Here is a link to a '69 Ranchero with a special data plate that has the words "Special Performance Vehicle" on it.
Have you ever seen such a thing?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1839642952.html


This is a very rare edition ranchero, data plate has the inscription"Special Performance Vehicle", which is not present on regular GT models, it is found on the rare "Rio Grande", and this ranchero may or may not have been that rare issue, some of the ford experts that I have contacted have thought that it was a Nascar support item, <snip>.

Can't see much of it but it looks like it would be a fun project and appears to have some sort of unique coding. With the new shop if I was closer I might be tempted to drag it in.

I haven't seen that before, but I forwarded it on to the "experts" at the Fairlane group I'm on. I'll let you know what they say.

Steve

I owned a 1969 Rancher-u in the late 1970's. It was not a GT and was a 351 Windsor, automatic. Same scoop with black vinyl top and black side stripes. It is where the 428 Cobra Jet I hand in my 1957 Station Wagon came from. The guy I bought it from stripped a 428 Cobra Jet, Formal Roof Torino. Great car, sold it to my Dad for $2k in 1979 and made it into a trailer puller. Later took 428 out of Ranchero and put it in a 1973 F-150 for my Dad. Ranchero went down the road with a 360 in it....

My brother in law has a rust free 1969 Ranchero project. 351 Windsor and a top loader 4 speed. Original 4 speed car. Not sure if the engine is numbers match. Factory tach, bucket seats. Orginal lime gold or whatever light green for that year. Needs paint and assembly. $2,500.00. Lots of new parts and it runs great. Dirty and need of a total paint up. Not rusty at all

Rob

Your brother-in-law's car sounds like a great deal.

I think Rancheros are cool cars, or trucks, or whatever. They won't haul a ton of mulch, but they're good for taking a transmission to the rebuilder or picking up a Christmas tree.

When in doubt, search Wikipedia.

A little-known and extremely rare offering in 1969 was the Rio Grande. Available on special order, this was essentially a GT in the so-called "Grabber" colors of "Wimbledon White", "Poppy Red" or "Calypso Coral," partially blacked-out hood with scoop, side stripes, bed rails, vinyl top and unique "Ford Ranchero Rio Grande" wheel centers. As a result, Rancheros so equipped received Ford's "SPECIAL PERFORMANCE VEHICLE" identification on the data plate regardless of engine choice. These vehicles may be identified by the aforementioned designation as well as a blank space where the trim code would normally be found. Production figures are unclear, but may have been around 900 total units.

Steve