1986 Ford Ranger “PICKUCHO”

The 1983 model year introduced the first-generation Ford Ranger, a compact pickup engineered and built in North America to replace the Mazda-built Ford Courier. The 1983 Ford Ranger used Ford's Twin-I-Beam independent front suspension on two-wheel-drive trucks and the Twin-Traction-Beam layout on four-wheel-drive trucks built around a Dana 28 front axle. The base engines were the 2.0 and 2.3 Lima four-cylinders, with the 2.8 Cologne V6 as the optional six. Early first-generation Rangers also offered diesel options sourced from Mazda and Mitsubishi. For 1986 the 2.8 V6 was replaced by the larger 2.9 Cologne V6, and the 3.0 Vulcan V6 joined the lineup. For 1990 the 4.0 Cologne V6 arrived as the top engine, and the four-wheel-drive front axle grew to a Dana 35. The first-generation Ranger also provided the platform for the Bronco II compact SUV introduced for 1984 and later the Ford Explorer. Transmissions ranged from four-speed and five-speed manuals to three-speed and four-speed automatics depending on engine and year. The first generation ran through 1992 before the restyled second-generation Ranger arrived for 1993.