1979 Ford Ranchero

The Ford Ranchero, introduced in 1979, was the last model of the seventh generation, which had a long and lucrative 22-year manufacturing life. Ford had a successful final year of the model. The previous version of 1979 was powered by a 5.8-liter cast-iron block and head engine that produced 151 horsepower and 270 ft-lbs of torque. It was available with either a 4-speed manual or automatic gearbox. For the 1979 Ford Ranchero model year, a total of 1,835,937 Rancheros were manufactured.

Performance and Fuel Economy

The 1979 Ford Ranchero got revised doors, a crisscross pattern front grille, rectangular stacked headlights, and changed quarter panels during its last year of manufacture. Full instrumentation, a tilting steering wheel with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-sport remote control mirrors were standard features. Power seats and power windows were also featured in the standard equipment. The front and rear drums were equipped with disc brakes. A three-speed automatic gearbox mated to a 351 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine producing 162 horsepower. An independent front suspension was combined with a solid rear axle and trailing arms on the platform’s 118-inch wheelbase.

Design

The 1979 Ford Ranchero completed a full circle in its twenty-third and final model year, riding on the largest wheelbase Ford had ever provided in a passenger vehicle. Following in the footsteps of General Motors the year before, Ford’s newest and last iteration of the LTD, the full-sized Ford, was shrunk to a two 098-millimeter (114.7-inch) wheelbase across the board for all variants. Although still classified as an intermediate-based car, Ranchero had grown in size to rival the marque’s flagship!

Variations

Ranchero has lost its luster in the eyes of the business community. According to the little amount of material that was available, the Ranchero was hailed as a vehicle that provided “full-sized comfort and economy,” and owners were also guaranteed a “full measure of delight.” Every 500 model, including the entry-level model, was equipped with a SelectShift Automatic gearbox, a V-8 engine, and an overwhelming amount of optional equipment, like power steering and power brakes, as well as steel-belted radial tires. The Squire, a high-end sedan, and the speedy GT, a convertible, were carried over nearly unmodified from the previous year.

Limited Production Package

A Limited Production Package was tested in the field by the lads in marketing to see whether it would increase sales. During the first half of the year, a relatively modest number of these Rancheros were constructed and sent to dealers. Their dark red leather interiors, center-folding arm, rests, power driver’s seat, factory air conditioning, power steering, and brakes, as well as cruise control, were all standard on the vehicles in this class. Several features of the luxurious Mercury Cougar XR-7, including power windows, door panel pod controls, and full-length armrests, were adapted for these Rancheros. Each Ranchero was topped with a plastic roof and decked out with Magnum 500 wheels or wire wheel coverings to match the rest of the vehicle.

The 1979 1/2 Ranchero

Even though the highly luxurious 1979 1/2 Ranchero had a shockingly high price tag of more than $10,000, it was just dressed up with a broad wheel lip molding and a vinyl top. Despite being plain and nearly drab on the exterior, they were left to languish on dealer lots.

Dealers Were Expected to Correct

Dealers were sent more moldings at the halfway point of the trial period, and they were directed to paint the broad insert molding to match the color of the vinyl roof. The additional dress-up trim was an attempt by management to assist dealers in moving the slow-selling automobiles off the lot.

Alternatively, Ford sent stripers to decal three stripes onto the vehicle’s rear quarter panel in question. It was eventually determined that the concept was too costly to be sold on a mass-market level, and the plan was shelved three months before the conclusion of the model year. The irony was that the late-entry, half-year model was phased out of manufacturing before the normal 1979 Ford Ranchero was introduced in 1978.

Specification

• Length: 217.2 in
• Engine type: V 8 90-degree

1979 Ford Ranchero Service Manual

These manuals go through every aspect of how the car operates. The vehicle’s purchase price does not include the service manual for your 1979 Ford Ranchero.

• Introduction
• Safety Restraints
• Instrumentation
• Before Driving
• Starting and Operating
• Vehicle Maintenance
• Specifications
• Capacities
• Servicing
• Customer Assistance
• Index

The service manuals for the 1979 Ford Ranchero are vast and cover every aspect of the vehicle’s operation. Cars and trucks from this era require a factory original Ford Workshop Manual to ensure the vehicle is serviced the way the original engineers intended.

1979 Ford Ranchero — Owner’s Manual

When consumers purchase a 1979 Ford Ranchero, they get an owner’s manual containing all the required information for future maintenance, vehicle operation, and features.

• Important Safety Instructions
• Introduction
• Overview
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Troubleshooting
• Maintenance Record

While this list is thorough, the owner’s manual for the 1979 Ford Ranchero provides more operational suggestions to enhance the user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What years was the Ford Ranchero Made?

1957-1979

What was the Ranchero’s Biggest Competition?

The Chevy El Camino

What does ‘Ranchero’ mean?

Ranchero is Spanish, and means ‘a person working on a ranch. Which is perfect for the vehicle, as it is a coupe utility