Ford Courier
The Ford Courier was the first American compact pickup. He was offered by Ford in Dearborn from early 1972 until the end of 1981 and is considered the forerunner of the Ranger.
- 5.1 U.S. van 1952-1958
- 5.2 Brazilian Pickup since 1998
- 5.3 Asian, Australian and New Zealand Pickup 1978-2006
Background
The Courier was manufactured by Toyo Kogyo ( Mazda) in Japan and imported by Ford in the U.S. and sold as a competing model to the unusually successful small pickups from Toyota and Nissan / Datsun, especially to young buyers in the West of the USA. Like the other mini- pickups that time, the Courier a four cylinder engine with under 2 liter engine, a manual four-speed transmission, rear wheel drive, a view of the small size of impressive payload of 634 kg and a high in comparison to the larger pickups price.
First generation (1972-1976)
The first generation Ford Courier was introduced in 1972 and for a little more than 2000, - sold U.S. $ - a price similar to that of the F -100.
Initially, there was the Courier with a 1.8 -liter OHC engine, which delivered 55 kW at 3500 rpm at 5070/min and a torque of 125 Nm delivered. A four-speed transmission was standard equipment, a five-speed gearbox came in 1976 and was followed by an automatic transmission also.
The body corresponded to the Mazda B- series, but the front was reworked and received a grille, which saw the larger Ford F- series similar, and large single headlights, instead of the smaller twin headlights of Mazda B-Series.
Second generation (1977-1981)
1977 the Courier was redesigned and there was a wealth of new equipment details. The pickup was available with front disc brakes, a 2.3 liter Ford engine to desire - the same as the Pinto or Mustang II - an automatic transmission or a five-speed gearbox. The main distinguishing feature between the Courier and Mazda B2000 from the B- series were the headlights.
1979, the engine of the basic model has been enlarged to 2.0 liters. The available upon request 2.3 -liter engine from Ford was one of the first engines that were manufactured in the USA exclusively with metric dimensions. From 1977 there was also an automatic transmission.
The Courier was built by the end of 1981. In early 1982, Ford introduced the Ranger from its own production in this market segment. He replaced in the U.S. and Canada the Courier.
Variants of the Ford Courier
Diesel
The Ford Courier there was never in the U.S. with a diesel engine. 1980 but there was the Mazda B2000 with the Perkins 4.135 (4 cylinder, 135 cu.in ), a diesel engine, which drew 49 kW at 2100 rpm from 2.2 liters of displacement. The same diesel engine, there were 1983 to 1984 in the Ford Ranger; he was there, but in the model years 1985 to 1988 replaced by the Mitsubishi 4D55T, a 2.3 -liter turbo diesel engine.
Electric drive
From 1979 to 1982, a number of electrically -powered Ford Courier was manufactured. The company Jet Industries moved from Ford Courier cars without engine (Vehicle Glider ) and built a variety of DC motors and lead acid batteries. The result was Jet Industries ElectraVan 750
These cars were sold primarily as municipal vehicles. They developed a top speed of about 113 km / h and ran a single battery charge about 100 km. There are still a number of these vehicles, usually with improved motor control and batteries with higher voltage.
Modifications to the body
Some Courier were sold as chassis cabs and rear cover. They were usually provided with service containers, trays, camping or similar structures.
Modifications to the engines
The Courier was always equipped from the factory with a four cylinder engine. Some buyers have but built on their own other engines, especially Ford V6 and smaller V8 engines. To cope with the greater engine performance, increased drive components had to be installed.
Other Ford models named Courier
There were four different vehicle series from Ford, which also were called Courier:
- A van in the U.S. 1952-1958 (based on the Ford station wagon )
- A van in Europe 1991-2002 (based on the Ford Fiesta )
- A pickup in Brazil 1998 -present (based on the Ford Fiesta )
- A pickup in Australia and New Zealand 1978-2006 ( a umdekorierter Mazda B- Series)
U.S. van 1952-1958
This distribution was based on the big Ford station wagon. Its model code was 78A.
From 1952 to 1956, the cargo area was accessed via a single side door. In the model years 1957 and 1958 there was a split tailgate. This meant that the blackened rear window had to be divided into three parts, two outer parts of curved and flat central part.
1959 got all Courier bodies with side windows, similar to the Tudor Ranch Wagon. Your model code was 59E. The last year for that Courier was 1960.
Brazilian Pickup since 1998
Even a small pickup based on the 1998 Ford Fiesta, which is manufactured by Ford in Brazil, has this name. Its front corresponds to the made in South Africa Ford bantam pickup, but the rear is designed completely different.
Its payload is 700 kg. The Mk IV - 1.4 liters - 16V Zetec engine gives the car a top speed of 170 km / h and accelerates it in 12 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h The Mk V - 1.6 liters - 8 V Zetec Rocam engine creates 180 km / h, or 10 seconds for 0-100 km / h
Asian, Australian and New Zealand Pickup 1978-2006
In the United States, Australia and New Zealand, the Courier was a compact pickup truck, built the Mazda for Ford. He was originally introduced in the 1970s.
It was set in the U.S., as the Ford Ranger came. Its production was continued in Asia, Australia and New Zealand but. But this was only a Mazda B -Series Ford emblems. He is currently being manufactured in Thailand.
Confusingly, the name of this Ford Courier in all export markets Ford Ranger. However, there is no relationship to the American Ford Ranger. If Ford Ranger but after his planned end of 2009 should not substitute its own construction, this car would certainly be the first choice for the succession.