The Tool Desk
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Which came first: the Ranchero or the El Camino?
Ford introduced the Ranchero for the 1957 model year; Chevrolet followed with the El Camino for 1959. Ford moved the Ranchero to the compact Falcon platform for 1960. In 1966, it shifted to a Fairlane-based chassis arrangement, with later Rancheros using other Ford platforms. Ford ended the nameplate after 1979. Chevrolet’s archive lists El Camino vehicle information kits for 1959, 1960, 1964 onward, and 1987, reflecting an early-1960s interruption as well as later generations. GM’s Heritage Archive is a useful starting point for year-specific El Camino material; the Falcon Club technical library indexes Ranchero production, specifications, and identification resources.
What years was the Falcon Ranchero made?
The Falcon-based Ranchero belongs to the 1960–1965 period. It is not interchangeable with every vehicle called a Ranchero: the name began in 1957, and the platform changed after the Falcon years. The El Camino likewise spans multiple generations and platform changes. Identify the exact model year and generation of both candidates before comparing size, equipment, specifications, or parts compatibility.
How do the two compare?
| Decision point | Ford Falcon Ranchero | Chevrolet El Camino |
|---|---|---|
| History and scope | Ranchero began in 1957; Falcon-based models arrived in 1960, followed by a platform change in 1966. The nameplate ended after 1979. MotorTrend’s Ranchero history covers the platform changes. | Introduced for 1959; GM’s archive has year-specific El Camino information kits, including 1959, 1960, 1964 onward, and 1987. GM Heritage Archive |
| Platform and character | The 1960–1965 Ranchero used compact Falcon underpinnings. In a comparison of specific early examples, MotorTrend described the 1957 Ranchero as more upright. | El Camino platform and character vary by generation. MotorTrend described the specific 1959 example in its comparison as longer and sleeker than the 1957 Ranchero; that observation should not be applied to every El Camino year. |
| Engines and transmissions | MotorTrend lists six-cylinder and V8 offerings across the Falcon Ranchero generation, along with multiple transmission choices. The available combination depended on model year; confirm the individual car’s equipment and records. | Do not infer equipment from the nameplate alone. Confirm the model year, engine, transmission, and any modifications for the car under consideration. |
| Condition and support | Inspect the specific car and consult year-correct identification and specification resources. The Falcon Club technical library indexes reference material. | Inspect the specific car and use GM’s year-specific information kits to verify details before ordering parts. |
What stands out about the Falcon Ranchero?
The Falcon-era Ranchero pairs the car-based pickup format with compact Falcon underpinnings. MotorTrend reports a 109.5-inch wheelbase for this generation and describes a 144-cubic-inch inline-six at the base, later six-cylinder choices, and 260- and 289-cubic-inch V8s over the generation. It also lists a standard three-speed manual, with automatic and four-speed manual transmissions available as options. These are generation-wide historical offerings, not proof that any particular year or surviving vehicle came with a given combination. Verify the year and the car’s documentation.
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Do not confuse those Falcon-era specifications with the 1957 Ranchero. In MotorTrend’s comparison of a 1957 Ranchero and 1959 El Camino, the 1957 Ranchero had a 223-cubic-inch straight-six as its standard engine; the featured Custom had a 292-cubic-inch V8. Those details apply to that earlier model-year context, not the Falcon Ranchero.
What should you check before buying either one?
Condition and identity are more useful than a model’s reputation or an odometer reading alone. MotorTrend’s comparison described a Ranchero needing a complete restoration despite showing 112,000 indicated miles, a reminder that an odometer figure does not establish present condition.
- Confirm the year and identity. Match the vehicle’s identifying information to year-specific documentation. Avoid relying on a seller’s broad description of it as a “Ranchero” or “El Camino.”
- Inspect the body and structure. Look for corrosion, damage, and evidence of past repairs, and assess the quality of any restoration work.
- Check originality and modifications. Record what appears original, what has been changed, and whether documentation supports the car’s stated configuration.
- Verify the drivetrain. Identify the engine and transmission actually in the vehicle, then compare them with year-specific records rather than assuming an option was available for every year in a generation.
- Review the braking configuration. Identify what is fitted and whether changes are documented; use year-correct references when assessing the setup.
- Check parts and reference availability. Confirm fitment for the exact model year before ordering. Similar names across generations do not guarantee shared parts.
How should you make the final choice?
- Choose the era first. Decide which specific generation and years interest you, rather than shopping for an undifferentiated “Ranchero versus El Camino.”
- Compare candidate cars on equal terms. For each one, record its year, identity, condition, originality, engine, transmission, braking configuration, and available documentation.
- Verify specifications and parts fitment. Use official El Camino information kits and specialist Ranchero references for the relevant year before committing to repairs or parts.
- Let the individual vehicle decide. If one example has clearer identity, better condition, more useful documentation, or parts support that suits your plans, those practical differences matter more than a blanket claim that one nameplate is easier or better.
Neither a universal price winner nor a restoration-cost or reliability winner is established by the available model comparisons. Choose the particular car whose condition, originality, drivetrain, and documentation best match your intended use; do not assume that the emblem settles the decision.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 1:25 scale, skill level 2, paint & glue required
- 84 parts
- Molded in white, clear, and some chrome-plated parts
- Black vinyl tires
- Metal axle
Rank #4
- 1:18 Special Edition. Detailed die-cast precision model. Large - approx 9.5" replica.
- Die-cast metal body. Opening doors and engine compartment.
- Full functioning steering. Four-wheel suspension.
- Detailed chassis with separate exhaust system.
- Mounted on plastic stand.
Rank #3
- True-to-scale detail
- Rubber tires & detailed exterior.
- Made of Die cast with some plastic parts
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