1965 model, from the movie "Hollywood Knights"
Posted on 07/02/2016 12:02:46 PM PDT by mdittmar
American Muscle Car - Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero
Had a 4 speed Vega that was fun to drive.
For the first 40,000 miles until the aluminum cylinders wore out they were great. Had the opportunity to purchase a Cosworth Vega several years ago. I passed because keeping it running properly would have been a nightmare.
I thought the Cosworth engine was different than the Chevy one.
Time flies,and prices for them have gone way up.
I just love the Ranchero/el Camino half-truck, half-car. Another creation of the 1950s that I absolutely love was the two-door station wagons (Courier/Nomad/Safari).
It is a completely different engine. But getting parts and finding someone to work on a then 30 year old rare engine would have been next to impossible. The car appeared solid but needed to be restored. I didn’t want to spend the money on a car that I didn’t really love.
1965 model, from the movie "Hollywood Knights"
A buddy of mine had a fifty-something Kaiser sedan that opened up into a station wagon. He could get sixty mph in that thing -— in first gear! The car had overdrive which strained the engine to get there, but could do it.
1st gen El Caminos were truly sharp.
bump
A 68 or 69 model El Camino is the best looking, in my opinion. For the Ranchero, the 72 is, even with the woodgrain “Squire” trim.
Had a 71 Ranchero I bought off the father in law. Piece of work. Front end always hanging up on concrete bumper blocks, and to open the doors on those things you had to open half the vehicle. No parking slots were painted wide enough to accommodate them. Had to hold the heavy doors to keep them from hitting cars on either side, or use some other car to go shopping, but other than that they rode like a cloud, and you went into shock when you glanced at the speedo indicating 120 mph, or better on the freeway.
The Ranchero I had was one of them with the Cleveland in it. Hauled.
There is a lot in York, PA that has at least 15 of them setting there. All different years I would assume. I think the guy has them for sale but I don’t know , never seems to be any activity around them.
Had a ‘59 Ford Ranchero for about 5 years in the ‘60s. Stock 352 cu big block with a 3 speed stick, it didn’t lack for power and was fun to drive.
Put the address on line and he’ll see some ‘activity’ in no time.
The Ranchero was hardly alone with the massive, heavy doors in that era. Nearly all midsize and up two door coupes had them. I recall my uncle’s 73 Monte Carlo, he babied it. Had to put protective strips on the door edges because my aunt just could not manage the weight of them and kept banging them on the garage wall, other cars, anything really. Pretty car though, light metallic blue with a predominately white interior (navy dash and carpet).
I want to get an el Camino and convert it to steam (or steam-electric). Then I'll go steamin' down El Camino in my El Camino...
Had a ‘73 Ranchero. 351C 2bbl, C-6 auto. A couple minutes with a 9/16 wrench and a long screwdriver could adjust from 20 mpg to lift the front end Saturday night special. Sold it at auction along with a ‘74 GT 351W C-6 way to cheap.
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