No option Ranger?

[Daniel Black]

My '87 Ranger is a base model truck, but how base? It's a standard cab, short bed 2WD. It was a 2.0, 5-speed. It has MS, MB, no A/C, solid back glass, 2-speed wipers w/o delay, factory radio delete and not even a cigarette lighter, which is something I've never seen on a 1st gen Ranger. It does have LH and RH side mirrors, was a passenger mirror still an option by the late '80s or mandatory? Also both doors can make the interior light come on, was that an option? My '83 F150 only has a switch for the drivers door.

 

[sgtsandman]

Next to nothing to go wrong. Simplicity at it's best. If it has wing windows and vents under the dash, that would pretty much make it perfect.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Passenger side mirror was standard. Yours is as much of a base model as my first 86 model, and my current 87 V8 truck. The only difference being that both of mine had a cig lighter. My 86 had the radio delete. Not sure on the 87, but it seems like it came with a radio with front dash speakers only. Both of my trucks the dome light came on when opening either door..

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You sure a passenger side mirror was standard by 87?

My sisters old 88.5 escort pony only had a driver.

 

[Dirtman]

It may not have been standard on cars but pretty sure it was on the trucks.

 

[adsm08]

I'm pretty sure the Ranger never came with only one side mirror. I think that became a standard thing on trucks much earlier than on cars.

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

I once had a 1984 Ranger and it was pretty much identical to yours. It had the same engine, manual steering, manual brakes, 4 speed manual transmission, no A/C, 2 speed wipers, mirrors on both doors and no cigarette lighter.

 

[RobbieD]

My first three Rangers were "S" models, which was the minimum-equipped base model.

All were no radio (aftermarket radios is actually what I did at the dealership). No rear bumper; I added those (I'm sure all at least had a spare tire). All had rubber mats, not carpet like OP's (and that looks like an aftermarket shifter boot, too). No headliner.

I don't remember all of details, but I think they lacked plastic kick panel trim panels, and I remember adding the lighter to at least one of them. It seems like they all had the RH outside mirror, but I can see that being standard on a pickup, where a large object in the bed, or a topper, would have made a huge blind spot. RH mirror being standard on the trucks was probably more of a liability thing on Ford's part.

It's really kind of sad, but you simply can not buy a simple, basic new vehicle like the 80's Ranger S any more.

 

[Curious Hound]

A brand new blank canvas would be fun to build from.

 

[Daniel Black]

My first three Rangers were "S" models, which was the minimum-equipped base model.

All were no radio (aftermarket radios is actually what I did at the dealership). No rear bumper; I added those (I'm sure all at least had a spare tire). All had rubber mats, not carpet like OP's (and that looks like an aftermarket shifter boot, too). No headliner.

I don't remember all of details, but I think they lacked plastic kick panel trim panels, and I remember adding the lighter to at least one of them. It seems like they all had the RH outside mirror, but I can see that being standard on a pickup, where a large object in the bed, or a topper, would have made a huge blind spot. RH mirror being standard on the trucks was probably more of a liability thing on Ford's part.

It's really kind of sad, but you simply can not buy a simple, basic new vehicle like the 80's Ranger S any more.

Neat stuff. Mine had the remnants of a red rubber mat in the floor when I got it. When I switched it to a V8 and 4-speed I had to move the hole in the floor so I put carpet in to tidy it up. I've never had a Ranger with a headliner, I thought that was an XLT deal. I've had quite a few '83-'88 Rangers and in my conclusion looking through junkyards I think kick panels only came on EFI trucks to hide the computer. I picked up a set for mine but it lacks the bumps in the metal for a screw to go in. I wish they'd go back to picking your own options. I remember my Pappaw talking about buying an '85 brand new and all the stuff he got them to leave off to save money. He tried to get them to leave the front bumper off but they said that was safety mandated. I have all the paperwork for my '83 F150 and it didn't even come with a spare tire, just a bare wheel underneath.

 

[8thTon]

My '90 had a 2.3, 5spd, MS, PB and AC. Was kind of a strange combination.

 

[RobbieD]

I'm thinking that you're right about the kick panel trims being included, to cover the computer.

I did a lot of aftermarket work at dealerships in the 80's. Most dealers ordered a lot of base vehicles, and then made more profit by adding aftermarket accessories to them versus ordering them with factory equipment.

Looks like you have a nice truck.

 

[JohnnyO]

My first three Rangers were "S" models, which was the minimum-equipped base model.

You have a Ranger "S" model. It was the low-line bargain basement model, a notch below a Custom. My cousin had one. 2.0 4 speed with a 3.08 economy axle instead of the 2.3 5-speed with 3.45 gears that the Custom got, black window trim instead of stainless, manual everything, to save a buck.

Before it was a week old my cousin took the black trim off with steel wool, added chrome wheels with slightly larger white-lettered tires, and a chrome rear bumper. So it looked nice but didn't really cost him very much.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My 2.8 was carb but still had a computer in the ps footwell.

 

[RobbieD]

I remember the '85 being the 2.0 and 4 speed, but I'm not sure which years S's that I had (85, 87, and 88) went to the 2.3L and 5 speed. I kept trading them in before racking up too many miles, and by the time that I got the 1989 I could switch from base models to XLT's.

The dealership I worked with moved a LOT of Ranger S models. I liked to tell them "S" stood for "Stripped".