What is the wheelbase of a 1959 Ford Ranchero?
The wheelbase of a 1959 Ford Ranchero is 116 inches (2,946 mm).
In the context of this vintage pickup, Ford built the Ranchero on a full-size, car-based chassis derived from the Fairlane lineup; for 1959, the Ranchero used a longer wheelbase that balanced ride comfort with bed utility. The following details summarize its key measurements and implications.
Original specifications and platform
The Ranchero’s engineering mirrored Ford’s Fairlane-based platform of the era, giving it a longer wheelbase than many compact pickups and contributing to a smoother ride for a vehicle that was half-car, half truck.
Key facts about the 1959 Ranchero's underpinnings are summarized below:
- Wheelbase: 116 inches (2,946 mm)
- Platform: Ford Fairlane-based chassis
- Body style: 2-door coupe utility (car-based pickup)
- Production context: Part of the late 1950s Ranchero lineage derived from full-size Ford sedans
These dimensions shaped the Ranchero’s handling, cargo capability, and interior space for occupants, making it distinct among contemporaneous pickups.
Why wheelbase matters for a Ranchero
The wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear axles, influences stability, ride quality, and payload behavior. At 116 inches, the Ranchero offered a smoother ride than shorter-wheelbase trucks while maintaining adequate bed length for light-haul tasks typical of late-1950s pickup buyers.
Context: Ford Ranchero and its contemporaries
During the 1950s, car-based pickups with relatively long wheelbases were common among American automakers. The Ranchero’s 116-inch wheelbase aligned with Ford’s strategy to deliver car-like handling with pickup practicality on a shared platform.
Summary
The 1959 Ford Ranchero uses a wheelbase of 116 inches (2,946 mm). This dimension reflects its Fairlane-derived platform and the era’s emphasis on combining comfortable road manners with functional cargo capacity.
