The 1960 Ford Ranchero moved the coupe utility from the full-size Ford onto Ford's new compact Falcon, shrinking the truck substantially and pairing it with economical inline-six engines. The Falcon Ranchero rode on the Falcon's 109.5-inch wheelbase and shared the compact's body and styling. The 1960 Ford Ranchero was inline-six only, starting with the 144-cubic-inch six; Ford added the larger 170 six for 1961 and the 200 six for 1964, all rated in SAE gross horsepower as was standard before 1972. A V8 returned to the Ranchero for 1963 with the 260 Windsor, and by 1965 the 289 Windsor V8 was available. The Falcon Ranchero grew larger and more sculpted for the 1964-1965 restyle as the Falcon line itself was reworked. This generation repositioned the Ranchero as an affordable, car-based work vehicle with a roughly 800-pound load rating, competing against the Chevrolet El Camino, which Chevrolet had launched for 1959 and then paused before reviving on its own intermediate. For 1966 the Ford Ranchero moved up to the intermediate Fairlane platform, ending the compact Falcon era.
Other Ford Ranchero generations
The 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero at a glance
- Generation: the Falcon Ranchero, when the coupe utility moved to Ford's new compact Falcon
- Platform: compact Falcon, 109.5-inch wheelbase
- Years: 1960 through 1965, replaced by the intermediate Fairlane Ranchero for 1966
- Sixes: 144 standard from 1960; 170 added for 1961; 200 added for 1964 (all SAE gross)
- V8s: 260 Windsor V8 added for 1963; 289 Windsor V8 available by 1965
- Body change: larger, more sculpted styling for the 1964-1965 Falcon restyle
- Load rating: roughly 800 pounds, positioning it as an economical car-based hauler
Ford Ranchero 1960-1965 year by year
| Year | Ford Ranchero changes | Engines offered |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Ford Ranchero moves to the new compact Falcon on a 109.5-inch wheelbase, much smaller than the full-size 1957-1959 trucks; inline-six only | 144 I6 (SAE gross) |
| 1961 | The larger 170-cubic-inch inline-six joins the Falcon Ranchero lineup alongside the 144 | 144 I6; 170 I6 (SAE gross) |
| 1962 | The Falcon Ranchero continues on the compact platform with the inline-six engines | 144 I6; 170 I6 (SAE gross) |
| 1963 | A V8 returns to the Ford Ranchero for the first time since the full-size era, the 260 Windsor | 144 I6; 170 I6; 260 V8 (SAE gross) |
| 1964 | The Falcon and its Ranchero are restyled larger with sculptured side panels | 170 I6; 200 I6; 260 V8 (SAE gross) |
| 1965 | Final year of the Falcon Ranchero; the 289 Windsor V8 is available, and the nameplate moves to the intermediate Fairlane for 1966 | 170 I6; 200 I6; 289 V8 (SAE gross) |
Why the Ranchero moved to the Falcon
For 1960 Ford moved the Ford Ranchero off the full-size Ford and onto the new compact Falcon, a much smaller and more economical car introduced for that year. The Falcon Ranchero rode on the Falcon's 109.5-inch wheelbase and shared the compact's lighter body and simpler mechanicals. The change shrank the Ranchero from a full-size coupe utility into a compact one and repositioned it as an affordable car-based hauler with a load rating of roughly 800 pounds, rather than a full-size workhorse. This is the most dramatic size change in the nameplate's history.
Engines of the 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero
The 1960 Ford Ranchero launched as an inline-six-only vehicle with the 144-cubic-inch six. Ford added the larger 170 six for 1961 and the 200 six for 1964, giving the compact Ranchero a range of economical sixes. A V8 returned to the Ranchero for 1963 with the 260 Windsor, the first V8 in the truck since the full-size 1957-1959 era, and by 1965 the larger 289 Windsor V8 was available. All horsepower figures in this generation are SAE gross ratings, the higher pre-1972 measurement standard. Because the Ranchero shared the Falcon's drivetrain, its engine lineup tracked the compact Falcon through these years.
The 1964-1965 restyle
For 1964 the Falcon line, and with it the Ford Ranchero, was restyled into a larger, more sculpted shape with reshaped side panels. The 1964-1965 Falcon Rancheros are the biggest and most heavily styled of the compact-era trucks. By 1965, the final year of the Falcon Ranchero, the 289 V8 was on the option list, giving the compact truck its strongest engine before the move to the intermediate platform.
Why 1965 was the last Falcon Ranchero
The 1965 Ford Ranchero was the last on the compact Falcon. For 1966 Ford moved the Ranchero up to its intermediate Fairlane platform, a larger car than the Falcon, which increased the truck's size and broadened its engine options. The 1966 transition year used Falcon front sheet metal on the larger intermediate body before the Ranchero fully adopted Fairlane styling for 1967.
Frequently asked questions
What generation is the 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero?
The 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero is the Falcon-based generation, when Ford moved the coupe utility from the full-size platform to the new compact Falcon on a 109.5-inch wheelbase. It was the smallest Ranchero generation and ran until the move to the intermediate Fairlane for 1966.
What engines did the 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero use?
The 1960 Ford Ranchero was inline-six only, starting with the 144 six, then adding the 170 and later the 200. A V8 returned for 1963 with the 260 Windsor, and the 289 Windsor V8 was available by 1965. All horsepower figures are SAE gross, the pre-1972 standard.
When did the Falcon Ranchero get a V8?
The Falcon-based Ford Ranchero gained a V8 for the 1963 model year with the 260 Windsor, the first V8 in the Ranchero since the full-size 1957-1959 generation. By 1965 the larger 289 Windsor V8 was also available.
Why is it called the Falcon Ranchero?
It is called the Falcon Ranchero because for 1960 Ford built the Ranchero on its new compact Falcon, sharing that car's body, 109.5-inch wheelbase, and inline-six engines. Ford marketed the truck as the Falcon Ranchero during this era.
What platform replaced the Falcon Ranchero?
For 1966 the Ford Ranchero moved up from the compact Falcon to the intermediate Fairlane platform, a larger car. The 1966 transition used Falcon front styling on the intermediate body before adopting full Fairlane styling for 1967.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Ford Ranchero (Falcon generation)
- HowStuffWorks, 1960-1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero
- Hagerty Media, Seven generations of the Ford Ranchero
- Ford factory specification literature for the 1960-1965 Falcon
Asked all the time
What generation is the 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero?
The 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero is the Falcon-based generation, when Ford moved the coupe utility from the full-size platform to the new compact Falcon on a 109.5-inch wheelbase. It was the smallest Ranchero generation and ran until the move to the intermediate Fairlane for 1966.
What engines did the 1960-1965 Ford Ranchero use?
The 1960 Ford Ranchero was inline-six only, starting with the 144 six, then adding the 170 and later the 200. A V8 returned for 1963 with the 260 Windsor, and the 289 Windsor V8 was available by 1965. All horsepower figures are SAE gross, the pre-1972 standard.
When did the Falcon Ranchero get a V8?
The Falcon-based Ford Ranchero gained a V8 for the 1963 model year with the 260 Windsor, the first V8 in the Ranchero since the full-size 1957-1959 generation. By 1965 the larger 289 Windsor V8 was also available.
Why is it called the Falcon Ranchero?
It is called the Falcon Ranchero because for 1960 Ford built the Ranchero on its new compact Falcon, sharing that car's body, 109.5-inch wheelbase, and inline-six engines. Ford marketed the truck as the Falcon Ranchero during this era.
What platform replaced the Falcon Ranchero?
For 1966 the Ford Ranchero moved up from the compact Falcon to the intermediate Fairlane platform, a larger car. The 1966 transition used Falcon front styling on the intermediate body before adopting full Fairlane styling for 1967.
The wall · registered 1960–1965 Rancheros
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