The Ford Ranchero is a strange-looking thing. Neither sedan nor pickup truck, it hovers between two spheres of the car world. Still, the original stands as something of a classic. So, what made this

classic car

so popular and can you still get one today?

The first four generations of the Ford Ranchero

The Ford Ranchero, inspired by an Australian UTE, debuted in 1957. The first generation, running from 1957 to 1959, offered two different trims. One was the standard version, which they offered for $2,098. But for only $51 more, you could upgrade to the Custom model, which had all the nice trimmings of a luxury vehicle—and offered a little more class.

The second generation ran from 1960 to 1965. According to

TopSpeed

, Ford dropped the traditional design and based the new one off of the Falcon, making the Ranchero 13 inches shorter than the previous model.

And for the third generation, the Ranchero changed once again. This time, the design was a mixture of the Falcon front end and the Fairlane fascia. It sported 2.8 and 3.3-liter Inline six engines.

But it truly came into its own for the fourth iteration. Ford added a 6.4 liter V8 option that offered far more power. During that era, the Ranchero took on more of the Torino design. It adopted a seat belt warning light, rear side reflectors, and side marker lamps, which became law in 1968.

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An overview of the last three generations of the Ford Ranchero

MORE: America's Favorite Classic Cars

The fifth-generation began at the start of the 1970s. This model saw a more sportier design, demarcated by the shaker hood scoop. Powering it up were the 7.0-liter Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines.

Ford's Ranchero's sixth-generation was produced from 1972 to 1976. It continued to use the Ford Torino design, but it got longer and heavier. Some minor tweaks had to be implemented during those four years, like a square intake and a revised fascia.

Ranchero's last generation lasted from 1977 to 1979. Ford dropped the Torino design and instead went with the LTD II. Under the hood of these models were either a 4.9, 5.8, or 6.6-liter V8 engines.

While most people seemed to lose interest in the car/pickup design back then, it's become a classic with collectors nowadays.

What are some of the most Iconic models of the Ford Ranchero?

MORE:

Classic Cars That Stole The Show

Ford had many iconic cars from the 1950s era—the Ranchero is only one of them. During its 22-year run, the Ranchero had many different models rolling off the production line. Some of them are pretty memorable today.

Finding one in good condition, though, will require a lot of luck. One example of an iconic model is the first one introduced, the 1957 Ranchero.

This specific edition took other automakers by surprise. Dodge tried to counter with its Sweptside model, which was more of a pickup with a fin-styled bed. Chevy didn't compete until 1959 when it debuted its El Camino model, known for being a muscle car, according to

HowStuffWorks

But by the time competitors had begun to catch up, the Ranchero was improving. Another iconic model was the 1969 Ranchero GT 428 Cobra Jet. This is the rarest and most collectible vehicle in its 22-year run.

Only 1,658 cars were produced that year, some of them with special-edition features. Approximately 80 models sported a 428 engine and a sports roof. The rest were produced without them.

Other features for the special edition model were a hood scoop, rally wheels, air conditioning, and bucket seats, according to

Money Inc

But the pinnacle of the Ranchero might have been the last one: the 1977 Ranchero GT Brougham. Though it didn’t look too different from the generations prior, the Brougham edition was as luxurious as some Cadillacs, and was a far more pleasant drive than some of its competitors.

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