These seven modified pickups have not stood the test of time.
Not Timeless
There are quite a few modified trucks out there that have stood the test of time. And then, there are those that haven't. Trends come and go in the world of customization, and these seven Ford Rangers from the archives of Truck Trend haven't really held up quite like their owners probably hoped they would. Regardless, it's a fun exercise to take a look back at what we used to think was cool.
Photos: Truck Trend
Mini-Truck Craze
Back when the Ranger debuted in the early '80s through the early '90s, the mini-truck craze was in full bloom. The Ranger was yet another compact pickup that enthusiasts could apply this treatment to, and that's precisely what they did by slamming them and giving them wild paint jobs and massive stereo systems.
Photos: Truck Trend
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Sport Trucks
That trend later blossomed into the sport truck craze, which persisted well into the '90s and 2000s. Many of the concepts here were the same - slam your truck as low as possible, give it flashy wheels, and perhaps some smoothed out bodywork devoid of any chrome.
Photos: Truck Trend
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More Power
Some have even chosen to V8 swap their Ranger and give it the power to match those sporty looks. The older pushrod 5.0-liter V8 is a great pairing with the compact Ranger and makes the little pickup much more fun to drive. But in the case of this slammed SuperCab, we're not sure what's hiding under that giant cowl hood.
Photos: Truck Trend
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High Quality Build
This ground-hugging purple 1989 Ranger is packing V8 power, however, in the form of a 302 lifted from a 1989 Lincoln Town Car. It also features some seriously high-quality bodywork typically reserved for street rods and high-end muscle cars. The result is impressive, but not quite aligned with current trends.
Photos: Truck Trend
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Old Trend
The same holds true for this 2005 Ranger, which was built a full 14 years ago. Remember when those clear taillights were cool? This Ranger was built by Leer, makers of truck bed caps and tonneau covers, and was most certainly a head-turner back in its heyday. Today, however, it would probably be laughed out of SEMA if it showed up in Vegas.
Photos: Truck Trend
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Frankenstein
This last Ranger isn't actually a real build - rather, it's a photoshop from one of the folks at Truck Trend who thought it would be a good idea to graft a Land Rover front end onto Ford's compact pickup. Today, again, this idea would be laughable and it would most likely land on one of those Reddit pages making fun of such vehicles. But 15 years ago, things were a little different than they are today.
Photos: Truck Trend
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