Whitewall tires, a “honey gold” exterior, a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission, and powered by a 200-cubic-inch straight six. (Al Hassall art)
The Ranchero saga began in the fall of 1964 when Grandpa Harry drove it from the Teague Motor Sales showroom. It had whitewall tires, “honey gold” exterior, a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission, and was powered by a 200-cubic-inch straight six. How well I remember Grandpa chuckling with glee when he stomped on the gas pedal and was rewarded with a burst of speed. His ability to find entertainment at other people’s expense was a behavior I grew to appreciate.
But as with racehorses and hunting dogs, old age inevitably caught up with Grandpa Harry. California stops, back-ups without looking, and T-boning a station wagon on the way to the bowling alley served notice...