Lifted to the sky with a Pro Comp suspension and wearing massive knobby Mickey Thompson meats, this is one menacing compact pickup. For sale out of Garage Kept Motors in Grand Rapids, MI is this 1988 Ford Ranger 4x4 for $21,900. This 38,962 mile truck is, in our opinion, damn beautiful with its shiny chrome, new paint and aggressive stance. Having had the same loving owner for the last 23 years, the time has come for someone new to wheel this thing. We think it should absolutely, most definitely be you.
The 1988 Ford Ranger 4x4: A Big Little Pickup Truck.
The Ford Ranger was introduced for the 1983 model year and is still in production today with the 4th generation model. The first generation truck (like this one) was produced from 1983 all the way up until 1992, with a significant refresh occuring in 1989. The Ranger was positioned as tough as nails just like Ford’s F-Series, only smaller and was offered in three different wheelbases, a Standard Bed, Long Bed, and Supercab Extended Cab. It came standard as a RWD truck, but was also available as a fourbie, and was powered by a range of inline four, V6 and diesel engines.
The third generation Ford Ranger had an original MSRP in 1988 of $8,940, but what’s this one worth? In terms of values, we checked the comp sales via Classic.com as we do and found a range of 1st generation Ford Rangers that have sold over the last five years, but none quite on this level. The closest we could find was a 1988 Ford Ranger that sold at GAA back in July of 2021 for the exact asking price of this Garage Kept Motors Ranger. The GAA example was nice, but this one’s the nicest one we’ve ever seen.
The Specs & Condition.
As detailed in the intro, this isn’t a one-owner car, but it’s damn close. While its mechanical performance hasn’t been upgraded in a significant way during its lifetime, its past owners have given this a substantial off-road boost with a Pro Comp suspension and lift kit and big giant Mickey Thompson off-road tires. This thing will eat dirt, and yet somehow look sexy as hell doing it. I mean look at it.
Here are some of the highlights of this ‘88 Ford Ranger build:
MECHANICAL:
- 2.9L V6 (Factory rated at 140 hp)
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Dual range transfer case
- Pro Comp lift kit featuring shocks, lift blocks and color matched sway bars and end links
- Drive shafts are also color-matched
- Blue wiring and hose covers
INTERIOR:
- Two spoke steering wheel
- Front bucket seats
- Blue upholstery and trim
- Aftermarket head unit
EXTERIOR:
- Fresh light blue paint
- Front and rear modified and paint matched bumpers
- Cab sun visor
- Chrome roll bar w/large, high mounted spotlights
- American Racing aluminum wheels
- Mickey Thompson Baja Belted tires
