1965 Ford Ranchero - Featured Vehicles

Nice grille, eh? Since these photos were taken, Mike found an even nicer ’65 grille and the one shown here found a new home on Editor Matt King’s wrecked ’65 Sprint.
Nice grille, eh? Since these photos were taken, Mike found an even nicer ’65 grille a
Mike has got to restrain from showing the Cobra-fied truck’s taillights to lesser cars. Especially when Matt King’s trying to keep up in his oil-slinging Biscayne.
Mike has got to restrain from showing the Cobra-fied truck’s taillights to lesser c

Forget it’s a ’65, and the ’93 motor could pass for a factory installation. Framed in Wimbledon White, the engine’s pretty much a bone-stock ’93 Cobra. With a little over 3,000 pounds to cart around, it’s enough mill for a quick street car.
Forget it’s a ’65, and the ’93 motor could pass for a factory installation.
The ’92 Mustang seats don’t look too out of place in this cabin. The stock dash was restored, and all the yellowed plastic stuff was sent to Canada and rechromed by PDQ. Mike modded the factory column shifter to work with the AOD’s four forward gears. Can you spot the Sony CD deck blasting through the Ultimate and Infinity speakers? That’s the idea.
The ’92 Mustang seats don’t look too out of place in this cabin. The stock dash

Aerodynamic it ain’t, but the torquey 302 and cold A/C make for comfy blasts through the Arizona desert. Mike cleverly integrated an original Ford underdash A/C unit to the stock Cobra compressor using custom hose fittings and a new condenser and evaporator.
Aerodynamic it ain’t, but the torquey 302 and cold A/C make for comfy blasts through

Ron Zarella, president of GM North America, speaks of the absolute customer need for functional vehicles. Remember the days when cars didnt need to be classified under meaningless monikers? Today, inside nearly every automaker, over piles of stale donuts and gallons of corporate coffee, marketing teams brainstorm trendsetting rides that combine sedan sportiness with truck utility. Tell us, please, whats so cutting-edge about crossover vehicles?

Been there, done that. Take Mike Schnurs 65 Ranchero. After totaling his 64 Falcon Sprint, Mike decided he needed a truck. But a good ol boy pickup can cramp a young guys style. The obvious compromise was Fords Ranchero, which looked awfully similar to his Falcon except for that big bed out back. See, its got the sprightly handling and compactness of a sedan, but the bed adds truck functionality for parts hauling.

But its 37 years old. OK, it doesnt have umpteen cupholders like Pontiacs Aztek, and you wont find a pop-out tent on the tailgate, either. Nobody cared about that stuff in 1965, and self-respecting Car Craft readers can do without the fluff, too. Mikes Ranchero does, however, get 23 miles to every tank of premium unleaded thanks to the 93 Cobra driveline. Its as comfortable as it is quick, thanks to a modernized air-conditioning system and interior. And lets not forget the utilitarian bed out back. Lets hope Bob Lutz inspires a unanimous push for cars like this in the near futureour salvation from an Aztek empire. And please, Bob, dont call it a crossover vehicle.