The Most Underrated Muscle Car Ever Made

The muscle-car era of the 1960s and early 1970s was a truly incredible period for the American performance car industry, with pretty much every major manufacturer offering jazzed versions of their standard cars featuring huge V8s. Ford was no different, having unleashed models like the Mustang, Fairlane, and Galaxie during the era.

Ford

Ford is one of America’s oldest automakers and one of the oldest in the world, popularized for being the first to effectively mass produce the automobile under Henry Ford with the Ford Model T. In over 120 years, Ford has become a sales leader in a variety of segments, with popular nameplates like the Ford F-150, Transit, and Mustang.

As the stakes continued to rise ever higher in the battle for sales though, the likes of Ford and Chevrolet took the muscle car war to another plain. As the 1970s approached, it was time for muscle trucks to do battle. While Chevy’s El Camino has gained a reputation as one of the most revered muscle vehicles of the era, Ford’s Ranchero was left somewhat in the shade. Write it off at your peril though, as it’s a beast in its own right.

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The Ranchero GT Was Built To Take Command Of The Muscle Truck Sector

The Ranchero had been around for well over a decade by the time the Ranchero GT arrived in 1970, the model making its debut in 1957. Unlike Ford’s F-Series pickup trucks, the Ranchero was based on Ford’s 1957 full-size car platform, specifically the variation used for the SWB Custom sedan, with the rear passenger compartment essentially replaced with a truck bed. This resulted in a practical truck that drove like a car, and the idea proved popular with consumers.

By the late 1960s, Ford needed to respond to Chevrolet’s El Camino SS. While Ford had beaten its bitter rival to the car-based-truck formula, the El Camino having been developed in response to the Ranchero, Chevy had beaten Ford to bringing some muscle flavor to the market. The El Camino SS made its bow in 1968, and came with a 396 ci (6.5L) V8 from a Chevelle, the car it was based on.

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The Ranchero was in its fifth generation by 1970, and was by this time based on the smaller Torino model rather than the mid-size Fairlane nameplate, which are affordable classic muscle cars in their own right. With hot versions of the Torino already well established, the car used as Ford’s challenger in NASCAR at the time, the foundations for the Ranchero were set. The GT trim first made its debut in 1968, just after the El Camino SS.

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Where have all of the single-cab short bed trucks gone?

It feels like only a short while ago you could walk into a dealership, and drive out in a small, single-cab short-bed truck that would be the perfect companion to any hardworking person. Today, however, this type of truck is all but extinct, thanks to automakers chasing more profitable configurations and buyers opting for a more practical setup. As much as we miss how honest these types of trucks were, we can’t deny they’re a compromised vehicle.

The Ranchero GT Was Available With A Range Of Potent V8s

Whichever engine you opted for, you were guaranteed to be treated to considerable grunt. The base engine available in GT trim was a 302 ci (4.9L) V8, which came with 210 hp, though the range-topping Super Cobra Jet 429-ci (7.0L) unit was the one that turned it into a true cold-blooded muscle car. This powerplant brought 370 hp to the party, which was transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. This transmission also came with a nifty Hurst shifter, which heightened the driving experience even further.

For those looking for a more laid-back muscle vehicle, a four-speed automatic transmission was also available. The Ranchero GT wasn’t just a powerhouse either, as Ford also made the full range of performance options available on the Torino open to buyers.

For a kick-off, the SCJ shaker hood and Ram-Air induction package came along with the 429 SCJ V8, elements that helped the massive powerplant reach its potential. There was also a performance-handling package that came along with the 429, and was optional for the other variants. This included stiffer shocks and springs front and rear, as well as stabilizer bars that helped to stiffen up the chassis to reduce body roll. Power front disc brakes were also available to help bring the Ranchero GT to a safe stop.

The Ranchero GT Also Looked the Part

Aside from the performance upgrades that made the pickup truck handle like a racer, its aesthetic modifications helped to make it look like one too. A more muscular sports hood was included with all models, as were new sporty wheel covers and a redesigned grille that came proudly displaying GT badging. Brighter wheel arch trims also helped to make the Ranchero stand out, as did the optional laser stripe that stretched down the side of the truck. These changes continued on the inside, with vinyl seats and darkened interior trim giving it a more purposeful feel. Supportive and comfortable bucket seats could also be included as an optional extra, which were ideal for those who counted on every second during their work days.

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1971 Ranchero GTs Are Worth Up To $74,000 In 2024

The Ranchero GT wasn’t overly popular back in its day, with most preferring to keep their trucks as workhorses and buy a separate car for the weekend instead. The fact the rival El Camino was available with a 450-hp LS6 V8 failed to help matters. They have built up a cult following over recent decades regardless, and are now rising in value. Hagerty’s Valuation Tool reports that the range-topping 429 SCJs can be worth around $73,900 in mint condition, with middling examples going for around $30,000.

They are appreciating too, as values have grown by around $2,000 since October 2023. The base 302 ci V8 variant is much more affordable, with even concourse-level examples only worth around $36,000. Good-condition trucks can be sourced for around $15,000, making it a versatile and rapid left-field muscle choice.

The Dodge Ram SRT-10 Is A Modern Unusual Performance Truck Alternative

Should the Ranchero GT be too much of an old-timer for you, then perhaps the 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 would be better suited as a performance truck option. Rams had been available with meaty V8s for years before the STR-10 arrived in the early 2000s, though never with an engine as large as the 8.3-liter V10 lump from a Dodge Viper.

The engine sent the same 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels as it did in the Viper, which was enough to get the Ram from 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. A six-speed manual transmission was utilized alongside the V10, the component coming with a Hurst shifter like the Ranchero GT. To help keep the rear end pinned down at high speed with all that grunt, a rear spoiler was attached to the tailgate.

It also came with a set of sticky Pirelli road tires from the factory to ensure it could at least have a fighting chance of making it through a bend, a goal boosted by the Ram’s lower ride height, which helped to reduce its center of gravity. A dual-exit exhaust system also came as part of the package, which helped the V10 to shout at the top of its lungs.

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Ram SRT-10s Can Be Worth A Pretty Penny

Tempted? Well, the good news is that the Ram SRT-10, which was available in single or quad-cab configurations, is also pretty affordable, especially given only 9,527 examples were ever produced, according to Hagerty. For those not too bothered about adding a pristine example to your driveway, they can be had for around $26,000. SRT-10s that have been wrapped up in cotton wool can be worth around $70,000, a value that has risen by 7.2% over the past year.

Be warned though, the Ram SRT-10s achieves a combined 9 mpg, so you’ll probably need to remortgage your house, should you want to keep one running day to day. Still, it’s not every day you get to parade around the streets in a V10-powered truck with a rear wing, so it’s probably worth it.

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