A History of Ford Ranger Pickups

The Ford Ranger has become one of the top-selling American pickup trucks. It has come a long way since its introduction in 1983 as a mid-sized truck, bridging the gap between the full-sized F-Series and the compact Courier.

Beginings

Plans were announced in 1981 and in 1983 the Ranger was introduced, replacing the Courier, a compact truck made by Mazda. The biggest immediate changes from the Courier were some exterior alterations and a V-6 engine.

Super Cab

In 1986 the Ranger added the Super-Cab, which had 17 inches of storage space behind the front seats, with a 6-foot bed. Also new in 1985 was a shift on the fly 4-wheel-drive system.

1989-90

In 1989 the front was re-designed to look more like the F-Series. Most changes involved engine improvements and interior tweaking. The sporty GT package was discontinued in 1990.

The 1990s

During the 1990s more aerodynamic designs were created and more refinements added to the interior. More powerful 4.0 liter V6 engines were introduced. In 1998 the super-cab was introduced with 4 doors.

After 2000

In the decade of 2000 a more sporty look was introduced to America's top-selling pickup truck. Four and 6-cylinder engines are available and interior refinements continued. Sport and off-road packages were also added.

References

• The Ranger Station: Ranger History
• NADA Guides: Ranger History
• Edmunds Car Guides: Ford Ranger

Resources

• Trucks: Ford Truck Timeline