Loretta Lynn had a dude ranch? Yes, that IS the title/caption I'm going with for this Ranchero, as that's the bumper sticker on the fender!

I also just learned that Crystal Gayle is Loretta Lynn's youngest sister. Loretta Lynn had seven siblings, Crystal was the youngest of them. 

As for the "dude ranch" it seems that it simply was the marketing strategy of the 80s of her 3000 acre ranch in Tennessee, near the I 40 and TN hwy 13, and is a huge campground and RV park. 

anyway, this 68 Ranchero was modified in the 1970s as part of an alternative fuel demonstration program, which included replacing the factory V8 with a propane-powered inline-six.

I love the lettering all over the truck. 

Hopefully someone wants to buy it and convert it to a cool streetable muscle car. It's got a rust free perfect body

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-ford-ranchero-7/

https://fordauthority.com/2025/10/propane-powered-1968-ford-ranchero-up-for-auction

https://ksdowney.medium.com/how-i-learned-to-love-country-music-on-loretta-lynns-dude-ranch-36747982a4ae

This 1978 Ford Ranchero is up for auction at Bring a Trailer with just 213 miles on the clock, the wife didn’t like it, so it sat parked until 2013. That's really scornful... wasting all that money, and storage space, for 35 years?

https://fordauthority.com/2025/09/1978-ford-ranchero-with-just-213-miles-up-for-auction

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-ford-ranchero-9/

It's bid to 12,500. Unreal. You could buy a better vehicle for 10k. This only has 134 horsepower, lousy brakes, lousy suspension, etc. 

I was surprised to see this Falcon Ranchero on the interstate in rush hour traffic

spotted at Panera... note the Holman Moody sticker in the rear window!

this poor little Ranchero is stuck in a damn tow truck yard... it's like an innocent convict in jail

really unexpectedly saw this Ranchero as I was headed back to the office at the end of the wok day today... why the hell it was in that commercial/industrial business office neighborhood, I can't even imagine

Have you seen Jack from Speed Bump Garage talk about buying parts for his 1970 Ranchero at O'Reilly Auto Parts? They ought to hire him to be the spokesman! ( I can't find a way to show you that video, so, I'll link to it)

to see the Ranchero, the video above, to see his pitch for O'Reilly Auto Parts, see https://fb.watch/tqRp_D2IVG/

Seen in traffic yesterday afternoon... hard to believe this Ranchero is a daily driver!

pretty sweet

 https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2024/05/slick_20.html

There's an unusual number of early Rancheros around town, this one hasn't moved in years though... it's on one of those few streets the cops don't ticket and the street sweepers never bother with.

seen on today's walk

here is a mystery, it looks like a Ranchero, 

Right? But it isn't. It can't be. It must have a Chevy or Mopar engine... 

because is hasn't leaked on the driveway. Seems suspicious to me. 

 

Budweiser wood case

I can't understand what all the round and round driving was for, they don't seem to have been making donuts. Were they "drifting"? Or just cleaning off the tires, a LOT?

looks abandoned, BUT the registration is still current. Why though? Clearly, it's neglected

it's very uncommon to see an International truck

but this is the first time I've seen an Airfloat camper trailer in person! 

Airfloat is the only trailer that had round windows like this that I know of. 

Seen on tonight's walk, far more Rancheros and Mustangs than I would expect in just a one hour walk.

most days on a walk I find one car that makes the entire hour walking worth the effort. This Olds Vista Cruiser was the one for today. Sure, that is a 50s Buick under the car cover. So? Means less than nothing next to this Oldsmobile wagon! I just dig it. 

he was doing a lot of body work to it. Been right there since before 2009

this Mustang used to have a cool van for company, from before 2009 to 2019

Both of these 70 Mustangs have ugly damn rims and hub caps. The above are hub caps, and a sin against cars. 

This one stumps me... but it qualifies as today's "what's under the car cover"

this Elk has been there a couple years, here's what it looked like before the car cover:

and here's what the Ranchero looks like without the car cover:

I ask, not knowing the answer... why is this on blocks, with flat tires, that are aged until dry rotted? 

I can only guess that it's to prevent the car from being stolen. But, if there is this much concern about it getting stolen, why not store it in the garage they will never open and use, as, they certainly prevent the use of the garage by having a car in front of it. 

there used to be a time when Honda made small cars, that were fun. The CRX and Del Sol, and the 2000. I don't think (and I am possibly wrong as I don't pay much attention to new cars) they make small cars for sale in the USA anymore, unless maybe the 170,000 dollar NSX. 

Fenced off lot with 4 or 5 old trucks, old Chevy trucks. 

This has been there about a dozen years and the shrubs have grown to shoulder height. 

Is this one unusual license plate? Seems very weird to have JKLMN on it, and it's the rarely seen 1990 Olympic design. I can't recall seeing one like this in forever.

Mining yard art! 

Been in the driveway blocking the garage door a LONG time, plates expired 18 years ago

I do not recall when I last saw a Jeep truck of this era. It's a Commanche, right? 

Sidewalk art! Love it! 

Pac Man AND dinosaurs? ! Sweet! 

Well, I guess this ain't the strangest thing I've seen in a parked car

there are so many abandoned cars in this neighborhood... look at the water stains on this flat tire.