V8 RallyCross Ready: 1993 Ford Ranger

Trucks are popular (I believe the F150 is still the best selling vehicle in the USA) and they have an interesting history.  They started off 100 years ago with the Ford Model T Runabout as a work truck and that was mostly the paradigm for 50 years until the El Camino & Ranchero introduced a "styled" pickup -- something that was as much about image as it was about utilitarianism.  A few years later and GM introduced something even more radical, the performance pickup in form of the Silverado 454SS and GMC Cyclone which were shortly followed by Ford's SVT Lightning.  People had been racing pickups over the years and in 1995 NASCAR introduced its SuperTruck racing series...but today we've got a pickup that is setup to race in SCCA RallyCross, which is basically an AutoCross on some dirt/mud/snow.  Sounds fun! Find this 1993 Ford Ranger offered for $5000 via grassrootsmotorsports.com forums. Tip from ISAUN.

Mary Kay: 1959 Edsel Ranger Sedan

This next car comes as a tip from DT tipper SecondMouse who writes: Do you know a Mary Kay lady who needs a new whip? Trying to find a car to match those plastic pink flamingos you put in the yard? Look no further than this 1959 Ford Edsel Ranger, sensibly priced at $12,500 OBO.

Mercedes Diesel Power: 1986 Ford Ranger XLT

Remember that Toyota 22R powered Mercedes-Benz 240D that we posted the other day...that was a strange car...really weird, but I think we've discovered where the engine from the Merc ended up...but for the universe not to end in a divide by zero error, there has to be a Toyota pickup with a Ford engine for sale...anyways find this 1986 Ford Ranger XLT offered for $2500 in Hadley, MA via craigslist.  From Cory.

Lone Stang: 1993 Ford Ranger V8

Compact trucks are a thing of past here in the US despite the ongoing SUV and truck boom.  Ford pulled the plug on the Ranger after the 2011 model year. Rangers were made from 1983-2011 and were only available with four cylinder or V6 engines.  Ford's 302 5.0 push rod V8 is a popular engine swap option into a host of cars because of its compact dimensions.  Today's Ranger sports a 5.0 V8 transplant and can likely light up its rear tires for days with the lightweight unloaded rear end. The truck's 3200 lb curb weight is actually very comparable to a same year Fox body 'Stang.  Find this 1993 Ford Ranger for sale in Ellenburg Center, NY for $4,000 via craigslist.

V8 Convertible: 1984 Ford Ranger

File this next one under the "what the heck am I looking at folder" -- it seems to have started as a Ford Ranger pickup, but is now Chevy 350 V8 powered and equipped with a one-piece clamshell top.  Find this 1984 Ford Ranger offered for $5,500 in La Follette, TN via craigslist.  Tip from Dave M.

Truck Life: 1970 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT Pickup

There is something undeniably good about a classic pickup truck.  Good to drive?  Nah...rough and slow. Good to own?  Maybe.  Good to look at?  Yes!  This is the car that you always glance over your shoulder after you park it.  Find this 1970 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT Pickup here on eBay bidding for $7,400 with a few hours to go, located in Tacoma, WA.

What Can Brown Do? 1976 Ford F-250 Highboy Ranger

The sixth generation Ford F-series (1972-1979) featured new boxy-styled sheet metal that wasn't much different from the car it replaced, aside from the items required for safety -- but one of the biggest changes was the extensive use of galvanized thick sheet metal, which is why you see scores of these still driving on the road today.  Find this 1976 Ford F-250 Highboy Ranger here on eBay bidding for $6,101 USD ($8,133 CAD...why is this on Canadian eBay??) with 5 days to go, located in Canyon, CA. Tip from Rémi.

1959 Edsel Ranger Hardtop

For the last car of the 1950s, take a look at the decade's biggest failure. Who really knows whether it was due to bad marketing, odd styling, confusing product lines and pricing, or just plain bad timing, but after its disappointing 1958 release, the newly minted brand lasted only (barely) into the 1960 model year. I happen to think the '59s are the least awkward looking, and still represent a good value in the classic car world today. Find this 1959 Edsel Ranger 2-door Hardtop survivor for sale in Concord, CA for $15,000 via craigslist. This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!

5.0 V8 EFI Swap: 2000 Ford Ranger Pickup

A 2000 Ford Ranger with a V8 mated to a slushbox with large 4X4 style tires might not be the most exciting drive featured on these pages today...but it really makes you wonder why Ford never sold them that way when new...and furthermore, just what happened to the small truck market anyway?  Find this 2000 Ford Ranger with 5.0 V8 swap offered for $5,999 near Detroit, MI via craigslist.

Recent Resto: 1978 Ford F-150 Ranger

A wise man once told me to never buy a car that has recently been painted (new or used) -- but what's wrong with taking advantage of the previous guy's time, money, or painting skills?  The answer, of course, is nothing, but be sure to check and double check the quality of the paint job, lest you get stuck with a Earl Scheib spray 'n' pray that looks like a 10 year old Nissan after 6 months.  Find this 1978 Ford F-150 Ranger here on eBay bidding for $4,050 reserve-not-met with 8 days to go, located in Nampa, ID.

10k: Truckin': 1975 Ford F-250 Ranger Highboy

If you are in the market for a small fuel efficient truck, this next feature won't be the one for you, but if your trucking miles are limited and parking unlimited, why not get a giant dino-juice drinking triceratops from another era.  Like this 1975 Ford F-250 Ranger Highboy found here on eBay currently bidding for $10,700 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go, located in Caldwell, ID.

5k: George Jetson's Ride: 1960 Edsel Ranger Hardtop

 For three exciting years in the late 1950s Ford manufactured futuristic looking cars under the Edsel nameplate.  Tipper Rene C writes: What would George Jetson drive?  Better than a Starliner.  Imagine how this could be resto-modded.  The last Edsel model to ride off the Louisville, KY manufacturing plant assembly line was a Edsel Ranger, like this one.  Find this 1960 Edsel Ranger Hardtop currently bidding for $6,800 reserve-not-met with with 5 days to go in Roseburg, OR.

10k: Lost In The Woods: 1988 Saleen Ranger

Steve Saleen was a former racing driver who started his own aftermarket tuning company in Southern California in 1983.  Saleen Performance rapidly became a small automotive OEM (similar to Shelby Automotive) and as such released cars that while based on (and using parts from) Ford's Mustang; they were technically according to the Dept of Transportation, a Saleen.  The company's future has been in question recently as Steve left in 2009 and various questionable MBA run entities have owned it, sold it, and gone bankrupt, but recent twitter activity indicates that Steve may have rejoined the company.  Find this 1988 Saleen Ford Ranger for sale in  Arvada, CO currently bidding for $8,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go. 

2k: SVOdditty: 1994 Ford Ranger Turbo 2.3 Power

We see countless engine swaps in our quest for cheap junk and most involve swapping a newer engine into an older chassis (with the notable exception of swapping carburetor equipped Chevy 350s of indeterminable origin into every manner of vehicle). It is unusual, for instance, to see an engine from an 80s Thunderbird shoved into a 90s pickup.  Find this 1994 Ford Ranger with turbo 2.3 power for sale in East Haven, CT for $2,500 via craigslist.  Tip from Cory. 

10k: 1998 Ford Ranger Electric!

In 1998 Ford released a new version of the small Ranger pickup, now in its 3rd generation.  Ford also produced a limited quantity of an electric version, which was basically a Ford Ranger XL 4X2 with an electric motor in the place of the gasoline inline 4, most were leased and later re-claimed by Ford and crushed because clearly the big three hate electric cars and are on the big oil payroll..more on that later. This 1998 Ford Ranger Electric somehow avoided the crusher and is now for sale in Apopka, FL currently bidding on ebay for $12,600 with a day to go.

10k Flash: Super Nice Original 1970 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT Camper Special

For our last Weekly Haulrismo feature we looked at a 1970 Ford pickup, of the F-100 Ranger 4WD variety. That truck sold for a very strong $13.7k on ebay, which frankly surprised us and got us looking for a better deal on a similar vintage truck. Well, we found a real gem - another 1970 Ford, as it turns out, but this one is an F-250 (heavier duty hauling / towing rating). It is a 2WD truck, which is honestly all most people will ever need in a vintage Haulrismo. The bonus here is its originality and lower buy-in - the paint is claimed to be original in its awesome tri-tone color scheme, and the seller says it's only rolled 118k miles in its 42 years. Find this minty show-quality survivor for sale here on craigslist in San Diego, CA, for $10k asking price.

10k: Minty Clean 4x4, 1970 Ford F-100 Ranger

We're in the middle of Weekly Haulrismo Week, the not-so-elegantly-named DT theme that explores cool, interesting, and cheap vehicles to use for hauling all of that holiday debris that seems to accumulate this time of year. You're already draining your bank account buying stuff for other people, so why not indulge a bit and get that classic workhorse you've been fantasizing about? After Monday's clean old "Mustard and Mayo" Suburban, today we're shifting gears (with a long, spindly lever that feels like it's stirring a box of rocks) and taking a look at a Ford pickup. The 5th-generation of F-Series trucks were built from 1967-1972 in the US (and up until 1992 in Brazil!) and represent great value today - clean vintage styling, brawn, simplicity, able to be fixed with a pocket knife and a mallet, and reasonably priced. Take a look at this restored '70 F-100 "Ranger" 4x4 for sale in Chula Vista, CA. It's on ebay bidding near $2k currently, reserve not met, and Buy it Now at $13.9k. We think a final sale price somewhere near $10k would be perfectly reasonable for a gussied-up workhorse like this.

*UPDATE: this truck is listed locally here on San Diego craigslist for $12,900 or "reasonable offers"