Even in the era of bare-bones midsize trucks, the Ford Ranger out-equipped the Toyota Pickup.
This week’s “Throwback Thursday” video features a classic tv commercial for the 1987 Ford Ranger. In this particular advertisement, a couple of brothers are arguing over whose small truck is better. As the title leads you to believe, one brother is driving the new 1987 Ford Ranger, while the other is driving a 1987 Toyota Pickup. The two brothers discuss the fact that both trucks are about the same price,
The two brothers discuss the fact that both trucks are about the same price, both have AM/FM/Cassette radios, they both have five-speed manual transmissions and they both have power brakes. As a result, the Toyota brother demands to know what the Ford has that the small Japanese pickup doesn’t.
According to this video by my old box of VHS tapes, the 1987 Ford Ranger rocks power steering, power windows and power door locks, cast aluminum wheels, a “special gauge package”, and a fuel injected engine. Furthermore, interval windshield wipers and Halogen headlights are touted as real “upgrades.” In this day and age, it’s crazy to think that power steering, aluminum wheels, fuel injection and Halogen headlights were premium features. Of course, the Toyota did not have the aforementioned features.
Keep in mind that when Toyota began seeing sales success in the US, it was because their cars and trucks cost considerably less than comparable American vehicle. On top of pointing out the differences between the two trucks, this classic Ford Ranger commercial is awesomely ’80s, with plaid shirts, poofy hair, and a sweet suede jacket,
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
