The early 1960s saw the beginning of the compact pickup market in North America, and by the early 1970s, American manufacturers were getting into the game. The little trucks had a strong selling proposition, getting better fuel economy while still being pretty tough and having good load capacity for their size. In the 1980s, the minitruck craze hit, and with that, the compact pickup was a mainstream vehicle. However, by the mid-1990s, most manufacturers found Americans wanted bigger, even in their small trucks, so combined with a lack of new models, compact trucks fizzled away, with the last Ford Ranger built in 2011. You can find this 1973 Ford Courier for sale for $2150 in Auburn, WA.
Posts Tagged ‘ford’
American Captive – 1973 Ford Courier
December 18, 2013RustyButTrusty on the Street – Thunderbird, Celica, and Ranchero
November 12, 2013It’s time for a long-overdue episode of RustyButTrusty on the Street. Daylight savings means there’s less time in the day to photograph finds with good lighting, so the pickings have been slimmer. But there are still interesting cars out there, including this impeccable 1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau running its original California black license plates. This car is a resident of this neighborhood, and does appear to be frequently driven.
RustyButTrusty On The Street – Porsche, VW, Ford, Toyota
September 28, 2013It’s interesting to observe what cars survive on the streets of San Francisco. Some are obvious, like the VW Beetle, which is still an icon associated with the city. Others, like the Porsche 924 and Toyota van, are somewhat unexpected, but if you look at the reasons why, it makes more sense.
You can still find Porsche 924s here and there, being used as daily drivers. Thanks to their well-rust-proofed bodies, they can endure sitting outside, and with their large rear windows they should have good visibility and maneuverability for parking and driving on narrow streets. They’re also powerful enough for the occasional out of town trip, and have decent luggage space should you decide to go away overnight.


