Car Spot: 67 Ford Ranchero 500 XL

The original hybrid

For the most part, compact cars of the ’60s were nothing to write home about. Basic transportation was the answer to higher fuel prices and imports. Ford’s entry was the Falcon, today almost forgotten, but it was how the Mustang, and this week’s spot, a 67 Ford Ranchero, came about.

This type of vehicle was the original hybrid. Not the ones that we drive today, but back in 1957, this was a hybrid, part car, part truck. Inspired by what Ford engineers found enthusiasts craving for in Australia. Ford produced the Ranchero on a car assembly line and then sold it via its truck division. Its carlike qualities and light-duty truck utility inspired Chevy to join the party with its own El Camino one year later.

Two years later Ford decided to transfer the model to the all-new Falcon platform. Available as a stripped Ranchero and fancier Custom Ranchero, the new ute was a hit. It was available with one of two inline-sixes, 170 and 200ci and two versions of the 289 V8 for early on. In 67, it was transferred to the Fairlane. Riding on a 113-inch wheelbase, the base engine was the 200, but a more fun option was the big-block 390 with up to 315 horsepower. All remnants of the Falcon were now gone. Fairlane styling included contemporary vertical headlights that tied in better with Ford’s full-size series and came off as being more upscale than the Falcon’s. And bingo, just like that, Ranchero sales jumped from only 9,480 in 1966 to 17,293 in 1967.

RELATED Spot: A ’67 Chevy Elcamino

With the move up came more models, Fairlane, Fairlane 500, and Fairlane 500XL, with exterior trim and interior grades the same as their passenger-car equivalents. The 500XL included cloth-and-vinyl buckets and a center console with a floor shifter. The full range of Fairlane engines was also available, from the base 200 cubic-inch six to a big-block 390 V8 with 320 hp, along with a choice of transmissions. By checking the right order boxes, a buyer could create a genuine muscle Ranchero, equipped with a 390 V8 and four-speed transmission.

RELATED: Chevy El Camino and a brief history of the ute.

The automotive press at the time loved this car, er truck, er ute. A road test article that appeared in Car Life magazine said, “The 1967 Ford Fairlane Ranchero combines car-like comfort with pickup utility, appealing to both men and women. It is recommended for those needing a vehicle for light-duty tasks rather than heavy hauling, with a focus on aesthetics and comfort.” The Ranchero was produced off and on until 1979, with a total of 508,355 units produced. Sales numbers by year were all over the board, peaking in the early 70s with over 40,000 units in 1972 and 45,741 in 1973.

So now that I have your interest and you’ve got to have one of these, what’s the damage? According to Hagerty, one in Good condition with the 6 $13,500. Surprisingly, the ones equipped with V8s were not that much more. The highest being ones with the 289cid/271hp 4bbl Hi-Perf selling for $23,400 in Good condition and only $54,300 in Concours condition. I know, only $54,300, but have you seen the price of new cars? Unless you go to Australia and buy a Holden, there’s nothing out there like it.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my spot this week. I have lots of others on our site, so be sure to check them out. You might find a car just like the one you owned. Have a great week, and I’ll see you next Sunday for another one of my spots along with some of its history.