a 1957-1959 Ford ranchero has been on my want list longer then about any car. In high school I was really into 50's/60's cars and always wanted a ranchero. But they are usually rusted pretty bad, and nothing decent ever came along. I got into early Fords and my love for 50's car kinnda died. Searching Craigslist a few months ago, I found a decent buy on a nice looking 58 Ranchero. I told my friend Paul in Sacramento about it, and how I've always wanted one. He replied "I have a friend who has a very neat original, and is looking to sell it". It kind of set a bug and soon I found myself getting pictures and working out a price. It's kind of the last thing I need but you only go around once, right? So I made a deal and went and picked it up on my way to GNRS last weekend. It's an early 58, and the coolest part is it has the 300 HP Interceptor 352 4V engine. You could order that engine in any of Fords cars in 1958. It is all original, sand the front fenders. It's is also very rust free. It runs but needs some carb/tune up work. Brakes need gone through. Has a new gas tank and dual exhaust. It need some TLC but I am amazed at how untouched it is. Very, very little has been messed with or altered. So, my plans are to swap some 15" wheels/tires on it and I have a set of 55/56 Dodge Royal Lancer caps for it. It's already lowered, I need to get it running good and reliable, and clean up the interior. I may paint the fenders to match, although I would love to just repaint it. Then just drive it.
Love Ranchero's. Dad bought this one to use as a tow car. With the addition of a Less Ritchey built 390, It ran 144 at El Mirage, and 148 at Bonneville, after towing the Mustang to the salt.
You done good, I like the front end of the 58 way better than the 57. There is little hope of finding one that rust free here in salt country!
Congrats! The meanest looking front end. No doubt you'll put your spin on it and it will a great one.
cool all the '58s I have ever seen had '58 tail lights, like this one. While looking for pics they all seem to be like yours with the '57 tail lights. the ones that I have seen must be pretty rare. the '57 tail lights are better lookin in my opinion. Nice score, especially with the FE.
Benno... Every '58 Ranchero I ever saw had '57 type taillights. Wagons and passenger cars had the dual oval type. My bud Rich Molica bought a year-old '58 white Ranchero, raised it up with station wagon springs, rear Laher spring boosters, 7.5" wide Torq Thrusts, and Firestone Darlington Super Stock tires. Took awhile****embling everything, engine done last. Chrome Les Ritchey backward traction masters, 352" Police Interceptor eng., 3 speed O.D. Interior was redone in red, 4 spoke Bell Indy wheel, Moon gas pedal, Sun tach. Ranchero was long-legged, had Engle cam, large Holley double pumper, Mallory ignition. I swore I'd have one of these Ranchero 'car-trucks', but all I ever found were rusted in rear, tailgate area and forward. Rich's was MOST sanitary.
Awesome, there was a 58 ranchero on craigslist recently here in So Cal for under $2000 and I did not have the cash. Shucks.
I have never seen a 58 Ranchero with 58 taillights...cars and wagons did. 58 Rancheros are basically a 57 with different nose and side trim.
The first '58 that I ever remember seeing was in Forest Grove, OR. It had the '58 style tail lights and it was not a custom, original owner had it for sale. He wanted 500 for it in '68 that was a lot of money for me in '68. I have seen a few with the '58 style tail lights over the last 45 or so years, a lot with the '57 tail lights. I always just figured that the ones that I saw with the '57 tail lights were '57s with '58 front ends. Like I said the ones that I have seen with the '58 tail lights must be rare I just didn't know it. There was one for sale on here that had the '58 style tail lights about a year or so back. I guess that they all could have been exceptional wagon conversions, well except the one that I first fell in love with in FG. That guy was not a rodder.
There was a red '58 in the classifieds here for around $5000 a while back, looked tempting. They're hard to come by with little rust on them.
That seems like the price range. A stalled project, the guy had welded and molded the tailgate which nixed it for me. Anyway back on topic, the OP's car is sweet. It wouldn't take much for me to be cheesin' in it for sure. And that interceptor is just icing on the cake. That was when the interceptor package meant something.
Very cool purchase! How many passing comments have turned into purchases? I know I have done a few! Joe
I ordered a carb kit and am waiting for it to arrive. I also removed the seat and stripped the gross off of it, cleaned the frames and painted them. My friend Bruce is going to cover it for me.
Bruce sounds like a good friend to have. I am going to be watching, this is going to be a nice rig and if I can't have it I can at least see it done.
FWIW - http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/58ranch/58ranch.html Pretty consistent single round tail lights, but the brochure was lithographed Sept '57
Yeah, I dunno what I am going to do with it. Right after I bought it I had some unexpected kiddo bills pop up, and I would like to get caught up there...so I may enjoy it a while and send it along, or maybe I'll fall madly in love with it and sell something else haha. Time will tell, they are super cool and this one being a nice original big block, I think would be hard to replace!
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