Welcome to the end of another week! I’ve been slowly increasing the price range this week, and we’re topping out at just under five figures – and hoo boy, are we going out with a bang. I think you’re all going to like these two.
Our Japanese sports cars yesterday seemed to go over pretty well too, though once again it was a case of the tone of the comments not reflecting the outcome of the vote. I thought the little Datsun roadster had this one sewn up, but not so much. You must all be big fans of Doritos, because the RX-7 won this round handily.
I’m right there with you – I will destroy a bag of Doritos given half a chance, and I am a huge fan of the early Mazda RX-7. I almost bought one once, a ratty 1980 model in a sort of a burnt-orange color, but it wouldn’t start when I went to look at it. Probably for the best. This one, which runs fine, I feel better about. I imagine the comments about it not passing a smog test are probably accurate, but that doesn’t apply to some of us.
It was not as easy as I thought it would be, finding vehicles to write about in the $7-10k range. The trouble wasn’t that I found too few; it’s that I found way too many. That seems to be something of a sweet spot for cool used cars these days, so much so that I might make a whole week out of this price range alone. These two ended up at the top of my list, but it was a hard choice. Let’s check them out.
1979 Ford Ranchero GT – $7,800
Engine/drivetrain: 351 cubic inch overhead valve V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Odometer reading: 25,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Malaise-era muscle cars don’t command a lot of respect. After the horsepower wars ended in a haze of government regulations and spiraling insurance costs, all that was left were the stripe packages. Detroit tried to keep the magic alive, but it was like the drunk guy trying to go on a beer run at one o’clock in the morning. Everybody else knows the party’s over, but bless his heart for trying to keep it alive.
But despite the low compression ratios and miles of vacuum lines, the recipe for something more fun was there: a rear-wheel-drive chassis and a big engine bay with plenty of room for whatever you want to do with it. This one has a 351 crate engine in place of whatever boat anchor it originally came with, sending four hundred horsepower to the rear wheels through a Tremec five-speed manual. It has suspension upgrades to help control all that power, new wheels and tires, and full dual exhaust all the way back.
The seller has a new carpet set that needs to be installed, but the rest of the interior looks good. I love the juxtaposition of the five-speed shift lever next to that thin ’70s Ford steering wheel. The GT was the fancy Ranchero, so it has power windows and air conditioning – which works, by the way. Too many times, hot rod builders rip out the A/C system when upgrading the engine; kudos to this builder for keeping it intact.
Outside, it’s, well, ridiculous. Ford designs in the ’70s were studies in excessive front and rear overhangs and overblown styling. Somehow it works, though, especially with the GT stripes and the slight rake from being jacked up in the rear. The paint looks to be original, and it’s in decent shape, except for a big blemish behind the left front wheel. I wish we had a better picture of that so we could see what’s going on there.
1985 TVR Tasmin 280i – $9,999
Engine/drivetrain: 2.8 liter overhead valve V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Encinitas, CA
Odometer reading: 21,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
There are certain bragging rights associated with having the rarest car at a gathering. You think you’re hot shit with your Indy Pace Car Edition Camaro, but then some guy shows up with a Mondial and steals your thunder. But in the hierarchy of rare cool cars, there are nameplates that basically win any time, and one of those is the pride of Blackpool, England: TVR. The legendary maker of lightweight, fast deathtraps tried a few times to import its cars to the US, and this 1985 Tasmin 280i is one of only 500 of its kind to make it to these shores.
As a small, boutique automaker, TVR had to rely on other companies for components for its cars. The Tasmin is powered by a Ford 2.8 liter Cologne V6, just like your buddy’s old Ranger. It’s fuel-injected, and sends power to a Jaguar rear diff through a five-speed manual. The Tasmin has a lightweight steel tube frame with fiberglass bodywork, and weighs only 2,300 pounds, so the 160-horsepower Ford V6 is plenty. The seller says it runs and drives well, and is a lot of fun to drive. I believe it.
It’s in beautiful shape inside, though I’m sure you could find a few flaws if you looked hard enough. TVR is a low-volume British automaker, after all, which means the fit and finish is somewhere between Lotus and kit cars. That also explains the blocky, awkward layout of the interior. But it also looks like the sort of thing you just want to hop in and head for the nearest two-lane road. It does have air conditioning, by the way, but the seller says it doesn’t work. Who cares? It’s a roadster.
The Tasmin was designed by a guy with the most British name ever: Oliver Winterbottom. It has that wedge shape that everyone copied from Giugiaro in the 1970s and 80s, and I’m afraid a few onlookers might think it’s a Triumph TR7. It will be up to this car’s new steward to set them straight.
So that’s what we’ve got for this Friday: a hot-rodded malaise-era survivor, and a low-volume British exotic for Miata money. Personally, I like them both, and if you’re like-minded, I’m going to give you the opportunity to vote for both of them. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next week!
That rancho is done so good!!! And practical!
I’ll take the Ranchero. I have always wanted a ute. That this has AC and a massively upgraded engine is a huge plus. I am not a fan of the front end styling of this generation Ranchero, but the positives outweigh the negatives. The price is also reasonable.
The TVR looks to be in great condition, but I don’t see its appeal. Styling is subjective, but I don’t think this is a nice looking car (I’m not a fan of wedge shaped sports car in general, and I also dislike pop up headlights). If I wanted a sports car and had $9,999 spend, I would look for a 2000s Miata or Z3; they would at least as much fun to drive, easier to find parts for, and more reliable.
That Ranchero is ugly as hell. A guy down the street has one and they look even uglier in person.
At least I know that oil leaks can be stopped in a ford v8
That is my preference in cars.
So it’s obvious I voted for it.
Although, if I had the money, the world’s only Speed 12 would be in my stable. I love fuel-injected suicide machines.
The front end of that Ranchero must have inspired the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. That said, it’s friggin’ awesome and I want it!
Want both, actually. The TVR looks like the Triumph TR-7 done right, except for that heater control/radio box thing…
A manual Ranchero with 400hp vs a small two seater that may be impossible to get parts for?
Ranchero all the way. Since OG Ranger-sized trucks don’t exist in the US anymore, might as well lean into the kitsch.
Use it for the hauling of light freight objects, or the fast hauling of asses.
The Ranchero is close to 19 feet long.
As is the F-150.
But the Ranchero’s bed wall doesn’t measure 58″ from the ground, nor does it have a cab height near 80″.
That’s what I was referring to. Something lower to the ground and useful for light duty.
Oh yes, bed length and height are fully practical. Be willing to bet it is near a true half ton too – these things were stout.
The human eye is naturally drawn to contrast. The eye is attached to the brain and all the implications therein. These cars are very much on opposite ends of virtually everything, and owning both is probably the best thing that will pass between my eyes and brain today.
I was disappointed that, when looking up the TVR prompted by this showdown, the TVR only came in a 4 speed manual. Cars of that era really needed the extra gear to stay in the powerband, but I think I would overlook it for fictional me.
Not really interested in a Raunchero, but after reading the description, I dig it. I’d dig it more if it had Torq-thrusts, but at the price that’s an easy swap.
TVRs are pretty nifty. I don’t mind wrenching, and keeping up with its foibles should be pretty straightforward. The 2.8 can be muscled-up if necessary, but I suspect the performance is adequate as it stands.
So, both.
There were a few up-powered versions made, but the easy one to copy is the 350i with the Buick-derived Rover 3.5L, which we didn’t get in NA. In the Tasmin and the TR8 the engines made less than 200 hp, but people have been thinking about them for a looong time now, and you can do a LOT better.
True!
Let it be said that I could really afford the TVR I most want, it’d be a Griffith.
When I was a wee lad my mother had a Granda, and I always thought is looked really weird and fugly, but it’s grown on me over the years. I kinda like it, and this Ranchero is a good example of close to what I’d do with one, not with chorme cragars, but it’s well built and weird enough to make me feel “cool”
Then there’s the TVR, it IS cool as is and I’d have a hard choice between which one to drive. Yes I voted both. For once, I don’t have anything exceedingly negative to say about either.
Guy in high school, graduated 92, had a late 60s El Dorado SS that had been restored and it was beautiful. This Ranchero isn’t that. Give me the little roadster that no one will recognize.
El Camino? I don’t remember any SS version of a FWD Cadillac.
El Camino, brain fart!
😉
I came here thinking no way would I want the ranchero. the schnozz on this year is quite hideous….but, it does have a lot of goodies, and I kind of wonder how hard it would be to swap a 1973 front clip onto that thing. That would make it palletable enough for me to want to keep it long enough to enjoy the manual and 351 for a bit. The TVR looks like a caricature of my dad’s old TR7 Triumph. that was a horrible little car, but was pretty attention getting for the time. I would perhaps drive this version just to say I did then get out of it before that FI system started causing issues.
It’s the ‘72 front end that you want: 72 ranchero gt. Geeze, I wish we could post pictures
Definitely both.
Also, I’m loving these theme weeks, Mark!
That Ranchero is friggin’ sweet! If you need me, I’ll be dreaming about spinning Cooper Cobras for days in a 5-speed Ranchero!
This is a both week. Utes are fantastic and I love TVRs, even if, to paraphrase Clarkson, you’re likely to be headed backwards through the pearly gates as a fireball.
Were the TVR a hard top, I’d have gone with both. Unfortunately, the lines of the convertible Tasmin just don’t flow right and kills my desire to own it, so I went with the Ranchero.
I don’t have a problem with the convertible Tasmin, but I’ve never seen the coupe in real life (honestly, never even knew they made a coupe version). But damn! I just googled it and the coupe is a sweet looking car!
The Ford has the right powertrain in the wrong body, but because I’ve never loved the doorstop era of TVR, it wins today. Plus, I love a malaise-era graphics moment.
The mags, while ’80s-correct, gotta go. Get me a set of T-bird road wheels and some indoor/outdoor carpeting for the tray, and we’re off to the beach.
I could accept Keystones too. Or Ford turbines.
Oh, you’re so right — this car was MADE for Keystone Klassics.
I think they were an OEM option.
Welcome to the Projective Psychological test showdown! Today we’ll get insight into your social aspirations and desired self-selection in the social hierarchy.
A.) A selection of the Ranchero. Indicates that you desire to be the coolest dude in any Tractor Supply parking lot. You have mixed feelings toward authority. Likely have received a speeding ticket in multiple decades. You have shotgunned a Coors Light at least twice.
B.) A selection of the TVR. Indicates you want to be the coolest dude in a Micro Center parking lot. You have mixed feelings toward the arts. You have received a warning for torrenting all episodes of FireFly in multiple decades. You have shotgunned a sugar-free Monster at least twice.
C.) All of the above..
There’s an argument/prophecy that if you combine the two, say drivetrain/bed/color scheme of Ranchero with about 3/4ths the TVR. You’ll create the coolest car in the universe, and usher 10,00 years of global peace and stagnation lead by your coolness. Till some skinny teenager starts a rebellion on a outer-world desert planet which is vital to the economy.
That explains the design choices in the YT-1300 Corellian light freighter…..
The spice must flow!
Tasmin every time for me. As a boy growing up in London who was into cars, I really liked the coupe version of it – the convertible loses quite a bit of character IMO. I was allowed to sit in one at the Earls Court Motor Show back in the day, which was a highlight for me. No idea what they’re like to drive or live with, I just like the shape.
Agreed on the convertible version. The lines of the coupe carry the design from front to back, where the convertible seems like the front and rear are from two differently-styled cars.
The TVR is only a quarter-step better than a kit car. I just don’t want those hassles.
That Rancho, on the other hand, must be an absolute beast with 400 horses and a 5-speed. I have a feeling that after every time you drive it, you’ll need a cigarette.
You may smoke a cigarette afterward, but the driver of that Ranchero has a CIGAR clenched in his teeth while driving. He’s classy that way.
I meant that it would be like how a person would feel after having sex. Exhausted, but very happy.
Oh I know exactly what you meant, but while driving, this Ranch is a Grumpy Jenkins kinda ride.
this made me LOL – COTD!
He also has a 6 pack of Coors on the seat!
I voted both because I’ll never say no to a ute and the little Tasmin is too cool to pass up. This is definitely my least favorite Ranchero, but its condition and uteful bed make it a nice choice. Plus, it can tow the TVR home.
“Uteful”
Slow hand clap.
I voted Ranchero. I’ve never really liked that body style, but the 5 speed and working AC overcame those flaws. The TVR may not be a problem getting parts for the drivetrain, but everything else? Oof.
I’m voting TVR without even reading the article because TVR.
Also what’s an enthusiast life without at least one car in it that requires you to have to source parts from an obscure marque specialist on another continent while simultaneously teaching you a lot about patience and acceptance.
I had a F250 highboy of the same era as the Ranchero, and while it was fun for a bit it wasn’t really enjoyable to drive. I have a feeling the Ranchero would be the same. I’ve never wanted a TVR but it would be interesting and the Ford engine reduces the parts anxiety a bit.
Between the high center of gravity, stiff suspension, and off-road tires, F250 highboy handling is a special kind of terrible (I’ve owned one for 20 years). They aren’t fun to drive in a conventional sense, although they are entertaining in their own way.
I suspect this Ranchero would be a lot more fun to drive. If nothing else, the low center of gravity and street-oriented tires mean you can probably drive it semi aggressively without being a danger to yourself and those around you (unlike the Highboy). I imagine it would drive similarly to 60s and 70s muscle cars, which a lot of people seem to like.
Fair enough. It was entertaining and did a good job as a truck while we were landscaping our yard, but I wasn’t sad to see it go. But I don’t know if people like actually driving old muscle cars or simply being seen driving them.
I have a Tacoma and a Miata now, and when given the choice, I choose the Miata. This seems to be a similar question.
The steering is really loose and sloppy, could use a bit less power boost (and I may have needed a rag joint). Handling is best described as nautical. Body roll and brake dive are terrible. They need more damping and heavier roll bars.
So, yeah. ’70s American car.