By Brian Brennan – Photography By Michael Christensen
Pure nostalgia and a tribute to Scott Simpson’s dad, Rob, are more than enough reasons to make this 1965 Ford Ranchero a lifelong passion. What can a young car enthusiast growing up in Southern California, immersed in the car culture of the 1950s and ’60s, expect? Scott shares that he often imagined how thrilling it must have been to cruise American Graffiti style in hot rods or take family cars to the drive-in.
Like many of us who inherited the “car gene” from our dads, Scott is no different. His father was a Ford enthusiast, so Mustangs were always parked in the driveway. When Scott turned 15, his dad helped him buy his first car, the 1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero that you see before you, from a family friend in Long Beach, California.
Scott recalls that it was in decent shape, but as a working vehicle it had its fair share of dings, leaks, and rust, not to mention a few holes in the floorboard. Scott and his dad rebuilt the original 289 engine and gave it an Earl Scheib paintjob in the original Ford Rangoon Red. From that point on, they learned plenty of lessons in maintaining it and adding a few personal touches.
Scott drove the Ranchero throughout high school, but it was stored during his college years. After graduation, he used it as his daily driver but eventually stored the Ranchero at his parents’ home again. Years passed, but deep down Scott always wanted to “fix it up.” Around 2017, Scott’s path crossed with Gary from Gary’s Rods & Restorations at a Goodguys show at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. However, it wasn’t until November 2022 that the project finally got underway.
The power of this potent pony-powered Ranchero comes from a BluePrint crate engine, specifically the popular 302 model nestled within the stock frame. The chassis features the original suspension, front and rear, but it has been refurbished to meet today’s cruising needs. One noticeable modification from stock is the upgrade in front braking from drum to a Wilwood Dynalite powdercoated red caliper disc package. The rear brakes still rely on factory drums. The entire braking system was upgraded to a power brake setup through a conversion to an ABS Power Brake structure.
The V-8 boasts a hydraulic roller camshaft, aluminum heads, and stylish “Ranchero” Ford Motorsport valve covers. Fuel delivery is managed by a Holley four-barrel mounted on a BluePrint aluminum intake, enhanced by an MSD ignition and BluePrint 8mm plug wires with Moroso boots. Cooling is handled by a custom aluminum radiator from Mattson’s, a short-bodied Ford aluminum water pump, and a stock alternator. The Optima RedTop battery is positioned in its factory location, complete with a custom battery tray and hold-down hardware. The exhaust system utilizes Cerakote-treated factory cast manifolds flowing into aluminized 2-1/2-inch tubing with a crossover tube that leads back to a pair of mufflers all fabricated and installed at Lincoln Street Mufflers. Nestled behind the Ford V-8 is the original rebuilt three-speed manual transmission from All Standard Transmissions; the “three on the tree” is still operational all these years later. The clutch setup consists of a Centerforce pressure plate, an organic clutch disc, and a BluePrint flywheel. At the corners are polished Classic five-spoke ET Mags in 15×7, fitted with General AltiMAX RT45 215/60R15 tires.
The body remains a factory 1965 Ford Ranchero but has undergone two notable sheetmetal replacements to the floor and lower bed. The subsequent bodywork and two-stage paint in PPG Honda Red were all completed at Gary’s Rods and Restorations.
The interior is essentially factory, enhanced by Dakota Digital RTX replacement gauges. Other upgrades feature a Vintage Air A/C system (with center and corner underdash air vents), and the necessary wiring is managed by a Painless Performance Products wiring kit installed at Gary’s Rods and Restorations. The stock steering column accommodates a LimeWorks wheel with a Falcon Sprint horn button. Thanks to Finish Line Interiors, the factory split bench seating, door, and kick panels are now covered in fresh black vinyl.
Over the years, Scott has thought about selling it, but he always remembers his dad and other old-timers reminiscing about the T-birds, Bel Airs, and other incredible cars they owned in high school, wishing they had never let them go. Scott didn’t want to be that guy! The Ranchero isn’t your typical hot rod but holds a special place in his heart. Scott tells us that whenever he cruises with the windows down, he feels like he’s stepped into the past, knowing his dad would be thrilled. MR
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