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1957-1979 Ford Ranchero History - Rugged Utility with Classic Style

Ford introduced the Ranchero, a vehicle classified as a coupe utility, at the New York Auto Show on December 8, 1956. Though this was a new vehicle for the American market, some 22 years earlier Ford of Australia designer, Lew Bandt penned the first coupe utility in 1934. This was in response to Australian ranchers, who desired a vehicle that was rugged enough to haul livestock during the week and sufficiently elegant to go to church with the spouse on Sunday. This coupe utility became known as a ute in Australia. With a production run of 82 years (1934-2016), the ute was a smashing success down under. Read on as we take a look back at Ford Ranchero history from 1957 through 1979.

1959-1974 Ford Galaxie History - Inspired By the Space Race

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Ford’s marketing team named the full-size Ford the Galaxie. This was an effort to capture some interest in the car with an association to the Space Race that held the attention of the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s. For the 1959 model of the full-size Fairlane 500, the top of the line Galaxie name was added. The Fairlane models moved to an intermediate platform in 1962. Galaxie now encompassed the full-sized Ford offerings. Read on as we examine Ford Galaxie history across four generations from 1959-1974.

The Mercury Cougar - 8 Generations Strong

 

Photos Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The Lincoln-Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company produced the Mercury Cougar from 1967 through 1997 and from 1999 through 2002. Throughout the Cougar's 34-year production run there are eight distinct generations of the car.

1965-1969 Impala & Full Size Chevy Identification Guide

If you're a fan of the Impala and other Full Size Chevy classic cars, you may have already read our 1958-1964 Impala Identification Guide. That article included illustrations scanned from the original GM documentation, in order to help you spot the differences between these vehicles. Today, we'll provide a similar visual guide to the 1965-1969 Impala, as well as related Chevrolet models such as the Biscayne, Bel Air, and Caprice. From potent Super Sport muscle cars to practical family sedans and wagons, this era of Full Size Chevy vehicles had it all.

1964-1972 Mercury Cyclone History: Great Looks & Racing Dominance

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The great-looking and eventually race-dominating Mercury Cyclone was produced from 1964 through 1972. Formerly known as the Comet with the S-22 performance package, the Cyclone started off life as the performance version of the compact Comet, from 1964 through 1967. In this article, we'll take a look back at Mercury Cyclone history and some of the details that made this model a legend.

Mercury Cyclone History

Dodge Charger Daytona & Plymouth Superbird: The Mopar Wing Cars

The late sixties were a groundbreaking time in America, from the Summer of Love to the ongoing space race. Automotive technology was moving quickly as well, with General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler all vying for top position in the peak of the muscle car era. No matter your preference, there was one pair of Mopar cars that captured every car enthusiast's attention: the Dodge Charger Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird. Some liked their sleek sheet metal and instantly-recognizable rear wings, while others thought they were too ostentatious, but everyone was transfixed by these race-ready Mopar "wing cars."