Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. DOTS Truck Monday is with us once again, and today we're going to check out a vehicle that qualifies as both truck and car: a '64 Ford Falcon with truck bed, aka Ranchero! Then, because polls lessen the sting of Simon Legree's workplace lash- which always seems to fall on one's back with particular malice on a Monday- we'll all vote on our favorite street-parked Alameda Ranchero.
I found this customized Ranchero parked in front of Mel's Bowl, just after sunset on a Friday. That's right- the owner is rolling on shomer Shabbas! Then there's the additional blasphemy of a Maverick emblem on the tailgate; normally we aren't purists about such things, but Maverick? Still, this Ranchero is in good shape and the custom touches are fairly subdued for the most part.
A 289 4-speed Ranchero! Of course, it might actually have the 5.0/T5 combo torn out of a Fox Mustang- a very common swap in these things- but that's OK with us. Since you couldn't get a 289 in the '64 (the 260 was the Ranchero's optional V8 that year), originality isn't really an issue here. In fact, this could be a 1965 model with a '64 grille; providing an additional clue, the hood ornament is a '65 item. In that case, a 289 could be original equipment. Ranchero experts, what do you say? Before you answer, take the poll!