverse C-stripes and polished surrounds for the glass and top of the uncovered bed. Up front, the standard Fairlane grille, slightly sunken back into the body, leads the way with chrome highlighting, GT badging and outboard dual headlamps. A chrome bumper with heavy rust and missing plating on the right side hangs below and gently wraps around the lower edges of the front fenders. Leading back to the stainless trimmed windshield is a scooped and red striped hood, adding some muscle to this hauler. Hovering below the rockers are chrome side pipes that help create that late 70's vibe. Out back a FORD badged tailgate hovers above another nice chrome bumper and is flanked on the sides by tall ovoid tail lights. Peering into the bed gives us a view of the fold down tailgate handle then exposing the Rhino lined bed which presents with a few dents and dings along with a removable central panel. Keeping this hauler grounded are 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels. These wheels are shod in like new staggered width blackwall radials.
Interior A swing of the door and we see black vinyl and tweed panels with some chromed trimmings and handles and cranks. Inside more black vinyl combines with a tuck and roll tweed insert that presents with notable tearing on the drivers upper and lower cushions. Floating this bench is a slightly faded black carpet with a TCI Outlaw shifter mounted on the hump. The dash upfront is a foursome of deep inset circles with aftermarket black face gauges shaded nicely for viewing. These include a tachometer, speedometer, water temp and oil pressure. This padded dashtop is in a black much like the seat surrounds and the lower part of the dash shows a band of brushed aluminum that holds the fuel gauge, some knobs and pulls, ignition toggles and an Alpine AM/FM/CD stereo. Fronting the dash is a thick black rimmed Grant GT wheel, and above is a stippled pattern vinyl headliner, remaining clean and taut.
Drivetrain A non-original 351ci Cleveland V8 is under the scooped and pinned hood and is fed a precise mixture of air and fossils from an Holley 4-barrel carburetor and Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold. Bolted to the back is a 3-speed C6 automatic transmission that sends power rearward to a 3.00 geared Ford 9" axle. Some chrome dress up has been added for the air cleaner lid and ribbed Ford badged aluminum valve covers are seen as well.
Undercarriage Half and half would best describe the undercarriage, with half sprayed in black and the back half left to age with the car. Overall showing some patina and surface rust but all including the unibody remain solid with a small patch welded onto the left rear unibody rail. Independent coil spring suspension is up front along with disc brakes and in the rear we note leaf springs and drums. Headers with chrome side pipes create the sound we love and expect and does so with a thunderous roar.
Drive-Ability An easy starter, smooth idler and comfortable driver. Sinking into the tweed bench afforded me the time to gaze upon not only aftermarket gauges but the additional units installed under the dash. A movement of the shifter into drive and I was off like a prom dress. 3 laps around our test track rewarded me with unlimited acceleration, bias free braking and surprisingly good handling for a truck. All functions were operational at the time of my drive save for reverse lights that wouldn't light up.
A very retro styled hauler, upgraded in both the looks and performance categories, but not losing the original charm it was born with. Loaded with great features, this car/truck is ready to haul you right out of our Hallowed Halls, then you can impress your friends by hauling some ass!
9A47F262698
9-1969 A-Atlanta, GA Assy Plant 47-Ranchero F-302ci V8 2bbl 262698-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 66A-Ranchero COLOR I-Lime Metallic TRIM 2Y-Gold Vinyl Bench DATE 10G-July 10th DSO 72-San Jose AXLE 6-Ford 9" 3.00 Conventional TRIM X-FMX Cruise-O-Matic
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
