You’re standing in a gravel driveway, staring at a pile of parts that used to be a lawnmower, and you realize you need a truck. But not a truck truck. You don't need a four-door monster with a grill the size of a billboard and a monthly payment that rivals a mortgage. You need something lean. That’s exactly what Ford was thinking when they perfected the car-based pickup formula. Honestly, the 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero is the sweet spot of that entire era. It’s got the round-body charm of the early sixties mixed with just enough mechanical refinement to keep you from pulling your hair out on the side of the interstate.
People forget that before the Ranchero, if you wanted to haul stuff, you bought a bouncy, uncomfortable Workhorse with all the aerodynamic grace of a brick. Then 1957 happened, and Ford put a truck bed on a full-size car chassis. By 1960, they shrunk it down to the Falcon platform. By 1963? They nailed it.
The Weird Mid-Year Shuffle of the 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero
If you’re looking to buy one of these, you have to pay attention to the dates. 1963 was a chaotic year for Ford. It was the year of "Total Performance." They were trying to shove V8 engines into everything that moved.
For the first half of the year, the 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero was strictly a six-cylinder affair. You got the 144 cubic inch straight-six if you were cheap, or the 170 Special if you wanted to actually reach 60 miles per hour before the sun went down. But then, in the middle of the model year (often called 1963.5 by enthusiasts), Ford dropped the 260 cubic inch V8 into the engine bay.
This changed everything.
Suddenly, this little utility sedan had 164 horsepower. That doesn't sound like much today when a minivan has 300, but in a car that weighs about as much as a bag of wet leaves? It was a riot. You could tell the V8 models apart by the "V" emblem on the side and the five-lug wheels. The six-cylinder cars used four-lug wheels, which are a total pain if you’re trying to find cool aftermarket rims today. Most guys end up swapping to five-lug anyway just for the peace of mind.
Why the Unibody Construction Actually Matters
Most trucks use a body-on-frame design. The 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero doesn't. It’s a unibody. Basically, the body and the frame are one structural unit.
This makes it light. It also makes it handle remarkably well for something designed to carry hay bales. However, there’s a massive downside that people ignore until they’re standing in a puddle of hydraulic fluid: rust. Because the structure is integrated, if the floorboards or the rear "frame" rails rot out, the car literally starts to fold in half.
🔗 Read more: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessing Over Maybelline SuperStay Skin Tint
I’ve seen plenty of Rancheros where the doors don't line up anymore because the middle is sagging. When you’re inspecting one, bring a magnet and a flashlight. Crawl under the back. Look at where the rear leaf springs attach. If that metal looks like Swiss cheese, walk away. It’s a nightmare to fix correctly. But if the metal is solid? You’ve got a platform that’s easier to park than a modern Honda Civic but can still carry 800 pounds of mulch.
Living With the "Falcon" Interior
Inside, it’s sparse.
We’re talking about a metal dashboard. You get a long, horizontal speedometer that’s probably optimistic by about ten miles per hour. There are no cupholders. There is no air conditioning unless the original buyer checked a very expensive box (most didn't). You get a bench seat that offers zero lateral support, meaning you’ll slide into the door every time you take a left turn.
Yet, there’s a weirdly satisfying simplicity to it.
Everything is mechanical. You pull a cable to open the vent windows—those glorious triangles of glass that provide better "AC" than most modern fans. You feel connected to the machine. You’re not insulated from the road; you’re part of it. The 1963 model year also introduced the "Sprint" trim for the Falcon cars, and while the Ranchero didn't get a full Sprint package, many owners back then (and now) would swap in the bucket seats and center consoles to make the cabin feel less like a delivery van and more like a muscle car.
The 170 Six vs. The 260 V8: A Reality Check
Don't let the purists tell you that you must have the V8.
The 170 cubic inch "Special" six-cylinder is a tank. It’s an overhead-valve design that is shockingly easy to maintain. You can change the spark plugs in ten minutes while holding a coffee in the other hand. If you’re just using your 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero for runs to the hardware store or Saturday morning car shows, the six is plenty. It sips gas compared to the V8s of the era.
💡 You might also like: Coach Bag Animal Print: Why These Wild Patterns Actually Work as Neutrals
But.
If you want the sound? If you want to hear that low-frequency burble through a dual exhaust? You need the 260. Or, better yet, do what everyone else does and swap in a 289 or a 302 from a later Mustang. Since the 260 was factory-installed in '63, the mounts are already there. It’s a "bolt-in" affair, mostly. Just remember that the extra weight of a V8 requires beefier front springs. If you don't swap the springs, the nose will dive every time you touch the brakes, and you'll eventually bottom out on a speed bump and ruin your oil pan.
Maintenance Is Easier Than Your Last Relationship
Parts availability for the 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero is honestly incredible. Because it shares so much with the 1964-1966 Mustang, you can buy almost every mechanical part from a dozen different catalogs.
- Brakes: The stock drums are... fine. Just fine. They’ll stop you. Once. If you’re planning on driving in modern traffic, do yourself a favor and buy a front disc brake conversion kit. It’s the single best safety upgrade you can make.
- Suspension: The "Perch" bushings on the front end usually squeak like a haunted house. Replacing them with polyurethane versions makes the steering feel ten years newer.
- Wiring: Old Fords are notorious for "flickering headlights." This is usually because the headlight switch is overheating. Installing a simple relay kit takes the load off the switch and makes your lights actually bright enough to see the road.
The Discoverability Factor: What Collectors Are Actually Looking For
If you’re hunting for one of these to flip or keep as an investment, look for the Deluxe trim. It adds that beautiful stainless steel side molding that runs the length of the body. Without it, the Ranchero can look a little "plain jane."
Also, check the tailgate. Finding a straight, rust-free tailgate for a 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero is like finding a four-leaf clover. They got beat up. They got dented by shifting loads. They rotted from the inside out because water would get trapped behind the Ford letters. A perfect tailgate alone can be worth nearly a thousand bucks to the right restorer.
There’s also the "Canadian" factor. In Canada, these were sometimes sold under the Mercury nameplate as the Meteor Ranchero. If you find one of those with original badging, you’ve found a unicorn. They are exceptionally rare and have a weird cult following in the Ford community.
Why This Truck Matters in 2026
We live in an era of digital complexity. Your car probably tries to steer for you, beeps when you change lanes, and requires a software update just to adjust the mirrors. The 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero is the antidote.
📖 Related: Bed and Breakfast Wedding Venues: Why Smaller Might Actually Be Better
It represents a time when Ford was trying to be everything to everyone. It was a worker's tool during the week and a stylish cruiser on Sunday. It’s small enough to fit in a modern garage with room to spare, yet it has more soul than anything sitting on a dealership lot today. It’s not just a car, and it’s not just a truck. It’s a Ranchero. And honestly, it’s probably all the vehicle you actually need.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Owner
If you’re serious about putting one of these in your driveway, don't just jump on the first one you see on Facebook Marketplace. Follow this roadmap to avoid a money pit.
1. The Magnet Test
Focus entirely on the rear quarter panels and the bed floor. Use a weak magnet (one of those flat fridge magnets works best) to check for Bondo. If the magnet won't stick to the lower rear quarters, the "metal" there is actually plastic filler. That’s a sign of a cheap "flip" job rather than a real restoration.
2. Check the Vin
Decode the door plate. If the fifth character is an "F," it was an original 260 V8 car. If it’s a "U" or "S," it was a six-cylinder. Authentic V8 cars hold their value better, even if the original engine has been replaced by a modern 302.
3. Join the Community
Before you buy a single wrench, join the Falcon Club of America. The members have seen it all. They know where the "secret" stashes of trim pieces are located, and they can often tell you the history of a specific car if it’s been in the circuit for a while.
4. Upgrade the Cooling
The original radiators were designed for 1963 traffic patterns. They struggle with modern idling in 95-degree heat. If you plan to drive yours daily, buy an aluminum three-row radiator. It’s a three-hour job that will save you from a blown head gasket down the line.
5. Look for the "C4" Swap
Most automatic 1963 Rancheros came with the "Ford-O-Matic" two-speed transmission. It’s sluggish. If the previous owner already swapped in a three-speed C4 automatic, that’s a huge plus. It makes the car much more drivable at highway speeds and improves your off-the-line acceleration significantly.
Buying a 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero isn't just about owning a vintage vehicle; it's about opting out of the "bigger is better" mindset. It's about a 189-inch long piece of Americana that still works for a living. Keep the oil changed, keep the salt off the undercarriage, and it’ll probably outlast most of the electric cars being built today.