Slammed 1992 Ranger with Killer Fake Patina

Square Two

Let's say you build a truck nice enough to have it featured in Mini Truckin'. What comes next? Where do you go from there? Do you take it to shows for a while then sell it and start a new project? Not if you're Ronnie Wells. After his 1992 Ford Ranger, wearing blue marbleized paint, appeared in that publication, he stripped it down and started all over again. As Wells told Truck Trend: "I stripped the truck down to raw steel by using aircraft stripper (had to do this to get rid of the gobs of extremely thick marble paint). I dug out all the body filler and started over. And as far as the airbrush work, I wanted to something I haven't seen before—a nasty looking illusion of decayed metal." 

Smoothing the Square

Here's a quick rundown of the body modifications before we get to the Ranger's new, aged, skin. Emblems, mirrors, taillights, and door handles have all been shaved, as have the antenna and fuel filler door. A traditional English wheel was used to roll out a completely new rear skin and a frenched-in license plate was added, as was a hood bubble. Out back, a new bed was fabricated, with gently-radiused corners for an even smoother appearance. 

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More Mods

Sharp eyes will spot the chromed Explorer grille that Wells swapped-in in place of the original, also trading clear turn directionals and marker lights the original items. Since he was revamping the tail end of the truck anyway, he took the opportunity to try out an idea that he'd been bouncing around for a while. "I thought why not put in the Cadillac tails that I always wanted. The factory lights were tossed and we made a custom rear skin and taillight fillers," Wells said. 

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Adding Age

Getting close, you can see some of the faux screwed, bolted, or riveted-on plates aren't as 3-D as they seem from a few paces away, but otherwise, it's almost impossible to tell the oxidation and rust stains from the real thing. The illusory airbrushing on the Ranger's bed, the underside of its hood, and inside the cab was performed by Tad "Fat Daddy Tadpole" Gallaugher. Wells himself applied the custom-mixed PPG metallic green paint. 

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Critters

As everyone knows, rodents are often a part of the automotive aging process. The Ranger has its own occupant, though it looks like he's trying to make a getaway. Thankfully mouse droppings didn't make the final paint cut. 

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Drop

The body was dropped three-and-a-half inches and sits on Slam Specialties SS-7 ’bags front and rear. The front DJM I-beam suspension mounts to the custom tubular bracket and the frame was notched for tie rods. In back, a custom tube bridge was added to tie the raised sections of the frame together. The frame itself was finished in black with suspension pieces receiving green paint, matching the exterior color. 

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No Stone Left Unturned

Stock 2.3-liter inline-four powers the Ranger and is surrounded by even more airbrushed accents, including touches on the firewall and battery cover. As for the 18x7 Bonspeed Laguna wheels, Wells explained, "I've always been a fan of color matched wheels, so I just had to use this opportunity to incorporate a new set of billets." 

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Interior and Tomorrow

Inside the pickup, aside from the 'brushed-ed gauge panel, dash tray, and door handle surrounds, Wells did the dash and Chevrolet Cavalier seats in tweed and vinyl. With all the effort he put into the truck this time around, including 300 hours of labor just for the bed, we wonder if he'll get the urge to start all over again. We bet Yes since a rolling stone gathers no mossy patina.