1977-1979 Ford RancheroLTD II Ranchero (1977-1979)

Ford Ranchero 1977-1979 year by year

The move to the LTD II platform

For 1977 Ford replaced the Gran Torino with the LTD II, a renamed and restyled intermediate, and the Ford Ranchero moved onto that platform for its final generation. The LTD II retained body-on-frame construction on a 118-inch wheelbase, keeping the Ranchero close in size to the outgoing Gran Torino truck. The 1977-1979 Rancheros are the last of the nameplate, and they share their underpinnings and front-end styling with the LTD II passenger cars of the same years.

Engines of the 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero

The 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero was V8 only; no inline-six was offered in this generation. For 1977 and 1978 Ford listed three V8s, all fitted with two-barrel carburetors: the 302 as the base engine, with the 351M and the 400 optional. For the final 1979 model year the lineup narrowed to two engines, the 302 and the 351M, and the 400 was dropped, with three-speed automatic transmissions only. All horsepower figures from this generation are SAE net, the rating standard the industry had used since 1972, and reflect the emissions tuning of the late 1970s. Because the Ranchero shared the LTD II's drivetrain, its engines matched the LTD II passenger cars.

The GT, Squire, and 500

The 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero offered the three established trim levels. The Ranchero GT was the appearance-oriented model with sporty graphics and white-letter tires. The Ranchero Squire wore simulated woodgrain side paneling in the manner of Ford's Country Squire wagons. The Ranchero 500 was the base grade. These same three names had carried through the Torino and Gran Torino generations, so the LTD II Rancheros closed out the nameplate with a familiar trim ladder.

The end of the Ford Ranchero

Ford ended the Ford Ranchero after the 1979 model year. The LTD II platform that underpinned the final generation was itself discontinued, and Ford did not develop a replacement coupe utility, so 1979 was the last year for the nameplate. Total Ranchero production across the entire 1957 to 1979 run was 508,355 units. The Chevrolet El Camino, the rival that Chevrolet had introduced for 1959 in response to the Ranchero, outlived it and continued into the late 1980s.

Frequently asked questions

What generation is the 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero?

The 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero is the final generation, built on the LTD II platform that replaced the Gran Torino. It used body-on-frame construction on a 118-inch wheelbase and was the last Ranchero before Ford ended the nameplate after 1979.

What engines did the 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero use?

The 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero was V8 only. For 1977 and 1978 it offered the 302 as the base engine with the 351M and 400 optional, all two-barrel V8s. For 1979 the lineup narrowed to the 302 and 351M with the 400 dropped. All figures are SAE net, the standard since 1972.

Did the 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero offer an inline-six?

No. The 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero was V8 only, with no inline-six offered in the final LTD II generation. The base engine was the 302 V8, and the larger V8s were optional.

When did the Ford Ranchero end production?

Ford ended Ranchero production after the 1979 model year, when the LTD II platform underpinning the final generation was discontinued. Ford offered no direct replacement, and total Ranchero production across 1957-1979 was 508,355 units.

What platform is the final Ford Ranchero based on?

The final 1977-1979 Ford Ranchero is based on the LTD II, the renamed and restyled intermediate that replaced the Gran Torino for 1977. It kept body-on-frame construction on a 118-inch wheelbase, similar in size to the previous Gran Torino Ranchero.

Sources

• Wikipedia, Ford Ranchero (LTD II generation) and Ford LTD II
• Hagerty Media, Seven generations of the Ford Ranchero
• Mac's Motor City Garage, Last of the Breed: 1979 Ford Ranchero
• The Truth About Cars, Junkyard Find: 1977 Ford Ranchero GT Brougham
• Ford factory specification literature for the 1977-1979 LTD II