Ford Ranger
source: shutterstock
Although Ford’s F-100 was wildly successfully (if not the most successful truck in American history), the company saw an opportunity to introduce a smaller light-duty truck that appealed to a crowd who wanted that reliability but weren’t interested in big frames, long beds, and beefy V8s. Thus, the Ranger nameplate was upgraded from an available F-100 trim package and was born as its own production in 1983.
The Ranger was a direct competitor to the many small Japanese pickups being imported to American markets. The Ranger offered all the features truck owners wanted in a compact package: 4×4, a moderately sized 6-foot bed, and plenty of power relative to its size. Ford’s available 2.8-liter V6 pumped out 115 HP and allows the truck to haul up to 1,600 pounds. The Ranger also featured many options previously reserved for full-size trucks, like independent front suspension and 15-inch wheels that provided ground clearance similar to an F-150. The Ranger’s original drivetrain was nothing spectacular, but in 1985 Ford upgraded the transmission to a very reliable 5-speed manual, which became the standard from the factory. In 1986 the Ranger’s available 2.9L motor was upgraded and pushed out 140 HP, beating out Japanese import trucks by a healthy margin when it came to power, towing and general capability.
