{"id":598987,"date":"2026-04-11T00:53:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T00:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/598987\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T00:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T00:53:54","slug":"adam-porrinos-slammed-custom-1960-ranchero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/598987\/","title":{"rendered":"Adam Porrino\u2019s slammed custom 1960 Ranchero"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are a thousand and one paint and panel techniques that Adam Porrino applied when building his low-down Ranchero. Tricky stuff that he\u2019s picked up over decades spent shaping and painting other people\u2019s show cars. But there\u2019s one thing he\u2019s given this ute that cannot be taught or learnt, and that\u2019s style \u2013 you either have that or you don\u2019t. And in this case, it only takes a quick glance to know that Adam is one stylish hombre.<\/p>\n

First published in the March 2026 issue of Street Machine<\/p>\n

\"\"BODY: Smashing a Ranchero together with a T-bird takes a lot of work. The laundry list of mods include guards welded to the body, connected via the valance panel; the cut-and-shut grille that incorporates T-bird headlights; and the addition of prominent T-bird bodylines. All door corners were rounded, door handles and windscreen wipers were deleted, and the fuel filler was relocated, with everything smoothed out like it never happened<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been building and painting show cars professionally for over 20 years, but this is the first vehicle I\u2019ve built, painted and completed for myself,\u201d says the Californian, who works out of his shop, Artistic Precision.<\/p>\n

\"\"STANCE: The Ranchero rests on the pavement when parked thanks to a body drop, deepened rear tubs, and Universal Air airbags. As an extra-neat touch, plastic air lines run inside the steel suspension tubing and into the \u2019bags, keeping lines and fittings hidden from view<\/p>\n

The ute is kinda like Adam\u2019s own Expression Session<\/a> made real. It\u2019s a wild creation that blends three different models of 1960s Ford \u2013 Ranchero, Thunderbird and Mustang \u2013 and a variety of build styles \u2013 notably mini-truck, custom, and lowrider. Everything hangs together so harmoniously, you\u2019d swear he\u2019d planned it this way from the start, but as it turns out, that was not the case.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been building this Ranchero for 16-plus years, off and on,\u201d he explains. \u201cIn the beginning, I was heavily into mini-trucks \u2013 that\u2019s why it\u2019s body-dropped, with all the suspension exposed in the back. But then, as my skills and tastes evolved, I started putting more custom and hot rod styling into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a proud Ford man, Adam took great delight in fusing together a 1960 Ranchero with several different 1964-66 Thunderbirds, into which he then implanted the heart of a 1966 Mustang. The 200ci inline-six engine was rebuilt by Wayne\u2019s Engine Rebuilding and swapped in along with the Mustang\u2019s C4 trans. Considering the factory Ranchero six-cylinder topped out at 144 cubes, this has got a little more pep, but Adam readily admits that horsepower was not a high priority. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely not built for speed and performance,\u201d he says. \u201cAll style and looks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"STRIPES: \u201cThe lowrider style comes through in the leafing and the pinstriping,\u201d says Adam, who added variegated gold- and silver-leaf and metalflake pinstripes on the bonnet, roof, tailgate, and some subtle lines down the sides. \u201cI wanted to throw a little lowrider in there, because I love that kind of artwork and that\u2019s what I like to do\u201d<\/p>\n

The pick-up is a showcase for Adam\u2019s many talents, and it\u2019s got more mods than you can shake a bead roller at. The list of work performed to the exterior alone runs over a couple of foolscap pages, and includes a two-inch chop, a one-piece shell, and T-bird bodylines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bought the Ranchero for 900 bucks, and originally it was going to be my daily driver, until I got it home and saw how rotted the frame was,\u201d Adam recalls. \u201cI needed to build a full frame, and that\u2019s what took it in this more serious direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"TRAY: The painted and pinstriped diff, fuel tank, and suspension componentry are right there for all to ogle. Adam built the two-link suspension using 1.5in steel tubing. \u201cThere\u2019s two straight lower link bars and a triangulated upper wishbone, with the rear air springs sitting on top of the lower straight bars,\u201d he says. To help achieve the low ride height, Adam cut out the rear wheelwells and welded in trailer mudguards as mini-tubs<\/p>\n

The first order of business was the body drop. Adam cut out the rotten floors as well as 1\u00bd inches of engine compartment sheet metal to allow the body to slam on the ground when the suspension was aired out. Since Rancheros are of unibody construction, he copied the factory frame rail locations to weld up the new chassis, then rolled a steel floor and firewall and seam-sealed those to the rails.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping it unibody seemed to be the quickest and easiest way,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was easier to weld the floor all in there together with the frame, rather than trying to make new body mounts and all, which would have taken more engineering and time.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it came to customising the body, the aim was seamless integration. Adam poured countless hours into cutting, moving, welding and smoothing everything so that the pick-up retained its Ranchero identity but looked like no Ranchero you\u2019ve ever seen before.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"ENGINE: The rebuilt 200ci engine is one of Ford\u2019s \u2018Thriftpower Sixes\u2019, sourced from a 1966 Mustang along with the C4 trans, which feeds back to the original Ranchero 71\/4in diff. Adam readily admits the ute is not likely to win any dyno comps. \u201cI\u2019m going to switch to 14in wheels with larger tyres soon, which will increase freeway speed a little,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd I need to swap to a Ford 8in diff\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to mix in as much Thunderbird as I could,\u201d says Adam, who shortened up the Ranchero grille to accommodate the T-bird\u2019s quad-headlight assembly, and welded on the sides of a \u201964 T-bird to create the bodyline flares.<\/p>\n

Some of the \u2018simpler\u2019 mods include shaved door handles, deleted fuel filler (relocated to the tank itself), and mini-tubs made out of trailer mudguards. Among the bigger jobs was merging the front guards with the body to create one whole piece.<\/p>\n

\"\"HOOD ORNAMENT: In addition to its Ranchero, Thunderbird and Mustang DNA, the ute is adorned with some cool parts from other Blue Oval classics. The dash clock is out of a Galaxie, wheel skirts
are off a Mercury Comet, while the hood ornament is from a \u201957 Fairlane<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the fenders welded on, I was able to cut and round off the back corners of the hood where they meet the windshield cowl,\u201d says Adam. \u201cI cut and rounded the bottom corners on the front of the doors where they meet the fenders, and also rounded the back two corners, with all the factory seams welded and smoothed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The random Blue Oval parts to feature on the pick-up\u2019s exterior include the hood ornament from a \u201957 Fairlane, the Mercury Comet wheel skirts, and the rear sections of the door window frames that have been adapted using the front pillars of a Falcon.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThat piece has a slight curve forward, unlike the Ranchero window, which is straight and square,\u201d Adam explains. \u201cThe edge of the roof around the doors also has a steel rod welded on, instead of the factory drip rails, giving the roof edge the \u2018snowdrift\u2019 detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pick-up wears its mix of styles like a champ, with its aforementioned mini-trucking roots really coming to the fore in the tray area, where painted and pinstriped rear componentry is on full display, including the stock 7\u00bc-inch diff, fuel tank, and the custom suspension set-up incorporating all the air suspension gear.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a two-link with a triangulated upper wishbone, and the rear airbags sit on the lower arms, so when you air the bag up, it works like a scissor pivot to lift the car,\u201d says Adam, who handled all the barwork himself.<\/p>\n

Just like the exterior, the cabin has been overrun with Thunderbird features, including the seats, steering wheel, gauges and centre console. \u201cI know a guy who parts out old Thunderbirds, and he let me borrow all the pieces for the interior,\u201d says Adam. \u201cI mocked it up and thought they would fit, so I paid him and then just had to do all the fabrication to make everything connect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"INTERIOR: The Thunderbird infusion shifts into a higher gear inside the cabin via the seats, steering wheel, gauges and centre console. There\u2019s still some stock Ranchero stuff in there, including the glovebox area and the very front part of the dashboard, while the top of the dash is a custom piece created from the Ranchero\u2019s old rear parcel shelf. It\u2019s topped off \u2013 literally \u2013 by the sexy-as \u2018angel hair\u2019 faux fur headliner<\/p>\n

Needless to say, there\u2019s a high level of difficulty to a lot of this work, and that goes almost doubly for the paint and pinstriping. In fact, of the many things that went into this Ranchero, the paintwork is what Adam is most proud of.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been a fan of the cars built by Richard Zocchi back in the day,\u201d he says. \u201cThey all had pastel colours with fades, and they were top-notch customs that were winning awards at the big shows. So, basically I copied the paintjob from a \u201957 Ford that Zocchi had. I was studying that car and trying to match the paint as close as I could colour-wise and all, and then I put my own touches in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The aqua base coat was mixed to Adam\u2019s liking using Challenger-brand products, and from there he just went to town. \u201cI did fades around bodylines and edges by tinting the base colour, as well as using House of Kolor transparent teal candy. I sprayed an HOK gold pearl over it all, then did a simple linear panel graphic over the hood bump up onto the roof. In and around there, I added subtle gold pearl ghost designs, giving it some classy Art Deco elements.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ranchero debuted at last year\u2019s Sacramento Autorama, where it picked up the award for Top Radical Custom Pick-Up. \u201cThat thing wins awards every time it goes out,\u201d says Adam, who\u2019s just glad to finally have it out of the shop and back on the road again.<\/p>\n

\"\"PAINT: The pastel paint with detailed pinstriping pops in any kind of light. \u201dThe car was in white primer when I got it, and for many years I envisioned it being white with maybe a white pearl in there,\u201d says Adam. \u201cThat would have been clean, but it wouldn\u2019t have been the statement that it is with the colour that\u2019s on there now\u201dADAM PORRINO
1960 FORD FALCON RANCHEROPaint:Custom AquaENGINEBrand:200ci Ford Mustang six-cylinderInduction:Stock intake, Autolite 1100 single-barrel carbHead:StockInternals:StockFuel system:Stock tank, Edelbrock electric pumpCooling:StockExhaust:Factory manifold, single systemIgnition:HEI distributorTRANSMISSIONGearbox:C4 three-speed autoConverter:Stock lock-upDiff:7\u00bcinSUSPENSION & BRAKESFront:Modified Ranchero front end, Monroe shocks, Universal Air Suspension springs, tilt steering columnRear:Custom two-link with triangulated upper wishbone, Monroe shocks, Universal Air Suspension springsBrakes:Factory-style drums (f & r)Master cylinder:StockWHEELS & TYRESRims:Stock 13in steel, stock hubcaps (f & r)Rubber:Coker whitewalls (f & r)<\/p>\n

THANKS
My dad, Dan Porrino, for help with some of the sheet-metal body modifications; Mike Ennis for help with body and paint; Daniel Gonzalez for letting me paint it at his shop, Daniel\u2019s Kreations; Dave Monnig at Coast Airbrush for the paint materials; Jose Pena for the mechanical work and wiring; Bernie\u2019s Custom Glass; James Stremple; Brian Langford; Eddie Guerrero; Joey \u2018DJ Greengo Uno\u2019 Strege (RIP).<\/p>\n

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