The compact pickup truck market heated up in the 1970s. Chevrolet responded by importing an Isuzu pickup they dubbed the LUV (Light Utility Vehicle). Ford followed suit and imported the Courier, which was based on the Mazda B-Series. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the U.S.-produced Ranger would take over those responsibilities. Located in Shelby, North Carolina, this almost-running project has a lot of rough cosmetic edges and is available here on craigslist for $4,500. Shout out to “Barney” for this workhorse tip.

When the Courier pickup debuted in 1972, Ford hadn’t used the moniker since the 1950s on a commercial vehicle. Ford partnered with Mazda to make this happen, and the second generation of the little truck was marketed between 1977 (the year of the seller’s edition) and 1985 (though U.S. sales stopped in 1982). These workhorses used the 2.3-liter inline-4 that also propelled the Ford Pinto, Mustang II, and a couple of Mercurys. Most were supported by a 4-speed manual tranny.

The seller’s Courier is far from pretty and is almost a runner. It will start up, but not stay going, so some reliability issues need to be sorted out. The odometer has rolled over, but we don’t know how far past 100k it has gone. That mileage alone might suggest the drivetrain is tired and in need of a refresh.

The black paint (primer grey in the bed) is past its prime, and there is surface rust. Has corrosion followed it down to the undercarriage (that would be worth an inspection)? The interior is also rough, as the door panels are wrinkled, and we guess the aftermarket seat cover may be hiding a worn bench seat. The seller has other, more pressing projects and doesn’t have time for this Ford/Mazda, so he/she just wants it “gone.” Is the seller’s asking price a make-it-gone figure?