Photos Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. The return of a 1971 Ford Ranchero 500 to the auction stage is a sharp reminder that Detroit once had no problem mixing muscle-car energy with genuine utility.

A single road test can solidify or tarnish a car's legacy. Sometimes the tarnishing is well-deserved, such as when a car can't deliver on expectations. One needs only to scan the Car and Driver test ...