Reverse badge engineering at its finest, this 1995 Mazda B3000 SE 4×4 Cab Plus (Mazda’s version of a Super Cab/Club Cab) started life with the same DNA as a Ford Ranger, in case you were wondering why it looked familiar. This one is hard to beat and it’s posted here on craigslist in Spokane, Washington and the seller is asking $12,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
I can’t imagine another box that this Mazda 4×4 pickup could possibly check. It appears in outstanding condition, is black (almost everyone’s favorite “color”, at least today), it’s a 4×4, it has extra space behind the front seats, there is no rust, it gets 20+ mpg, it has a V6 and a five-speed manual, cold AC, and it has only 50,781 miles. $12,500 isn’t cheap for a 30-year-old small pickup, but I can’t imagine there are many trucks like this one in this condition out there.
Mazda sent pickups to North America until 1994 when they worked out a deal with Ford to tweak Ford Rangers and sell them as Mazda B-Series trucks. They were available until 2010 or so, and not long after that, Ford discontinued the Ranger and so the Mazda B-Series trucks also went away. I can’t get over how nice this truck looks. Here’s a photo of the bed with a sprayed-on bedliner material.
The interior looks perfect and there’s that long five-speed manual gearshift making this a fun-to-drive pickup for most of us. Being a SuperCab, or what Mazda referred to as a Cab Plus, there’s a nice amount of space behind the front seats with two fold-up jump seats for extra passenger duty in a pinch. I sure wish my truck had that, not to mention this much legroom. They say the air-conditioning is cold so that’s a nice benefit for a three-decade-old truck.
The B-3000 has a 3.0-liter OHV V6 with 145 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. It rolls through a Mazda-sourced five-speed manual and a “push-button” transfer case to all four wheels and it runs and drives great, according to the seller. I can’t imagine ever needing more in a pickup than this. Are any of you fans of the Ranger/Mazda-sized trucks from this era?
Beauty little rig Scotty. Sharp looking, and clean truck. Perfect stance and tire combo. Plus pretty low miles.
My preference would a lever operated T-case, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Swap in a set of manual hubs and drive.
Wow Scotty, you sure can pick them. It was always a little funny to me how Ford had Mazda built trucks in the 70s, then, total reverse in the 90s. Its so weird how 1995 seems like just a few years ago, but its actually 30 years gone by. For its age, this truck is in amazing condition. The carpets and seats look terrific. And the 6 and Mazda supplied 5 speed is always a great combo in my book. I’m with Stan in preffering an actual shift lever for my 4WD, but like he said, it’s not a deal breaker for me either. Really nice find Scotty and I enjoyed your write up too.
Nice mini truck, doesn’t seem like that long ago you could get these things for under $5 grand
Nice rig but the add says Spokane but the map shows it 3+ hours away in Auburn
Sharp truck. These Rangers (and their clones, like this B3000) have a reputation for being tough little rascals. Clean examples bring solid money. Love that l-o-n-g shifter. I’m fine with the stock wheels but some shiny aftermarket wheels would really make it pop against the black paint.
I guess theres varying opinions. I always thought the 5 speeds were great transmissions.
Bought a 94 Ranger new. Had the ohv 4.0 cologne motor, and a weak, possibly Mazda 5 speed. Was able to negotiate a good deal by bringing up the price for a Mazda copy right down the street, was a $1000 or so less.
Towing was limited to 1600lbs due to transmission/clutch. Front hubs went bad pretty quick, easily replaced by manual hubs. Was eaten by rust over time, rear shackles first, followed by almost everything underneath. Traded it in 2010, 170k miles, motor was as solid as new, several syncros went out making shifts fun, but original clutch worked ok. AC was as cold as new. Body had zero rust as I washed and waxed it. Learned the hard way the need to rinse salt all winter and use fluid film.
These will be gaining value if clean. Timeless style, and a huge number of people had them and would like another. Me included. But maybe a 2010 with the sohc 4.0 and stronger 5 speed.
Never had a four wheel drive version , but an 89 loaded and long. It was a great truck.
A mechanic at the local Mazda dealer told me that they
ended up buying one of these back from the buyer because
he said that he wasn’t told by the salesman that it was manufactured
by Ford.
Had a 92 Ranger extended cab. 4.0 v-6 5 speed. Surprised a lot of people at stop lights. Loved it but my kids outgrew the jump seats.
Those back seats were truly a penalty box David.
There was enough room for children. Or a petite adults . Great spot to put some bags of groceries or light luggage. Did those seats fold up ? Can’t remember.
I have a 1999 B4000 4-door and a 2002 B3000 DuoSport. These things just run forever. I keep them both running and insured, and likely will not need another truck for the rest of my life. The B3000 is hard sprung and higher, but I can’t let go of that soft ride and power of the B4000 – plus the four doors are almost the best thing about it. I rotate driving them frequently. The ol’ 4000 has visible and audible “patina”, but it’s still my favorite. Both have around 128,000 miles. I was buying and car at a Mazda dealership, and they spent most of the time trying to buy my B3000. Wouldn’t rule out owning a third….