In the 1970s, Ford imported Japanese pickups to compete in the small truck market. By 1982, they decided that demand was sufficient to warrant a U.S.-built pickup in that space, and the Ranger was born. It was popular, along with the Chevrolet S-10, and filled a void where truck buyers wanted smaller, not bigger. This 1997 Ranger is a Splash edition, a bright trim package that was designed to appeal to younger buyers. Though the mileage is high (237,000), this little Ford looks good and runs well. Located in Everett, Washington, it’s priced in Cheap Wheels territory at $2,900 here on craigslist. It won’t last long! “Curvette” scores another cool tip for us!
If you recall the Dodge Lil Red Express in the 1970s, the Ranger Splash was similar, though smaller and without the muscle car angle. It was something of a “party” or “action” truck that fit nicely with the revived youth movement of the 1990s. The Splash looked “young” and was for those who wanted a pickup for something other than hauling a bunch of rocks. The Splash looked hip, with body-color painted bumpers and mirrors. And the wheels were either chrome or aluminum, not steel ones with cheap hub caps. The suspension was even dropped a bit to add to the mod appearance.
Mechanically, the Splash was typical Ranger fare, and the seller’s truck has the optional 4.0-liter V6 paired with an automatic transmission. We’re told it drives well, suggesting plenty of life left (I remember the days when 100,000 miles equaled tired, much less 200,000). The Splash was on the Ford payroll from 1993 to 1997, so this one is from one of the last batches and is an extended 2WD cab model with the step-side bed layout and a cover.
Everything seems to work here, though the seller mentions that a “few minor issues” are present (without listing them). Hopefully, they are just simple things like a burned-out headlight. It’s well equipped with air conditioning and tilt steering. The body, paint, and interior look great, though we’re told the clearcoat on the bed and tailgate is peeling. If you’re looking for an inexpensive set of wheels that is functional as well as sharp in appearance, could you do much better than this Splash?
I always thought that these were sharp looking little trucks when they came out. The 4.0 and automatic will make for nice effortless cruising. Even with the high mileage, $2900 isn’t all that bad.