Good Work Truck Today, Great Project Later

Description

[Santa didn’t bring you that dependable work truck or weekend helper? Consider this one—Ford’s all-American 1999 Ranger Flareside (“stepside”) model. This V-6 workhorse is also flashy, and in its early collectible years. Even at 242K miles it easily takes the steep hills home to Paradise at 65-70 mph in cruising gear. According to a post on the old AMP Research website—now RealTruck AMP Research—this hard worker is also a worthy project for later. The stepside bed is rare. And jazzy, with flared fenders that echo the 1950s. Within a decade, the AMP author said, you’ll be glad you bought this truck. Like he did. Making this particular vehicle (my dad’s) even more collectible is its custom-fit camper shell, no longer made and hard to find. Porthole windows and three glass sliders reflect the truck’s super style. Nuts and bolts: This is actually a 2001 Ranger (Flex Fuel 3.0L V-6, 2WD) built on a 1999 chassis. Supercab XLT Flareside (stepside) model. Manual 5-speed. Power steering, tilt wheel, cruise control. AM/FM stereo with cassette. Good heater and a/c. ABS (4-wl) brakes. Dual airbags. 242K miles, most of those long distance. No oil leaks, always smogs. No accidents, but there's a parking-lot scrape on RR fender, and a banged-up back bumper from when the stow-below spare tire broke loose on the highway (cable snapped). Original metallic paint, body, mudflaps, wheel covers. Alloy wheels. Chrome bumpers. Two side jumpseats, beneath pop-open, secure vented windows, with 60/40 cloth bench seats upfront. Sliding back cab window synchs with the camper’s pass-through. “Innovation” camper shell with side and front sliding glass windows. Bedliner. Nearly new tires. Original owner’s manual. Two keys. New battery and wiper blades. Reese TowPower 2-inch square starter hitch.