1971 Ford Ranchero

The 1971 Ford Ranchero was similar to the prior year's model. In the front was a grille comprised of thin horizontal bars with a larger bar in the center that connected the headlights on either side of the vehicle. Standard features included color-keyed vinyl door trim panels with bright moldings, rubber floor covering, flow-through ventilation, full-width seat upholstery, ventless side windows, and a locking steering column. They had a fresh air heater and defroster, spare tire, and tool compartment cover. At all four corners were flared and finned drum brakes. They had a new throttle control mechanism and improved springs at the front.

Other standard features included a left-hand remote-control mirror, hidden windshield wipers, rear window, drip rail, taillight bezels, fiber-glass belted tires, cigarette lighter, emergency lamp flasher, vinyl-framed day and night mirror, armrests, and deluxe seat belts with outboard retractors and shoulder harnesses. The center passenger also had seat belts.

The base engine was a 250 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 offering 145 horsepower. Other engine options were available including a 302, 351, and 429 options. The 429 Thunderjet offered 360 horsepower, the 429 Cobra Jet offered 370 horsepower, and the 429 CJ-R V8 also had 370 horsepower.

Ford sold 6,041 examples of the Ranchero Pickup in 1971. Additionally, they sold 12,678 examples of the Ranchero 500, 3632 examples of the Ranchero GT, and 2,595 examples of the Rancher Squire. Pricing began at $2,850 for the base model and rose to $3,450 for the Ranchero GT.

The Ranchero 500 had a slightly revised grille over its 1970 counterpart. The grille was now divided into two sections with an emblem in the center. The Ranchero 500 had all the items found on the base model and added all-vinyl seat upholstery, carpeting, woodtone inlay around a padded steering wheel horn bar, and an electric clock. On the outside, they were given rocker panel moldings, bodyside molding, bright wheel lip, bright metal wheel covers, and hidden wiper lip moldings.

The Ranchero GT had a Deluxe grille with a GT crest in the center. The GT was a sportier version and had a sport-scoop hood, GT lettering, sporty wheel covers, whitewall tires, metal wheel lip, and hidden wiper lip moldings. Inside, there were all-vinyl seat upholstery, carpeting, an electric clock, a black lower instrument panel, and woodtone inlay panel around the padded steering wheel horn bar.

The Ranchero Squire had many of the luxury items found on the GT and 500 including the carpeting, woodtone inlay, electric clock, deluxe grille, and fiberglass-belted whitewall tires. They had woodtone panels on the sides and tailgate, Ranchero Squire ***** on the front fenders, and a knit-vinyl seat in black, ginger, green, blue, or vermilion.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016