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VERY nice! Too bad Studebaker isn't around AND allowed to build these today. I'd love to have one... quarter-ton capacity... cheap to run!

A 1966 Mustang "ute" would be nice too. Shorten the cabin, lose the rear seat, and add a bed/tailgate... maybe use Falcon wagon parts?

I thought the early Rancheros were based on the Falcon chassis?

Both Falcon and non-Falcon Rancheros were built.

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That’s great to hear, Bob. Congratulations on a successful outing. Hopefully, many more to follow.

Rancheroos?

The first Rancheros were 1957 model year and built on the Ford passenger chassis. '57, '58, '59 were all Ford car based, probably with some station wagon parts. I don't recall ever seeing a 1960 full size Ranchero, so I'm pretty sure they either dropped the line or moved it to the new Falcon chassis. Later on, in the mid 60's, the Ranchero moved up from the Falcon platform to the (mid-size?) Fairlane platform.

It's a great feeling to get the bugs worked out of a car so that it can be driven and enjoyed with confidence. A "well-sorted" Packard is a very dependable car, and they are probably the most drive-able of the pre-WWII cars, and people of every sort still appreciate the styling, and car people appreciate the good engineering.

Aren’t these 1937 posts in the wrong thread? This is Ross’s thread for Packups.

About Rancheros, I believe they were build on the station wagon chassis which was slightly different in the rear suspension than the passenger cars with stiffer springs. Oddly for 1958, the Ranchero kept the round 1957 taillights even though the 1958 station wagons had the proper ones for the year. Incidentally, I had two 1957 Fords: a Fairlane 500 2-door hardtop (we bought it new) and a Country Sedan station wagon purchased from a neighbor. As a teenager, the Country Sedan carried lots of Packard parts from Woodinville’s Vintage Auto Parts to my home in northeast Bellevue, WA.

With so much exposure to (mostly) postwar Packards I have a long list of favorite features, engines, mechanisms etc. that tickle my fancy and have served me well. Being a contrarian some features are dear to me simply because so many people talk trash (or more often only repeat trash) about them.

I picked up a gutted 54 Pacific at auction because NO ONE else bid on it and it will form the basis of a hardtop Packup with many special Packard features. After parting out so many cars over the years its not hard for me to have all my favorite things. Here are a few highlights planned:

Contour body style with hardtop roofline. Torsion level chassis from a 56 Clipper, but fitted with '54 senior brakes front and rear, and yes, a Treadlevac. Steering is manual. A 288 straight eight (because they rev more readily) ported and relieved and fitted with the stunningly reliable Carter WGD 2bbl carb which has better tip-in for secondary road driving then the 53-54 4 bbls. And of course a generator, and points. Power transfer is by '54 Gear Start Ultramatic in an aluminum case. The rear is from a '55 to fit the T-L chassis, but the pumpkin is a 3.23 from a '53 Clipper.

I am looking for a Senior radio delete plate.

Finished (mostly) detailing up the powerplant today.

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