NATHAN MCGOWAN 1957 FORD RANCHERO
Nice car, Nathan; had it long?
No, only a few months. When I moved back from Australia, I found that I needed a ute for hauling stuff around. I really wanted something that would be a good daily-driver and that could also be used for picking up parts, etc. as required. I looked at a few options, and I guess I could have dropped $50K or more on a new Ranger like everyone else, but something like this made more sense to me. It’s a much better option that fits in with me and the rest of my cars. I get far better use out of this than I would with a new Ranger. The Ranchero probably worked out to be similar money to a modern ute, except I won’t lose any money on a car like this compared with the new stuff.
Didn’t you have one of these a while back?
Yep, I’ve had a few in recent years — one that was just a roller that I got ready for the Dust Up by dropping a big block into it and welding the mounts wherever they happened to touch. I dropped a radiator in, made a driveshaft, and went out for a play, which was a bit of fun, but it was nowhere as nice as this one is. I did buy another pickup recently, just before the Ranchero — a real nice little Model A roadster pickup with a Hemi in it. That thing goes like stink, but it’s not really useable as a truck; it’s way too nice a car for what I use this for.
So, the Ranchero does get properly used then?
Oh, it gets used as a truck all right; it’s great for throwing gear in the back, as there’s heaps of space in there. It’s got tie-down points in the back for securing stuff — they were fitted by a previous owner, so it’s obviously been used as a truck for a while. It’s got a huge tray, and easy access with the tailgate down, so it makes it a real practical dailydriver and parts hauler. It gets along great too, with a little 302 Windsor, four-speed Toploader, and fairly tall-geared nine-inch rear. I can run through to Tauranga and back on about $30; a six-cylinder Falcon would cost the same, if not more, and be a stink drive compared with this thing!
What’s been done to it?
It had a lot of love early in its time in New Zealand — new floors and stuff to get it on the road. It’s been here in New Zealand for about 10 years or so. I believe it was brought in and built by a guy in the South Island. It’s obviously been lowered a bit, the drivetrain swapped out, plus a booster for the drum brakes, but, other than that, it’s pretty much bog-standard, which makes it a nice cruiser. Don’t get me wrong, though; it goes real good, just as it is, and it’s cheap to run, as the nine-inch is geared for cruising — so much so that I hardly use top gear unless I’m out on the open road. The paint is getting a little tired in places now, but you need to think about what a car is going to get used for and know where to stop!
How did you end up with it?
I got it from a bloke I know who was looking for a good driver, and I had a car that worked for him. He had the Ranchero, which suited my needs for a pickup, so it was an easy deal to do. I’ve got another Ranchero, a ’59, but it’s away getting the bodywork done. It’s a 390-powered truck, and, once I get it back and all legal, I guess I’ll have to figure out which one I want to keep. I did think about dropping an auto in it, but that would need a recert, and if I’m going to need a recert I would probably make it worth the while — find a wrecked XR8 and repower it with the quad-cam V8 and auto to make it a real easy dailydriver, EFI, four-wheel discs, and all that stuff — so that it drives like a late-model while looking way better.
This one’s a keeper, then?
Ha, could be — but you know me and my history with cars. They always start out that way, but then something else comes along that I want more. I love it for now, but in a month’s time, who knows?