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Ford Ranger 1st Generation (1983-1992)

1983–1992 · Ranger (body-on-frame) · truck

Ford's original North American compact pickup, launched in January 1982 as a 1983 model from Louisville Assembly. Body-on-frame, Twin I-Beam independent front suspension, leaf-spring rear. Available as 2-door Regular Cab (6-foot or 7-foot bed) and from 1986 as 2-door SuperCab. Engine options spanned the 2.0L and 2.3L Lima inline-fours, 2.8L / 2.9L / 4.0L Cologne V6s, and the 3.0L Vulcan V6. Manual transmissions were the volume choice; small Mazda and Mitsubishi diesels appeared briefly.

Watch out: Owner reports of frame and cab-corner rust dominate - these are 30-to-40-year-old trucks and salt-belt examples are often rusted past the point of repair. 2.9L Cologne V6 has documented cylinder-head cracking (well-known among Ford-truck owners; the 4.0L replacement is more reliable). Twin I-Beam front suspension is durable but eats tires when the alignment isn't kept on top of.