It isn't always easy to describe the Ford Ranchero. At first glance it seems to be one part car and the other part truck, but during its production run cars, station wagons and even luxury vehicles were used as a starting point for this vehicle.

From 1957 to 1979, a little over 500,000 units were created. It was not the first of its kind. For years, car manufacturers had been trying to successfully marry a sedan to a truck, with varying results. This was the first post-war attempt that came direct from the factory.

When it was released in 1957, it was sold under Ford's truck line and came with two different trim packages. One was a basic model with very little frills. The goal was to take on the market of buyers that needed traditional trucks to keep up with their workload. They believed a farmer would be able to find a use for this type of vehicle. The other option was considered to be more custom. There were several different extras and accessories to choose from including two-tone paint and stainless steel body moldings.

Throughout its production, the Ford Ranchero was marketed with a theme revolving around the American Southwest. Even the symbol for the vehicle was a Texas longhorn. It was located on the tailgate of each model. To provide consumers with the full picture, Ford tried to conjure up images of the Ford Ranchero being used on ranches and farms across the United States. Whatever they did, it worked. People saw this as the perfect balance between riding comfortably in a car and having the utility of a truck.

Ford changed with the times and when consumers needed a lighter, more economical vehicle, the Ford Ranchero fit the bill. It was smaller in size and made to compete with similar vehicles in its class. The Falcon Ranchero was offered in three very different body styles: one for the United States, one for Australia and one for Argentina.

For one year, 1966-67, the Ranchero moved to more of a modified station wagon as opposed to the traditional sedan. It did not carry the Falcon name and seatbelts were considered as standard, which was new for the times After that, the model moved back up to the larger size in 1968-69, with a more angular build and horizontal quad headlights. Changes continued to be made and in 1970, the Ranchero added some curves and took more ownership over the Ranchero name. Before this model, none of the vehicles had any type of badge on the inside recognizing it as a Ranchero.

The sixth generation, released in 1972, showed a huge change when compared to its predecessors. The body and frame were changed and the wide "fishmouth" grille became the vehicle's most prominent feature. It was still available in three different models, each catering to a different audience. The final generation was produced from 1977 to 1979. Instead of a sedan or a station wagon, Ford decided that they would pair a luxury coupe with the truck this time, to create the new Ranchero. It was possible for customers to order all sorts of luxury options to make this quite a luxurious and functional ride.