Talking about the Ford used trucks that my family has owned over the years makes me a little teary-eyed. I think my favorite was my dad’s 1972 Ranchero.

This wasn’t the prettiest of the Ford used trucks that has gone through the hands of my dad and grandpa. It was a copper(ish) color, but it was still a Ranchero. There were many a nights my dad let me ride in the back of it without the topper when we were on our way home from grandma and grandpa’s. That was before it was illegal to ride in the back of a pickup truck (or has it always been illegal?)

The 1972 Ranchero was a bit different from the previous model year. In 1970, Ford used a completely different body than the years before. And in 1972, the body style was changed again. Instead of the sleek, pointy appearance of the 1970-1971 models, the 1972 Ranchero was larger and heavier. The front grille was much wider, making it look almost like a fish mouth. Customers could choose from three styles – the sporty GT, the Squire (which had the fake wood paneling around the middle) and the standard 500. I think my dad’s was the standard 500.

My grandpa passed that (and many other Ford used trucks) down to my dad after he drove it for a few years. Unfortunately, my dad wasn’t the best person for taking care of things and that 1972 Ranchero was no exception. We ended up selling it for a fraction of what it was worth in its heyday. But that’s okay because we got to experience more Ford trucks after that one.