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The EPA was starting to impose emissions and CAFE standards for passenger vehicles, and for trucks up to 1/2 ton. But larger trucks were either exempt or had lower standards to meet, so all the manufacturers started making "heavy half" pickups that would classify them above the 1/2 ton cutoff. Ford F150, Chevy C1500, etc. They figured customers would all move to the slightly heavier duty version, but the demand for a light duty pickup never went away, so in 83 I think it was, they finally killed off the F100 and replaced it Ranger, which was a step up from the very light duty Ford Courier. So essentially the Ranger could replace 2 models for customers who just want a light duty pickup.