1973 Ford Ranchero 500
The Ford Ranchero is a coupe utility that was produced between 1957 and 1979. Unlike a standard pickup the Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run. Over its lifespan it was variously derived from full-sized, compact, and intermediate automobiles sold by Ford for the North American market. In 1972, a radical change occurred in the Torino and Ranchero lines. The sleek, pointy look of the previous year's model was replaced with a larger, heavier design. The 1973 Ranchero had a redesigned front end to meet new federal standards for front impact protection. Aside from slight cosmetic differences, the Ranchero remained basically the same until the Torino's final year, 1976.
It's not often that you see any of the mid to late 1970's classics restored back to their showroom glory, let alone a Ford Ranchero. Most were used as intended then passed on to eager teenagers who slapped on the best parts they could afford from the local speed shops and drove them into the ground.