Don’t ask me why, but I still get excited to see survivor classic cars traded in at the local used car dealer. I can’t explain it, other than knowing the days are long gone when gently used cars showed up at your local mom ‘n pop car seller; nowadays, they are scooped up by mega dealers and sent to auctions. Seeing this very well preserved 1987 Ford Ranger pickup here on craigslist is a reminder that good cars still appear at local lots in small towns, or even a larger community like Rochester, Minnesota.
Of course, this being a small used car lot, the description isn’t great. The seller clearly isn’t accustomed to hawking preserved vintage cars (and trucks), so they skip over anything worth mentioning about this ’87 Ranger. The bed looks quite tidy despite almost 100,000 miles on the clock, and it looks super straight up and down the sides.
The interior is equally well-preserved, with a tan bench showing no signs of major deterioration. The manual transmission is what we want to see here, despite the seller listing it as an automatic. Crank windows and virtually no power features isn’t surprising in a cheap work truck like this, but it also means there’s fewer things to break later on. By the way, thanks to Barn Finds reader Danny M. for the find.
The dash looks to be in good shape, with no noticeable blemishes or cracking. This is about as basic as it gets, as the desirable STX package is the one to hunt for if an extended cab and more authoritative stance is on your list of must-haves. Given how disposable these trucks were when new, it’s nothing short of a miracle that this Ranger has survived so well – especially in a wintry climate like Minnesota.
Funny how the ads from smaller dealers can be so chock full of errors.
paint color: black Eh, NO.
size: full-size As compared to what?
title status: clean Cross Your Fingers?
transmission: automatic Been driving manuals for so many years, it becomes
that way, but still has 3 pedals.
type: SUV More seats needed, and a longer roof!
One out of 5 isn’t too bad, is it?
(the clean title is correct, hopefully)
Maybe the write up is correct and they ran the wrong photos instead? Wouldn’t be the first time a dealer made an “honest” mistake to try and get people to stop by their lot.
Jeff, like you, I was shocked to see a very
well-preserved ’08 Sunset Boulevard
edition PT Cruiser on a small car lot here
in Auburndale, Fl. Like the ranger shown
here, the PT is in outstanding condition
with most all of its original components
present and accounted for. The outside
was very clean with no rust, faded paint,
or accident damage. The interior was
quite clean and free of any rips, stains,
or cracks. Even the satellite equipped
radio/CD system still works as it should
with only the volume posing the slightest
of problems. Long story short, after a
test drive, my SIL bought it for $2900!
Leinidude told me later that the car is
quite rare–1 of 500 produced in 2008.
It is also a one year only model with no
more made in ’09. I just can’t get over
how well-preserved it is for the money
Sis paid for it. It is amazing indeed the
vehicles you find on a small local used
car lot!
That’s because most people think the PT is an ugly car. They are undervalued typically, and you can get a roomy relatively reliable hat for cheap money.
I had an 03 Woody Edition in college and passed it on to my sister and it survived for another few years until a girl in a Wrangler decided to check her phone while driving. It bend the frame rail and totaled it. Such a shame. No rot besides one spot on the wheel well that we had patched and just over 100k with no major work done to it. As a way to pay homage to that car, my father and I convinced my grandfather to put PT seats in his 53 COE. They’re super comfy and discreet black buckets that you would notice in a truck or expect to be from a PT.
While it’s hard to get excited about a vehicle from the 1980’s. a pick up with a 5 speed and as clean as this is well worth looking into. The seller’s ad is a hoot…..maybe he has the wrong truck pictured
If I was in Minnesota………
I daily drive a bare-bones 2010 Ranger because it was the newest “old truck” I could find, but I have really fond memories of these early Rangers. The lines on these have aged really well, in my opinion. Having lived in the upper midwest, I think this truck almost has to have come from a dryer state a little west of us.
I hate the look of this
This Ranger is very similar to an ’88 I had for 25 years. This one apparently has a few more options than mine had like a V-6, A/C, sliding rear window, cruise, AM/FM radio, cloth seats and power steering. This has the same style wheels, hubcaps and black painted bumpers. These were good, dependable trucks and fairly simple to maintain. It’s seldom you see an early Ranger in this condition and I think it’s offered at a fair price.
I currently drive a ’97 Ranger with very little in the way of options, very similar to my ’88. It’s cheap to run and maintain but quite Spartan. I don’t mind the lack of options as I bought it to use as a pickup should be used. When I want comfort and conveniences, I hop into my Dodge Magnum.
This is a good-looking little pickup, simple and functional. Whoever buys this truck will probably be happy with it,
Cramped, cheap, gutless and lousy gas mileage was my experience. Its worse than driving a Model T, everyone passes you. Couldn’t wait to get rid of mine. A 10 year newer Dodge 1500 gas will be a better truck in every way for that price.
I have a 2003 FX4 4WD 4 liter with 120,000 miles. ‘ Bought it in 2016. Only problems in past 6,000 miles are a mirror switch and a PS hose. Great little truck – very comfortable and reliable, but suffers in mpg department – 16 mpg seems to be the max on the highway. Very little rust for a Michigan truck. My old ’99 Dakota 318 4WD was bigger, but I could still squeeze 23 mpg out of it.
With the V6 and 5 speed, this should be a fairly quick little truck. In ’97, I ordered a new one – V6, automatic, long bed, with a higher than standard diff. gears – for better mileage. It was a good truck and quick enough. I think I eventually traded it for a just introduced Dodge Rampage. The FWD 4 cyl. car/pickup.
CORRECTION: …in 1987…..
I wouldn’t count on the “quick little truck” part.
My DD at this time is a Mazda B3000 (Ranger clone), 4X4 with a 5-speed. It is slow as a stone. If anyone wants to bust my chops in the stoplight GP, they don’t have to try very hard to do it.