El Camino & Ranchero for Sale

El Camino vs. Ranchero — a brief history

Ford introduced the Ranchero first, in 1957, based on the full-size Ford station wagon platform. It beat the El Camino to market by two years and was immediately popular. Chevrolet answered in 1959 with the El Camino, built on the full-size Impala platform. Both went compact in the early 1960s — the Ranchero to the Falcon platform, the El Camino to the Chevelle. The Chevelle-based El Camino (1968–1977) is the most collected generation: available with SS performance packages including the big-block 454, it was genuinely a muscle car with a bed.

The Ranchero followed Ford through the Fairlane and then Torino platforms, offering similar performance upgrades including the 428 Cobra Jet. Late models of both — the 1978–1987 El Camino and 1977–1979 Ranchero — are less collected but represent accessible entry points into the car-truck market.

What to look for when buying an El Camino or Ranchero

The bed is the distinguishing feature and a common trouble spot — check the floor, sides, and tailgate for rust and previous damage. The cab/bed joint on the El Camino is a rust collector. On the Ranchero, the area ahead of the bed and around the rear wheel arches deserves attention. Mechanically, both share their drivetrain with contemporary passenger cars — parts are plentiful and affordable. An SS El Camino with its original engine is worth significantly more than a non-SS or engine-swapped example; verify option codes and VIN documentation carefully.