I have no idea why I didn't see this forum years ago, I am a member of other large Ranger enthusiast forums. I stumbled across this one in a google search for some mechanical procedure....... forgot which one. I bookmarked the site at the time and came back to it tonight finally.

Figured I'd intro myself. Just a tad, you know what they say... TMI.

I bought my first new Ranger in 1997 fresh off the lot with 18 miles. A Vermillion red 1997 standard cab 2wd 5 speed, XLT, 2.3L, gray interior, fleetside. The identical truck I drive now, except I now have a stepside bed.

Still got my dealer key tag.



As well, when I bought my truck the dealer gave away a free month of car washes at a local car wash and I even still have some of those receipts left as seen below stamped 1997.



One thing I learned quick when buying my first vehicle..... you pay $20k for something you won't throw anything away. LOL! :) I think the exact numbers were like $11,500 + life insurance, + disability insurance, + financing, = $19,500-ish.

I've ALWAYS owned Rangers. Not 6 or 7 months after buying that 97 I broke my leg and had my disability claim rejected (That I paid $1900 for when I bought the truck....great investment) so lost the truck to FMC. Since it was my first new vehicle I loved it to death and never got over it. Since, I have bought every color ranger there is to have, two or three times. I've had 14 total, all 3rd gen except one 99 model. 3 white ones, 2 black ones, a blue one, the list goes on......... All of them the same........ 2wd, 4cyl, 5 speed, standard cab XLT. They feel the most balanced and easy to drive the wheels off of to me.

I never bought another red one though. It was kind of a sore thorn. At the start of 2010 I made the decision to look for another 1997 Vermillion Red Ranger exactly like my first one. It took me 18 months to find the one I wanted.

So, here it is folks. :) The only truck I care to own, no matter how many generations they make. :) More sentimental than anything, but also in my biased opinion nothing shines like the chrome off of a 1997 Vermillion Red XLT. :)






















....and with my other truck. BMW 4.4i (AWD, 300hp, airbag suspension, fun stuff)

 

thats the cleanest truck ive ever seen at that year. how many miles

 

I was just going to say the same. That thing looks like brand new!

 

Thanks :)

145,000 miles. I waited almost two years to find a good one. :)

 

Looks more like 14,000 miles. My '97 flareside didn't look that good and I bought it nearly 10 years ago!

 

Is that the original paint?

 

Yes. :) the truck consistently did 10k a year all it's life so it has never really been used.

It slowly got to 144k 14 years/10k each and we are in the middle of the 14th year and it is exactly 145k so it is dead on the money for this year too.

 

That truck looks amazing! I've seen a few clean Gen 3s. but that one takes the cake!
have you done anything special to it or do you have any plans to?

 

Traditionally I tend to do a lot of mods that don't look like mods. Most of what I do likely won't be noticable from 20 feet. I used to do a lot of flashy mods, like I did to my first ranger. I quit most of that about ten years ago. Lol.

This was my first 97 back in 1997 when window banners were fashionable.

 

Oh man, your first truck screams 90's. Welcome to the site. I'm surprised with that many owners. That truck is in that good shape.

 

To illustrate how "shoved in a garage for 14 years" this truck is, I present the original quality control plant sticker still in place.




It's totally making me feel guilty to have to remove it to tint the windows next week. Lol.

 

Gotta love those left in a garage gems. My aunt had a 60s Mustang that spent 30 years in her garage, only had about 50k on it in 2004 when she sold it. Came out for a wash once a week and a cruise around the block. Some kid totaled it.

 

Welcome to RF.

That is one clean truck!! Nice job.

And its awesome to hear that youve owned a ton of rangers.

 

I still have my twin cities sticker after 3 years.

Leave it on and tint over it.

 

Welcome!

Nice truck.

 

I see your in chat im over in southpittsburg about 30 min away...I didnt realize you were from TN till i seen your tag in the #6 picture lol

clean truck man I still have my sticker too haha

 

I'm on SIgnal. :)

Thanks guys! Here's some pics of past rangers of mine. You can tell the ones in the 90's LOL. I only have about half the trucks uploaded at the moment.














Had several exploders too.



THE RED TRUCKS ARE NOT THE SAME. You can see the blue dash in one which is a 93.



Slammed 85.5 and my 97. The red one above is a 93 clone I did in 1999. Blue dash gives it away.



^ Most people don't notice the bug fkker on the 97 ^







Different white one a few years later. (fleetside)




Have to look real close to see my 99, LOL.



One day I'll dig out some of the other trucks pics. :)

Stepsides, fleetsides, gray interior, tan interior, many white, black, and red rangers through the years. :) The only thing I have to request is 4cyl, 5 speed, xlt, 2wd. :) It's a light, balanced truck you can drive the wheels off of. :)

14 years of 3rd gen's........ I kinda know my way around them and how they drive. :) I've never been without one, and it's a requirement that I have one no matter what else I have in the driveway at the time.

 

I'd like to see more pics of the 85. Since you try and own 4bangers, have you ever thought about running a turbo set up?

 

Nah, I don't like spooling. I like *****. I buy V8's for things I like to go fast in. My BMW is 300HP, air ride, 325ft lb tq. I've owned Porsche Turbo's and others and I just am not a spooling person.

Uploaded a few pics of my 99

 

Here's another shot of my 85.5. It had flip, dream beams, fiberglass front, roll pan, etc....

 

Welcome To RF

 

tbh I teared up a little bit

 

The front valance appears to be painted red, nice touch. This is one clean 97 Steppie. I did not know you play golf?

 

Thanks! :) Did the golf as a photo challenge on another forum. I have two front bumpers and valences and I swapped them no less than 4 times last week to get an idea of which I liked. :)

 

Today I had the cat deleted due to it splitting across the top and leaking. The muffler guy said it was common on these trucks, but I have never had it happen in 14 years and 12+ rangers so I dunno. In any case we put a section in to replace it and order a 3 chamber Flowmaster overnight delivery so I have to go back to the shop tomorrow and have it put on. Truck is already loud with just the stock muffler and the cat delete.

Also got on ebay and ordered a tranny mount (Something I recommend everyone do)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWNX%3AIT

and engine mounts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_1221wt_1167

Lastly, grabbed some precut window tint.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_3141wt_941

It was a good day for the ranger. :)