Last updated on September 5, 2021
Today’s car is Ruby a 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero Restomod done in a rich Red color with tasteful flames. Tony fell in love with Ruby at Ruby’s in Redondo Beach and bought her there. It started out as a 260 ci V8. The engine has been rebuilt is now running 302 ci, with a roller cam, and is breathing in through 600 cfm Edelbrock carburetor on top of a Edlebrock intake manifold. Then is exhaling out through a set of Hedman headers blowing through dual Flowmaster mufflers. It is getting its spark from a MSD Ignition Controller. It has a Champion aluminum radiator to keep it this hot Ranchero running cool. It is transferring that engine power through a Ford C4 3-speed automatic transmission and delivering that power to the rear wheels through Ford 9 inch rear end with posi-traction. The front suspension is a Heidts independent with rack-and-pinion steering. Slowing it down it has front disc brakes and drum brakes in the rear. The wheels are Crager Super Sports.
The interior is New Old Stock (NOS) Ranchero seat covers and door panels and has a Flaming River steering column. The tachometer sits on top of the dash, (as Tony explains it is as God intended) and auxiliary gauges are mounted below the dashboard. A Sony remote-controlled stereo resides behind the seat and has a thumb drive that features about 200 doo-wop and rock-and-roll songs, that takes Tony back to 1963 and his 18th birthday, when he first dreamed of owning a Ranchero. “Ruby” is Tony’s personal time machine.
I was able to capture Tony’s Ranchero at Golden Cove Shopping Center in Rancho Palos Verdes which meets every third Sunday. I need to mention that it is a mostly British Cars and Coffee gathering.
This beautiful Ford Ranchero is the sweetest one I have ever seen. If you ever had a dream of owning a Ranchero, Tony’s will fill that dream and more.
Thanks for riding along. Frank
