Get the Best Priced Ford Ranger Parts

People would only have to read Ford Ranger reviews to know the Ford Ranger pickup truck has been a favorite for truck buyers since its introduction in 1982. At this time, Ford released the truck as an early 1983 model. It was introduced in response to an influx of Japanese pickup trucks flooding the American market at the time. The Ford Ranger was the successor to the Ford Courier, and the first model was only a two-wheel drive. However, a four-wheeled drive version of the Ford Ranger was released in the autumn of 1982.

The Ford Ranger was designed using inspiration from other truck models by Ford. Ford Rangers were manufactured with similar grille designs as trucks within the Ford F-Series, which are predecessors to the Ford Ranger. The Ford Ranger had two models in the beginning: a 108-inch wheelbase with a 6-ft bed and a 114-inch wheelbase with a 7-ft bed. The earlier designs were believed to be an improvement on previous Ford trucks, as Ford stated the Ford Ranger was a proven choice because the truck provided more space in its interior, and could safely carry large pieces of 4x8 lumber.

The Ford Ranger series has progressed dramatically since its introduction. The original engine was only a 2.3-liter with four-cylinders. The original engine has a maximum of 80 horsepower. This is also similar to the engines found inside some earlier models of the Ford Pinto. The 2.3-liter engine did not last long, as Ford upgraded the original to a 2.8-liter V6 engine with 115-horsepower by the end of the year. However, this more powerful engine was optional for truck buyers. The original Ford Ranger transmission options consisted of a three-speed automatic, four-speed manual and five-speed manual. The three-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions were also optional choices for buyers. There were some upgrades to the Ford Ranger transmission in 1985 with the five-speed manual becoming the standard feature on trucks.

Ford did not introduce major changes in the Ford Ranger design until 1986. During this time, Ford launched what was to be known as the Super Cab, an expansion of the truck's body-style. The Ford Ranger SuperCab was created with an extended cab body-style, and the SuperCab boasted a 6-ft bed with a 125-inch wheelbase. It also had jump seats which could fit up to five passengers. Anyone who would like to view the design and functionality of the original SuperCab would only have to look at the 4x2 2011 Ford Ranger Super Cab to do so.

Owners of Ford Ranger trucks received sad news in 2011 when Ford announced it would discontinue the Ford Ranger series on December 22, 2011. More than one factor was instrumental in Ford ceasing production within North America. Industry analysts saw this as a response to the decrease in compact pickup sales. The discontinuation of the Ford Ranger was also thought to be a result in an overall decrease in truck sales due to the recession. Even though the Ford Ranger discontinued in 2011, there is a Ford Ranger 2016 model available. Ford Rangers are still produced and sold globally outside of the United States.