https://autos.yahoo.com/news/little-...164450012.html



Little Ford Ranger Hides A Big Sleeper Secret

We love sleepers here at MotorAuthority. The idea of taking something that looks relatively sedate, yet hides a power-packed secret is infinitely appealing to us.

And since it seems to be truck week over here, we're happy to share a vehicle that nearly serves as a definition of the word sleeper.

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Up for sale courtesy of Highline Motors South in South Carolina, is an extremely clean looking 2011 Ford Ranger.

In 2012, we here in the States said good-bye to this wonderful compact pickup while the rest of the world received the updated and oh-so-tough-looking revised Ranger. Still, there's no need to completely mourn the loss of that truck when versions like this exist.

Gone is the V-6 or four-cylinder engine that one might find under the hood here. Instead, a Coyote 5.0-liter V-8 engine has been swapped in and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

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That means we're dealing with somewhere in the neighborhood of 420 horsepower, and it's being sent out to all four wheels. We'd have preferred to start with a two-wheel-drive Ranger so that burnouts and big smoky drifts would put a shocked smile on the faces of onlookers.

Still, we have to salute this build, and the asking price of under $27,000 doesn't seem crazy. After all, a brand new Coyote engine is at least six to seven thousand bucks, and that's before you pay shipping, taxes, and then figure out how to install it.

Add in the cost of a Ranger with 900 miles on the odometer, and you're right around the asking price--if not lower.

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That is a beautiful piece of art.

 

Nice!

Any pics of the engine installed? I'm wondering which particular tranny they used...

 

If you go through the news article it then links to the dealer site. Looks like this dealer deals in many specialty and one off cars.

2011 Ford Ranger RABID COYOTE EDITION Sport Fort Mill, South Carolina | Highline Motors South

Has a Tremec 6spd.

 

I should have looked a little closer....thanks!

P.S. After seeing all the pics, it looks even better.

 

It's cool, I missed the link at the top of the page the first time.

Honestly I wish I had spare cash laying around, seems like an amazing and unique machines for an extremely affordable price, once in a lifetime kind of opportunity.

I do wonder how much of the original vehicle functions due to computer changes or whatever. It would have had to of been gutted pretty hardcore. One of the benefits to Rangers not being updated though was the fact it was before the BCM controller everything, so there's alot that can be done while keeping functionality intact like power windows and radio system. Still, I see hoses on the passenger side (possibly just due to no space with that big motor in there). They've went way out of the way to make it a clean install compared to most back yard swaps, but still, the best sleepers are both cosmetically, and comfortably, functional. Meaning that the interior works as stock.