Yes, on small trucks, just to get that out of the way. I love big trucks, don’t get me wrong, but all things being equal, I very much prefer a small truck like a Ford Ranger or an early Toyota Tacoma before they became huge, bloated, and faux-aggressive, as is the current trend, sadly. This 1987 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab is posted here on craigslist in Fort Collins, Colorado, and they’re asking $4,200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
Dang, Colorado is so scenic! What isn’t scenic is the apparent wrinkled left front fender, and it looks like it’s a lighter shade of Colonial White. Here’s a super-sized enlargement. Is that redundant? The original photo is so small it’s hard to tell, and the seller doesn’t mention it at all, which is unusual. If this truck showed up on a trailer with a big wrinkled front fender, I’d be disappointed, even though it’s my job as a buyer to make sure things are a-ok.
The first-generation Ford Ranger was made from 1982 for the 1983 model year until the end of 1992. The SuperCab configuration came out in 1986, and other than whatever is going on with the left-front fender on this example, it looks pretty nice to me. The ubiquitous spray-on bedliner is in place as expected, and for weekend camping duties, the topper/cap/shell/whatever-you-call-it is a nice touch. It’s even color-matched to the Dark Canyon Red in this Deluxe Two-Tone Ranger. Here’s a 1987 Ranger brochure.
It’s hard to miss the floor selector for the automatic transmission with overdrive. Since this Ranger has the V6, the automatic is probably not as noticable of a drag on performance as it may be with the four-cylinder. The XLT was a step above the S and Custom models, and the seller says this one has cold AC, another bonus. The seats look great, and both front bucket seats appear to have a power lumbar feature. The SuperCab area appears clean and would surely come in handy for hauling gear and passengers in a pinch, with its fold-down seats.
The engine should be Ford’s Cologne 2.9-liter V6 with 140 horsepower, backed by the automatic sending power to the rear wheels. The seller has done a lot of maintenance, including a “rear fuel pump, fuel filter, valve cover gaskets, PCV valve, various vacuum lines, air filter, cooling system flush, front wheel bearings,” and more. Any thoughts on this Ranger?
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