Crew-Cab Ranchero: 1980 Ford LTD


As 2018 draws to a close and 2019 rapidly approaches, each and every person has a new set of goals and projects to achieve and conquer. For myself, my main goal is to obtain my driver's license and to help my dad finish putting in the two garages we began building (the one garage is built and currently housing my late friend's 1940 Chevy; it only needs the concrete floor to be poured. The other garage that will house the lift needs to still be built). When both goals are accomplished, I hope to help my dad sell a few cars (1994 Caprice 9C1, 1984 Camaro Z28 Autoform roadster, 1978 Dodge Tradesman 200 van, 1976 Chevy G30 RV, all of which are currently for sale by the way) and focus on his (1986 Corvette, 1967 Cadillac De Ville convertible, 1979 Trans Am), my brother's (1984 Camaro and 1993 GMC K2500), and my own (1981 LeBaron Salon and 1995 Caprice Classic station wagon) projects. Despite our downsizing and prioritizing projects, I couldn't help but check out this 1980 Ford LTD station wagon converted into a Ranchero-esque pickup. You can find it here on Craigslist in Shoemakersville, PA, with an asking price of $4,900.


After eight years of living large and in charge, Ford downsized the LTD for 1979, mainly due to the popularity of Chevrolet's downsized B-body full-sized cars introduced for 1977. Underpinning the LTD was the new 'Panther' platform, which would be used underneath Ford's LTD and later Crown Victoria, Lincoln's Town Car and Mark VI, and Mercury's Grand Marquis and Marauder up until the Crown Victoria's demise in 2012. Gone were the big-block 460 and 400M motors, with the 351 Windsor the top engine choice. Meanwhile, Ford's midsize car-based pickup, the Ranchero, entered its final year in 1979, with Ford dropping it and the car it was based off of, the LTD II, for 1980 (though Ford did partner with National Coach Works out of Los Angeles to create the Ford Durango, based off of the Fairmont Futura and sold from 1980 to 1982). While it does answer a question no one really asked, this 1980 Ford LTD does look cool as a crew-cab pickup truck. Based off of an LTD wagon, the conversion does look to be clean and well-done, as well as very macho. There are a few aesthetic details that I would remove, such as the roof spoiler, running boards, chrome mudflaps, and grille guard. The chrome roof rack looks amazing, as does the Explorer wheels (though the rear wheels look a little small with the aft end all jacked up; a bit of lowering back there would smooth out the raked look). The  factory tailgate also works amazingly well with the pickup conversion. I'd ditch all the excess bling, sell off the Explorer wheels, and spring for a Family Truckster-style build, front end, wood-grain and all. 

Underneath the hood of this, er, crew-cab Ranchero lies a 351 Windsor small-block Ford V8. Rated at 140 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, the 351 powering this LTD is no barnburner; ditto for its Select-Shift 3-speed automatic. Fortunately, Ford made plenty of 351 Windsors over a near 30-year lifespan, with its best being from 1969-1974 and 1993-1995. I'd scour junkyards and U-Pull-Its for a 1969-71 351 Windsor or a 1993-95 Ford Lightning 351. Combine that with a World-Class T-5 or a Tremec TKO-600, and this could make for a potent (albeit unusual) muscle...let's go with truck.

Welp, someone has to buy this car now and add a set of matching Yosemite Sam mudflaps on the aft end of the rear tires! Cheap floor-mat jokes aside, taking a peek inside of this LTD reveals a clean interior. The bench seat is long gone, replaced with later bucket seats (I'm thinking from either an Explorer or a fourth-gen Crown Vic; thoughts, readers?) Irregardless, I welcome the upgrade, though I do wonder if anyone has NOS green plaid fabric taking up space in his or her collection. The console is a welcome addition, and would look even more inviting with a stick-shift protruding from it. Part of me wants to immediately ditch the floor mats, while the other part of me screams at me to keep them. Overall, this LTD is a nice, clean conversion, and has plenty of potential to be made into a cool Cruise Night/Cars and Coffee cruiser if given some nice upgrades. Heck, I'd love to see someone buy this and cruise it to Hot Rod's Power Tour. Or to Wally World, perhaps.
Location: Shoemakersville, PA, USA

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