What will follow the Ranger?

[280Z Turbo]

Quote from: Soup DeVille on August 02, 2007, 06:06:43 PM
It's also the same truck it was in the '80s...


Actually, yes it is. Well, most of it anyway.

1983: Ranger introduced.
1989: Facelift. New flush headlamps, front fenders, grille and dashboard.
1993: Another facelift. flush-mounted window glass, wider doors, flared fenders.
1995: Another new dashboard. Passenger airbag added in 1996.
1998: Yet another facelift. Wheelbase and cab made longer, front suspension and front half of frame redesigned, steering changed to rack-and-pinion.
2001: And yet again, another facelift. New grille, hood, front bumper, headlights and taillights.
2004: Yet more cosmetic changes to the grille, hood, front bumper and seats.
2006: And still more cosmetic updates to the grille, front turn signals, taillights and a new gigantic blue oval badge in the middle of the tailgate.

It may have evolved, but it is still clearly related to that little truckette Ford introduced way back in 1983. Engines and transmissions changed almost annually, but the overall design can trace it's roots back twenty-four years. No wonder Ford can't give them away. Can you imagine any other 1983-vintage designs competing in today's marketplace? The Volvo 760, the Renault R9/Alliance, the second-generation Honda Prelude, the Isuzu Impulse and the first front-drive Mazda 626 were all introduced the same year as the Ranger. Just imagine if heavily facelifted versions of these cars were still being sold today!


Madman of the People

Most of it? Very little of it is the same.

There might not even be one part that I could take off of my old '86 and install on an '06.