This unusual Ford SkyRanger is yet another American Sunroof Company creation that seems both clever and crazy at the same time. Yes, this is the company that had its hand in the ASC McLaren featured this week, as well as the Dodge Dakota pickup. They also partnered with Ford ever so briefly to build this targa top / convertible Ranger project, of which around 20 were ever built. This one is nearly new in the wrapper and has been for sale on and off again for years. Find it here on eBay with an opening bid of $20K.
In this instance, I don’t think rarity translates to value. Yes, the convertible top is intriguing, and it does look quite aggressive with that aero kit bolted on. But unless the idea of driving a pickup truck with a convertible roof really lights your fire, this is a chunk of change for an oddball. The low mileage is attractive, as it’s still a stock Ford Ranger underneath with the company’s 4.0L V6 paired to a 4WD drivetrain and a 5-speed manual transmission.
Mileage is quite low at just 7,500, and it looks like the interior received some thickly-bolstered bucket seats as part of the ASC conversion. The cabin remains quite nice, with no obvious signs of wear. Car and Driver reported on what looks like this exact vehicle over two years ago now (when it was listed for damn near $35K), noting that the project was effectively stillborn after Ford pulled the plug just 20 vehicles in, which explains why this is likely the only one you’re going to see for quite some time.
The Ranger is located in Utica, Michigan, no doubt a community that values its domestic cars and trucks. However, the one aspect of the design I can’t get past is the cut away half door from the extended cab, where you can still see the body line but no door handles or glass. At least the Dakota started with a single cab pickup; why ASC chose an extended cab is beyond me. I hope the seller enjoys being in the exclusive SkyRanger club, because I don’t see this survivor example leaving Utica any time soon at the current price.
neat……
Pretty sure those are stock xlt seats
Nice but not 20 k nice
Sorry it’s prefab aftermarket in my book
I like it though to admire
Someone might buy for no other reason that it will draw attention at a car show. How many cars in the $20,000 range will do that.
I’d rate it at a .5 on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of desirability. At least it has a manual transmission.
Steve R
I’m with Classic Steel. At this price, I am at once A. pleased to see it, and B., well content to leave it in the garage that has sheltered it so far. It reminds me of the misogynistic quote by W.C. Fields: “Women are like elephants. I like to look at ’em, but I wouldn’t want to own one.”
shockingly misogynistic but funny as hell especially when delivered in Fields inimitable voice.. I on the other hand would love to own one………the SkyRanger that is…..Id rather it was a twenty oughts design though but what the heck.
I bet tour wife tells you what to buy and not to buy, ……your just releasing stress !!,
Gee, ya think the ol’ guy likes the truck or what?? Seems like he’s in half the pictures with his hand on it in some way or another. I don’t know about anyone else, but if you wanna put a person next to your wheels, make sure she’s good lookin’ and in a bikini! And now thanks to the eBay listing we know RM wasn’t able to sell it either! Not the message I’d wanna send if I was tryin’ to sell it.
Second the motion on the bikini model
Yep. One of those instances where rarity does not translate to desirability/value. Kind of neat, because likely the only one I’ll ever see, but for that price I could get something that I’d want to drive, a lot.
We have a ’99 Mazda B3000 (Ranger clone), with a ton of miles, and matching rust. But I can throw it away if it breaks too badly, and not feel bad at all, thanking it for three years of transportation. Even though a couple of photos show this in the rain, you couldn’t drive it in foul weather, or much at all in any case, without denting the value. Buying something to drive occasionally, but mostly sit and look at/clean and polish is not for me.
Oh, BTW, this is very very near to me, if someone has a different opinion than I do, and needs a seasoned pair of eyes to take a look. The owner would for sure croak if I pulled up in the ratty old lifted 4X4 Mazda, and told him I was looking for a DD replacement! :-D
Nope. Please put the top back on, thank you.
And that just under 20k bid is the only bid from what I just saw.
There is no bid yet with 2+ days left. $19,995 is the requested opening bid. It is low miles and in great shape, but in my mind that does not overcome the fact that it is butt ugly.
I’ve seen this truck and it is in wonderful condition. It has been for sale for a very long time. Not sure if the owner really wants to sell it or just likes showing it off.
Not only do we know that rarity doesn’t always equate to value, but this also demonstrates that sometimes you’ll see something and have to wonder “after they made the first, why on earth did they make a second one??”
Think I saw a white one near me a decade ago but just like the convertible Dakota I just can’t see a pickup having much structural integrity after cutting half the body off. I remember these came out around the ice ice baby time, thought they were just goofy.
this truck and the dakota are both full frame vehicles. their structure is in the frame not the roof.
I can’t lie, this truck is cool. Not sure if it’s $20,000 cool though.
Needs a v8
Poor guy. Probably doesn’t have the courage to stand up to his wife and refuse to sell it, so he just goes through the motions every now and then.
Not sure what the car companies were thinking back then….aero packages and spoilers galore…..and putting them on vehicles you can crawl under without using a jack. What was Ford thinking? An awkward looking fit to the top (with chrome snaps mind you), words located too far forward in the stripe, and a body that is totally out of proportion. Maybe the price reflects Fords attempt to get a higher percentage of ROI to make up for the cost of all the wind tunnel testing it took to determine the optimum rear spoiler height to maximize the downforce on the tarp.
…Mark, This was not a Ford package but basically an aftermarket conversion company prototype to present to Ford for licensing for sale through their dealers with FOMOCO warranty intact. Your points are somewhat inline though. Ford would have had bigger issues with crash worthiness as well as liability. Would have presented better as a two wheel drive chassis lowered a bit and I’d have skipped the rear wing. As others have point out, driving it will diminish the value but for a conversation piece a little high in price today. In a few years though, maybe…
woof!
The price is absurd and the truck is ridiculous. No wonder Ford pulled the plug.
The 4.0 OHV was bullet proof, but went through two of the Mazda built five speeds in 190,000 miles in a ’94 Explorer. Had to special order it on the four door, but overall it was a good trucklet.
woof woof!
owners: gotta B a hat head that wears jeans too…
A little expensive, but would draw a crowd at a car show!
I love it! Now where did I put my sandals and socks?
Excellent condition yes. Like it? No. I absolutely love Rangers and Bronco II and am good with the early Explorers too. I just cannot get myself to begin to like this. Four wheel drive in something like this, why ?????
4WD works better on beaches. Only thing I can think of. Obviously the owner has never had it out in a Michigan winter!
Can easily picture The HOFF driving this to a rescue back in the day. Might have sold if he had. Yes I like it.
i dont get this part:
“However, the one aspect of the design I can’t get past is the cut away half door from the extended cab, where you can still see the body line but no door handles or glass.”
there were no rear half doors on these and no rear handles. only front doors. the extended cab just looks like it made it possoble to get a sloping rear roofline.