Ford · 1983-1992
Ranger (1st Gen)
The first-generation Ranger (1983-1992) was Ford's first domestically built compact pickup and the best-selling small truck in the US for most of its life. It offered Lima four-cylinders, Cologne V6s and short-lived diesels, with a SuperCab from 1986 and a refreshed look for 1989.
- Years
- 1983-1992
- Drivetrain
- RWD · 4WD (part-time; Twin-Traction Beam)
- Engines
- 2.0 L Pinto/Lima LL20 · 2.3 L Lima LL23 · 2.8 L Cologne
- Sold in
- US · Canada
Spec sheet
- Generation
- 1st Gen
- Production
- 1983–1992
Production: January 1982 to 1992.
- Assembly
- Louisville, KYSt. Paul, MN (Twin Cities)
- Sold in
- USCanada
- Codes
- Project Yuma (development name)
- Body styles
- Regular cabSuperCab (1986)
- Bed lengths
- 6 ft (107.9 in WB)7 ft (113.9 in WB)SuperCab 6 ft (125 in WB)
- Drivetrains
- RWD4WD (part-time; Twin-Traction Beam)
- Transmissions
- 4-speed manual (Toyo Kogyo TK4)5-speed manual (TK5, Mitsubishi, Mazda M5OD-R1 from 1989)3-speed C3/C5 automatic4-speed A4LD automatic
- Trims
- S (1984)RangerXLXLSXLTSTX (1985 West Coast, full 1986)GT (1987-1989; 2WD regular cab; 140-hp 2.9 V6)Custom (by 1992)Sport (by 1992)
- Wheelbase
- 107.9 / 113.9 / 125 in
- Length
- 176.5 / 188.5 / 193.7 in
- Width
- 66.8 / 66.9 in
- Height
- 64 / 66.7 in
- Payload
- 1,200-1,620 lb (1992; standard to optional Payload Package #2)
- Towing
- 1,200-6,100 lb (1992; 2.3 manual to 4.0 V6 automatic 4x2 Regular Cab, 3.55 axle)
- Launch MSRP
- US$6,203 (1983)
Engines
- Displacement
- 2.0 L
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 73 hp
- Years
- 1983-1988
- Displacement
- 2.3 L
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 100 hp
- Torque
- 133 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm (1992)
- Years
- 1983-1992
- Notes
- 80 hp 1983-84 carbureted; 90 hp 84-88; 100 hp 89-92 EFI
- Displacement
- 2.8 L
- Config
- V6
- HP
- 115 hp
- Years
- 1983-1985
- Displacement
- 2.9 L
- Config
- V6
- HP
- 140 hp
- Torque
- 170 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm
- Years
- 1986-1992
- Notes
- 140 hp @ 4,600 in the 1992 brochure
- Displacement
- 3.0 L
- Config
- V6
- HP
- 145 hp
- Torque
- 170 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm (1991 data quoted in the 1992 brochure)
- Years
- 1991-1992
- Notes
- RWD only
- Displacement
- 4.0 L
- Config
- V6
- HP
- 160 hp
- Torque
- 225 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm
- Years
- 1990-1992
- Displacement
- 2.2 L
- Config
- I4 diesel
- HP
- 59 hp
- Years
- 1983-1984
- Displacement
- 2.3 L
- Config
- I4 diesel turbo
- HP
- 86 hp
- Years
- 1985-1987
- Notes
- EPA lists the 2.3 L diesel for MY1985-1987
Highlights
- 01
- Best-selling compact truck in the US from 1987 to 2004
- 02
- Twin I-Beam independent front suspension (2WD); 4x4 used Twin-Traction Beam
- 03
- Wind-tunnel-tuned; 0.45 Cd; standard front spoiler added 1 mpg
- 04
- SuperCab (1986) with optional jump seats
- 05
- 1989 facelift: flush composite headlamps, new dash, rear ABS standard
- 06
- 4.0 L Cologne V6 debuted 1990 and lived on through 2012
Photos
Ford Ranger (1st Gen) 1983-1992, image 1 of 2
Ford Ranger (1st Gen) 1983-1992, image 2 of 2
Related
Overview
Born as Project Yuma in 1976, the Ranger replaced the Mazda-built Courier for 1983. The first truck rolled out of Louisville on January 18, 1982 and went on sale in March at a base price of $6,203. It used a body-on-frame chassis with Twin I-Beam front suspension, leaf springs at the rear, and three wheelbases; the SuperCab arrived in 1986.
Engines ranged from the 2.0- and 2.3-liter Lima fours through Cologne V6s of 2.8, 2.9 and (from 1990) 4.0 liters, plus a Perkins-based 2.2-liter diesel (1983-84) and a Mitsubishi 2.3-liter turbodiesel (1985-87). Trims were S, Ranger, XL, XLS, XLT and the sporty STX; the Ranger GT of 1987-89 was a 2WD street-sport package with a 140-hp 2.9 V6.
A 1989 facelift brought flush headlamps, a new interior and standard rear ABS. The Ranger would outsell all compact rivals in the US from 1987 to 2004, and its chassis spawned the Bronco II and, in 1991, the Explorer.