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1965 Ford Ranchero
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Novaload
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
Come on, who could resist this?

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Novaload
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
Those old Falcons were homely beasts, not much diff with a -chero vs. back seat vs. wagon. Well, no. Wagons are always cooler.
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MushyHeirloom
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
Awwwh! It's so cute, but so useful!
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Bret
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
The Falcon Ranchero is cool in that it really looks like a Falcon with a 'chero bed on it. How Jalop is that?

Check out these shots of a Falcon Ranchero I shot in Berkeley...
There's the characteristic arrow pointing the way.

Lest we forget our identity, a wheelcover tells all.

It's so Falcon-ey, it's looks Photoshopped!

Heavens to Murgatroid! It's got a light-duty truck bed! Want badly.
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Mad_Science
01/26/09

@Bret: Nice. Love this generation:

[www.flickr.com]

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smalleyxb122
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
The Ranchero makes my list of Cars I think are cool, but have no desire to own.

Right up there with a '32 Ford hot rod.

But, lest you think that I don't want to own any cartruck, I do have an unhealthy desire to own a malaise Malibu based Camino. And a BRAT. It's just the Ranchero (of any generation) that never did anything for me.
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Deartháir II
01/26/09

@smalleyxb122: Mmm... '32 Ford Hot Rod (actually anything pre-1940) is on my list of cars I'd like to own. Ranchero is on the "love it, don't want one" list for me as well... but so is every cartruck... cruck... trar... whatever. I adore them, and they make me cheer when I see one... but it can stay the hell out of my personal driveway, thanks.
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Jo Schmo
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
I'd hoon that
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Graverobber
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
Man, that's a rough Ranchero. I don't mind the flames as much as the others, but the bed box is really bringing me down. It'd be better if it was an old army surplus box; faded green, with massive flip catches, wedged in the bed with a pair of 4x4s.

Also, as I have noted before, I hate the current Cali plates on the old stuff.
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Hoser Dave
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
Cal Naughton Jr. said it best, "I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party."

Jesus invented the the mullet and the tuxedo t-shirt and El Camino / Ranchero. He probably invented Milwaukee's Best too.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@Hoser Dave: I love that line.
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Sloop_John_B
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
I nominate that emblem as one of the greatest of all time. Nice find btw. There isn't a bad flame job on a Ranchero. The worse the flame job the better the Ranchero is in my book.
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brandegee
01/26/09

@Sloop_John_B: I agree. Half-ass flames suit this vehicle, b/c it's something of a half-ass vehicle.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

In reply to 1965 Ford Ranchero
I know I am about to commit Jalopnik Blasphemy, but I never really understood, or liked, the whole Ranchero, El Camino thing (except as flower car for funeral homes). If you need a truck, buy a truck.

Maybe I am missing something. With their car suspensions, do these things handle like cars? Or like trucks? If they handle well, then I'll change my opinion slightly and rank them just above the GT-R, but below a Prius, on my cars I'd like to own list.
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Ash78, cube farmer
01/26/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: They handle and ride better than trucks, definitely. That's probably the big part of the allure. It's got all the "I like to carry dirty crap around" appeal of a truck, but with none of the high Cg, crappy ride, worse handling of a pickup. It's basically a wagon, but you don't have to smell your cargo.

It's all relative, though. I'm sure a new truck handles better than an old Ranchero/Camino.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: Substitute "seppuku" for "blasphemy" if it makes you feel better.
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baldy_pm
01/26/09

Swap in a 460 and score huge points on the 'how jalopnik is your ride' test.

@leavethegun-takethecannoli:

WTF? You have a Prius on the 'cars I'd like to own' list? Have you been on the crack pipe?
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@Ash78: It is the look that I am not fond of. The new Subaru appeals to me because it looks more appealing. As far as having the wagon utility without having to smell the cargo, always a great idea.
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Ash78, cube farmer
01/26/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: Yeah, I can't argue with that. No version of a camino really meets any aesthetic criteria for a good design. They lack both the flow of a nice sedan/wagon, as well as the beefy stockiness of a full-size pickup.

But for me it's the no-compromise, "I don't give a f*ck what other people think" mentality of the design. Think Gene Hackman in "Enemy of the State". Not that I'd probably ever own one. The wife would never allow it to be seen within 100 yards of the house.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@baldy_pm
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@baldy_pm: I was being facetious.
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Bumblebee
01/26/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: My enthusiasm for these models springs from the way they embrace absurdity: These little runts reflect some of the odder aspects of the market that demanded & bought them. What a half-assed vehicle! With only 2 seats, it's not much of a car, and with so little load capacity, they make poor trucks. In trying to be good at both duties, they're good for nothing.

And yet so many people bought them.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
01/26/09

@Ash78: "Enemy of the State" --great movie and the car does emphasize his "I don't give a f*ck" attitude.
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brandegee
01/26/09

@Bumblebee: We musn't forget that true trucks used to have abysmal handling, esp. on the freeway. Back in '65 I bet the Ranchero held up against a crosswind at 70mph far better than an F100.
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