By Muhammed Hashim 
The conversion features genuine parts from the current Ranger and an 8-inch lift kit, but unfortunately, it’s still stuck with a measly 80 hp under the hood
September 21, 2024 at 17:40
- A first-generation Ford Ranger received extensive visual modifications in Thailand.
- The truck features parts from the fourth-gen Ranger, alongside a lifted suspension.
- Despite the Raptor-inspired looks, the workhorse retains the stock 80 hp diesel.
The new Ford Ranger is a cool midsize truck, but in some parts of the world, it comes with a price tag that’s a bit too steep for the average buyer. Enter a boat builder from Thailand, who has found a clever way around that issue by transforming an old Ranger into a budget-friendly Raptor wannabe.
Starting with a first-generation Ford Ranger—one of the cheapest trucks you can find in Thailand—Facebook user Sky Fall decided to give the old workhorse a modern makeover, using genuine parts from the current fourth-generation model.
More: Thai Company Turns Toyota Hilux And Crew Into Minibuses For Monks, Nuns, And More
The transformation involved borrowing the grille, hood, headlights, and taillights from the new Ranger, while custom-fabricated fenders were necessary to blend with the older body. To give it an off-road edge, the builder ditched the front bumper altogether, because who needs one of those anyway?
The notable size difference between the first and fourth-generation of the truck make this modified example look like a slimmed down version of the Raptor. And let’s just say the collection of Ford, Ranger, F-150, and 4×4 decals doesn’t do much to clear up the identity crisis this truck is going through.
What really stands out, though, are the 18-inch Ranger Wildtrak wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tires, coupled with a lifted suspension that jacks the truck up an impressive 8 inches. It’s a Frankenstein mix of old and new parts that somehow works—at least until you look under the hood.
Unfortunately, the donor truck came with the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre diesel powertrain that makes only 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) from the factory. While the builder teased the possibility of upgrading to a turbocharged version that would push it up to 113 hp, don’t get your hopes up for the Raptor’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. It simply won’t fit in the 26-year-old engine bay, no matter how much wishful thinking is involved.
Inside, the seats received a Raptor-style facelift with black and orange upholstery. The rest of the interior? Well, it’s pretty much stock, reminding you that the bones of this truck are still from the late ’90s.
Sky Fall told Carscoops that the pictured Ranger is just a prototype, noting that the next one will be up for sale. The whole project took 11 months to pull off, costing $1,350 for the donor truck, $1,900 for parts, and another $1,900 for the lifted suspension and wheels. If you’re keeping score, that’s a pretty budget-friendly way to transform a beat-up old Ranger into a head-turner.
The owner of Newton’s Ship in Nakornnayok, Thailand, is more than happy to take orders for similar conversions, potentially turning his side gig into a full-blown business.
For a bit of backstory, the original Ford Ranger, introduced in 1998 as a rebadged Mazda B Series, received a facelift in 2002. Its underpinnings went on to serve as the foundation for the second-gen Ranger in 2006, which received a mid-lifecycle update in 2009 and stayed in production until 2011. Even then, it seems this truck’s legacy is far from over.