The Ford Ranger is an entry level pickup truck manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. In the 1960s and 1970s the Ranger was used for versions of the well known
F-Series. The Ranger became its own series in 1982 as an early 1983 model, replacing the Ford Courier which was an American version of the
Mazda B-Series. While the Ranger is a compact truck, it was styled after the larger full size
Ford trucks and offered a four wheel drive system like the bigger trucks. Before 1983, the Ranger name was used but it was simply a trim level available of the full size Ford trucks. The Ford Ranger is manufactured in Saint Paul Minnesota.
The Ranger has not been selling as well in recent years, even with the edition of the Ford Ranger EV which is a battery electric vehicle starting in 1998 and ending in 2002. The decrease in sales have been attributed to new designs by both Dodge and Chevrolet in the recent years, and those competitors make the Rangers future somewhat uncertain. The Ranger has been equipped with a variety of four cylinder and V6 engines over the years which makes the Ranger perfect for buyers that desire a truck but don't want to have a full size version. The recent hike in fuel prices may mean more favorable sales for the Ranger as full size truck owners turn to the powerful and dependable Ranger more and more.
