1968 Ford Ranchero GT - Sunny California black plate original

1968 Ford Ranchero GT Description

Up for Auction is this California native 1968 Ranchero GT 390 (Y code)! This Ranchero is very unique from its vintage 1970s paint scheme, to its original California black plates, the GT option, the ever popular 390 motor and beautiful Sunlit Gold paint. If you are in the market for a Ranchero GT take a hard look at this 1968 GT. This car is perfect for cruise night, local car shows, Sunday breakfast or loading up the mountain bike and heading to the hills in style. Muscle, functionality and class, what else could you ask for!

In 1968 Ford Motor Company gave the Ranchero a facelift, added a GT package and offered for the first time a big block in the power train line up. According to the Marti report (see photo) this Sunlit Gold Ranchero is one of 13 with this color and trim package and one of 307 with a 390-2bbl and C-6 automatic! Kind of rare. On top of that, the Ranchero has spent its entire life in sunny California! It doesn’t get much better than this!

On May 15th, 1968 the Ranchero GT was delivered to Jones Minto Ford in Burlingame, California. The Ranchero spent a total of 10 days on the lot before being sold on May 28, 1968. For the next 30+ years this beautiful Sunlit Gold Ranchero GT - 390 roamed the streets of northern California until its recent arrival to the California Central Valley.

The interior on this rig is clean and well sorted. The carpet has been replaced and is in great condition, and the seats have been tastefully redone. The headliner and door panels are original and very nice. And last, the dash pad is PERFECT! Almost unheard of for these 68s!

As for the body, paint and trim, all are in good condition. The 1970s paint scheme really fits the car, is nicely done and really accentuates the original black and gold plates.You will notice one minor modification to the body, the gas filler has been relocated to the inside of the bed and the exterior door removed.The paint looks great but does have little chips here and there. If you look closely you will find signs of the paint’s age yet even up close you still get the “wow” factor! As far as paint and body quality, I would rate it a #3 (typical of what you say at your local car show or cruise night). The doors close nicely, the body lines are straight and there are no dings, bumps or bruises. The stainless, bumpers and trim are not pitted tarnished or banged up. The Ranchero still sports its original vinyl top that is in amazingly good condition. With that said, I can see about 5 locations where there is minor bubbling under the top. I would recommend first order of business be removing the top and taking care of this minor issue.

Electrical, instrumentation and accessories are all good and in working order with the exception of the A/C. The Ranchero was equipped from the factory with air conditioning which is only partially intact (all underhood components are missing) but all missing components readily available. All gauges work and are in nice condition. The Ranchero is equipped with an AM/FM CD stereo for your entertainment on those long trips or day cruises!

Mechanically, where do I start! Power steering, power brakes (disc up front), after market aluminum radiator, C6 trans and 3.00 rear-end gears. The 390 has been replaced with a nicely built 351 Windsor V-8 4 BBL. The original C6 is still in place making a conversion back to the 390 big block days relatively easy. And cruising down the highway is no problem at all with 3.00 rear-end gears. As for the exhaust, new from front to back with 2 1/4” pipe. The Ranchero is very healthy, sounds great and cruises down the road with no problems (I took it out today in 100+ temperature and it ran great with no cooling issues). There is one minor drip that appears to be coming from one of the power steering hoses.

The Ranchero is a nice driver but is 30 years old and does have the driving characteristics of a 30 year old car. But that is half the fun isn’t it!

If you are in search of that functional muscle car this Ranchero GT may be the one for you. This rig is very nice with an entry level reserve and an extremely reasonable Buy-It-Now.

Please contact Dean at 661-703-8402 with any questions and HAPPY BIDDING!