Amidst rising fuel prices in the early 1980s, many automakers turned to diesel engines to satisfy consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. One such example was the new diesel Ford Ranger compact pickup. Codenamed “Project Yuma,” development of Ford’s Courier replacement began in 1976. This $700 million initiative resulted in a compact pickup that was both fuel-efficient and would meet the new, more stringent, emissions standards of the time. The Ranger debuted in 1982 as a 1983 model year. The Ranger was slightly larger than the outgoing Mazda-built Courier and about 18 inches shorter and 11 inches narrower than the half-ton F-150.

Catering to buyers seeking exceptional fuel economy during a period when diesel power was gaining traction in the United States, the Ranger offered an oil-burning engine option from the very start. In 1983 buyers could select a 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder diesel engine, which Ford sourced from British manufacturer Perkins. Known for building commercial engines, the Perkins diesel was naturally aspirated and utilized indirect fuel injection. The combination produced a modest 59 horsepower at 4,000 rpm, with just 90 lb-ft of torque at 2,300 rpm. While underwhelming by today’s standards, the Perkins diesel delivered on the promise of exceptional fuel economy, achieving up to 41 mpg on the highway. The engine came paired with a four-speed manual transmission standard, and Ford offered an optional five-speed manual through 1984. In performance testing at the time, these Perkins-powered Rangers took more than 20 seconds to reach 60 mph. Payload capacity was around 1,600 pounds, which was like that of its gasoline-powered counterparts.

Mitsubishi Turbo Power For Ranger

The 2.2-liter Perkins diesel engine lasted just two years. After much criticism for its sluggish performance and cold-start issues, the engine was replaced in 1985 with a more refined diesel option: the Mitsubishi 4D55-T. This new engine marked a significant improvement by boosting output to 86 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 134 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Key to these output improvements was the addition of a forced induction by way of a single turbocharger. Driving performance improved as well with a 0 to 60 mph time of about 13 seconds. While still an eternity by today’s standards, this proved a major leap forward from the Perkins.

Fuel economy remained a strong point of the 2.3-liter Mitsubishi diesel, returning around 42 mpg on the highway. Thanks to features like electronically controlled glow plugs, which eliminated the “wait-to-start” delay of the earlier Perkins engine, along with a fuel heater and an engine block heater, this new engine also offered greatly improved cold weather performance. The Mitsubishi diesel came backed by a standard five-speed manual transmission.

Despite these improvements, the reign of Ford’s mighty diesel-powered Ranger was unfortunately brief. The company discontinued the Mitsubishi 4D55-T engine after the 1986 model year. This effectively ended Ford’s compact diesel pickup offerings in the United States. This decision reflected the shifting market trends of the era. Popularity of diesel quickly waned and gasoline engines became both more efficient and powerful. Today, all Rangers of the ‘80s are rare, but these early diesel Rangers are the rarest of all, true unicorns if spotted in-the-wild. As with many aging rare vehicles, parts availability challenges enthusiasts committed to keeping the legacy alive.