1st generation Rangers considered classic/vintage?

[Rick W]

Guess it really depends on a variety of things. I originally fell in the Gen X category until they moved the line. I still identify as Gen X. Have a hard time accepting that the vehicles of my childhood are now “Classic” and “Antique” because they don’t seem that old to me. My real irritation anymore is that PA took away the reasons to get “Classic” or “Antique” plates for your vehicles. Classics now have to meet all of the “safety” stuff that regular plates have to (inspections and stuff), and you are limited to like 3k miles a year. Antiques now are daylight only and limited miles.

That sucks!

On the general topic, I can understand why all you younger folks don’t think of a 25 year old car or truck as an antique these days.

When I started driving late 60s/70s (driving vs legal driving), the cars were far from what we have now, and if you went back 25 years from those, (1940s, WW II stuff which was really 30s stuff), it was like driving a horse drawn wagon with a makeshift motor.

The cars they’ve made from the late 70s (after downsizing and if maintained) are all perfectly practical functional vehicles for use today, and a lot of the 80s and later doesn’t even look that much different since everything started to require aerodynamics.

My daily drivers are 87, 87, 88, and I’d still do anything and go anywhere I needed to with my 96 F250 or the 97 Road Ranger. The 78 is the only one I have to think twice about driving because it’s so huge (19’ 3”long, 6’ 4” wide), and it gets 7 miles a gallon on premium!

But hey, cars are all about the fantasy, living the dream, huh?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

That sucks!

On the general topic, I can understand why all you younger folks don’t think of a 25 year old car or truck as an antique these days.

When I started driving late 60s/70s (driving vs legal driving), the cars were far from what we have now, and if you went back 25 years from those, (1940s, WW II stuff which was really 30s stuff), it was like driving a horse drawn wagon with a makeshift motor.

The cars they’ve made from the late 70s (after downsizing and if maintained) are all perfectly practical functional vehicles for use today, and a lot of the 80s and later doesn’t even look that much different since everything started to require aerodynamics.

My daily drivers are 87, 87, 88, and I’d still do anything and go anywhere I needed to with my 96 F250 or the 97 Road Ranger. The 78 is the only one I have to think twice about driving because it’s so huge (19’ 3”long, 6’ 4” wide), and it gets 7 miles a gallon on premium!

But hey, cars are all about the fantasy, living the dream, huh?

Yeah, if I want to be honest about things, as a kid approaching legal driving age, there were a few things I wanted...

I wanted a lifted Jeep Wrangler. I ended up with building a lifted Choptop Bronco II and I don’t regret the difference at all, the Choptop is frigging awesome when it’s running. I also wanted a V-8 mini-truck, specifically a Ranger. My 2000 green Ranger now fits that bill. The other thing that I wanted was dad’s 79 F-150… I don’t own that yet…

I have wanted an Early Bronco but prices on them are kinda steep and have been for a long time now. Someday hopefully I’ll have one, until then I’ll be patient. I have a couple of my dream vehicles so far. The rest can come with time.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

This popped up in my inbox today...

The Most Dominant Era of Collector Cars: We Crunch the Numbers - Hagerty Media

The numbers don't lie: If there's one period that dominates the collector car hobby, it's 1955-75. Read our analysis to understand why.

www.hagerty.com

Looks like 1955-1975 are the most sought after for collection.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That sucks!

On the general topic, I can understand why all you younger folks don’t think of a 25 year old car or truck as an antique these days.

When I started driving late 60s/70s (driving vs legal driving), the cars were far from what we have now, and if you went back 25 years from those, (1940s, WW II stuff which was really 30s stuff), it was like driving a horse drawn wagon with a makeshift motor.

The cars they’ve made from the late 70s (after downsizing and if maintained) are all perfectly practical functional vehicles for use today, and a lot of the 80s and later doesn’t even look that much different since everything started to require aerodynamics.

My daily drivers are 87, 87, 88, and I’d still do anything and go anywhere I needed to with my 96 F250 or the 97 Road Ranger. The 78 is the only one I have to think twice about driving because it’s so huge (19’ 3”long, 6’ 4” wide), and it gets 7 miles a gallon on premium!

But hey, cars are all about the fantasy, living the dream, huh?

Ill expand on that a bit...really anything from the late 60's and up is still pretty driveable if its maintained. By then power steering, front discs, power brakes, seatbelts, etc etc were all pretty standard.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This popped up in my inbox today...

The Most Dominant Era of Collector Cars: We Crunch the Numbers - Hagerty Media

The numbers don't lie: If there's one period that dominates the collector car hobby, it's 1955-75. Read our analysis to understand why.

www.hagerty.com

Looks like 1955-1975 are the most sought after for collection.

Its an age thing, not a car thing.

My car club was originally a Model A club, 40 years later and there are exactly 0 Model A owners in the club. We might get 2-3 to show up at are 2-300 car car show.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Its an age thing, not a car thing.

My car club was originally a Model A club, 40 years later and there are exactly 0 Model A owners in the club. We might get 2-3 to show up at are 2-300 car car show.

Model A's are cool though.

Theres one guy that brings his to cruise ins around here. His grandpa bought it brand new, and its all original (except for the obvious stuff like tires) with a flathead in it. Its a attention getter.

 

[Ranger850]

Model A's are cool though.

Theres one guy that brings his to cruise ins around here. His grandpa bought it brand new, and its all original (except for the obvious stuff like tires) with a flathead in it. Its a attention getter.

My wife's freind has a Model A. IIRC , HIS grandad bought it new, also. He let us use it at our Wedding, which was at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. We rode off in that instead of a Limo.

Tallahassee Automobile Museum

It's More Than A Museum... It's A Journey Through History

tacm.com

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Model A's are cool though.

Theres one guy that brings his to cruise ins around here. His grandpa bought it brand new, and its all original (except for the obvious stuff like tires) with a flathead in it. Its a attention getter.

Not knocking them, just saying the guys that grew up with them and thought "I gotta get one like we used to have"... have aged out.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Not knocking them, just saying the guys that grew up with them and thought "I gotta get one like we used to have"... have aged out.

I agree with that.

Was just saying. There is one kid i talked to at a cruise in last year (hes probably 21 or 2) that is restoring a 48 or 49 F2. So maybe there is some hope to keep the really old stuff alive. Maybe.

Personally ive never had a ton of interest in things much older then the 60's...athough i wouldnt scoff at owning an old A. A T would be fun but even i would be nervous to drive that anywhere but around someones backyard.

 

[sgtsandman]

Michigan is similar. They dont have a mileage limit but you can only drive to and from shows/cruise ins, and not in incliment weather.

How hard its enforced i have no idea.

They have us record the mileage on the vehicle when you register or renew, regardless of plate class here.

 

[bhgl]

I don't know about what it's like in the US, but over here in Ontario, if you purchase a vehicle that's over 20 years old, it needs to be appraised by a dealer for tax and insurance purposes, as it's considered old enough to no longer adhere to standard value calculations.

If you want to insure it for a cheaper monthly, if the vehicle is 20-25+ years old, it can technically qualify for classic car rates.

All that is to say, by some definitions 3rd gen Rangers are now "classic cars".

 

[rusty ol ranger]

They have us record the mileage on the vehicle when you register or renew, regardless of plate class here.

We dont do that.

What happens if the odometer is broke? My rangers been stuck on 46xxx for the last 4 yrs

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I don't know about what it's like in the US, but over here in Ontario, if you purchase a vehicle that's over 20 years old, it needs to be appraised by a dealer for tax and insurance purposes, as it's considered old enough to no longer adhere to standard value calculations.

If you want to insure it for a cheaper monthly, if the vehicle is 20-25+ years old, it can technically qualify for classic car rates.

All that is to say, by some definitions 3rd gen Rangers are now "classic cars".

Not like that here, so far. Not sure if the whole COVID thing will end up being the catalyst for change though l I know my insurance was not at all happy when my 92 Ranger got totaled and they had to pay full book value because there was nothing to compare it to, lol. They’d be really upset if they realized that all of my stuff is low mileage for it’s age and that will happen anytime someone decides to smash into me now that truck values have gone through the roof…

 

[4.0blue98]

Maryland is starting to crack down on the "Historic" designation. We've got the 20 year and older designation so my 98 would qualify but I drive it to work and that's not allowed. I don't see any limit on mileage but use is restricted. I see several historic tagged vehicles every day taking advantage of the cheap insurance. I had a guy in front of me with historic plates on a Nissan Xterra get pulled over a few months back. MD got rid of the "Antique" designation a few years back. My LeMans is "Historic" and old enough that I only have to run plates on the back.