This 1957 Ford Ranchero Custom Pickup is a beautifully restored fifties pickup truck with great options and even better curb appeal. While the Ranchero certainly looks like a true red-blooded American invention, its roots actually date back to Australia in 1934 with the "Ute." The story goes that the idea for the Ute came from an Australian farmer's wife who asked the local Ford plant to build "a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday, and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays?" So, Ford released the Ute in Australia in 1934 but the hybrid car/pickup did not make its way state-side for another 20+ years. See, Ford needed a vehicle to compete with Chevy's luxury pickup, the Cameo, which made its debut in the middle of 1955. So, on December 8, 1957, Ford introduced its Ranchero at the National Automobile Show in New York and marketed the new truck as "a new idea in motor vehicles." The Ranchero was a well-received addition to Ford's truck lineup, lauded by critics for the its beautiful styling paired with its practical utility. Essentially, the Ranchero was Ford's standard Ranch Wagon with a pickup truck bed mounted at the rear, giving the truck a car-like feel when driving combined with the practicality of a truck. This conglomeration of car and truck was later borrowed by many American automakers including Chevrolet with its El Camino, Dodge with its Sweptside pickups, Studebaker with its Champ pickups, and others. This particular Ranchero is also the "Custom Pickup" model (66B Code) which were the "flashier" looking of the two available Rancheros in 1957. Powering this '57 Ranchero is a 292 Cubic Inch V8 paired with a single 2 barrel carburetor that pushed out 212 horsepower when new. The 292 V8 is mated to an automatic transmission so that anybody can take this classic Ford pickup for a spin around the block. Exhaust exits the Ford Y-Block via a dual exhaust setup that has a terrific throaty sound out the rear tailpipes. With power brakes, and an upgraded dual master cylinder, bringing this Ranchero to a complete stop is much easier and accomplished in a more reliable fashion. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires, each paired with a full wheelcover, this 1957 Ranchero has a great look going down the road. A Continental Kit is also mounted on the rear of the truck, providing both a spare tire and bit more 50s flair. Dual outside chrome mirrors and spotlights add to the utility and classic look of this 1957 Ford. The chrome and brightwork around the outside of this Ranchero is in wonderful condition as well and shows quite nicely. The painted steel bed and box on this pickup truck is in fantastic shape and looks as if it's never been used. The exterior of this '57 Ranchero has been correctly refinished in a beautiful two-tone paint scheme consisting of Flame Red and Colonial White, just how this truck came when it rolled off the San Jose factory floor back in 1957. The interior on this Ranchero is absolutely gorgeous! The bench seat has been reupholstered in Colonial White vinyl with Flame Red pleated vinyl inserts. The matching two-tone door panels, red carpeting, color-matched painted dash, and steering wheel all appear to be in wonderful condition and all appear to be in their stock configuration. The dash is equipped with a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a retro-style AM/FM/Cassette entertainment system and clock. Whether you're adding to your existing blue oval collection or you're purchasing your very first classic pickup truck, this 1957 Ford Ranchero Custom Pickup would make an excellent choice. Give us a call today at763-428-7337!