The Courier's badging changed a few times in the first generation. A five-speed manual option was introduced for the 1976 model year. A four-speed manual transmission was standard, and a three-speed automatic was optional. ![]() ![]() When the Courier was introduced, it came standard with a 1.8-liter overhead-cam engine, which produced 74 hp (55 kW) at 5,070 rpm, and 92 lb-ft (125 N ![]() The body styling was effectively that of the related Mazda B-series however, its front styling was unique in that the grille was designed to emulate the larger Ford F-series, and large single headlights instead of the B-series' smaller twin units. Subsequently, a truck bed was attached to the chassis and the vehicle could be sold as a light truck. To circumvent the 25% " chicken tax" on light trucks, Couriers (as with Chevrolet LUVs) were imported in "cab chassis" configurations, which included the entire light truck-less the cargo box or truck bed-and were only subject to a 4% tariff. Like the other minipickups of the time, it featured a small (by US standards) four-cylinder engine, a four-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, an impressive load capability of 1,400 lb (635 kg) considering its size, and a fairly small price tag compared to full-sized pickups of the time. It occupied the market segment previously held by the Ford Falcon-based Ranchero when that platform was upgraded to the larger Ford Fairlane in 1966. The Courier was manufactured by Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) and imported to North America and sold by Ford Motor Company as a response to the unforeseen popularity of the small Toyota and Nissan/Datsun Pickups. It had greater fuel economy than the full-sized pickups of the time. In the early 1970s, the Ford Courier name was applied to the Mazda B-Series, a compact pickup manufactured by Mazda. The two-door sedan delivery bodystyle was made part of the compact Ford Falcon range, offered through the 1964 model year. For 19, the Courier adopted the two-piece "clamshell" rear door of the Ford Parklane and Ford Del Rio station wagons.įor 19, to lower production costs of the model line, the Courier adopted the body of the two-door Ford Ranch Wagon in its entirety, distinguished only by its rear cargo area.įor the 1961 model year, Ford discontinued the Courier sedan delivery and F-Series panel delivery, replacing both model lines with the Ford Econoline cargo van. Marketed exclusively as a two-door vehicle, the Courier was initially designed with a side-hinged rear cargo access door (unique to the model line). Ford also similar vehicle derived from the F-Series pickup truck named the panel delivery both of these served as precursors of the modern-day cargo van. Sharing its body with the two-door Ford station wagon, the Courier was intended for use primarily as a commercial vehicle, replacing the rear seating area with storage the side windows were replaced with painted steel panels. ![]() For 2014, the stand-alone Courier name was withdrawn, but returned as the Transit Courier, the smallest vehicle of the Ford Transit van series.įrom 1952 to 1960, the Ford Courier nameplate was used for the sedan delivery bodystyle of the full-size Ford line. Ford Brazil used the nameplate for a Fiesta-based coupe utility pickup marketed across Latin America.ĭuring the 2000s, the Courier pickup truck was replaced by the Ranger nameplate (which replaced the Courier in North America for 1983) the Courier panel van was replaced by the Ford Transit Connect in 2002. The Courier nameplate was also used by Ford for a series of compact pickup trucks (produced by Mazda) and would also see use by Ford of Europe denoting a Fiesta-based panel van. The Courier moniker has been used on a variety of vehicles all around the world since it was first used in North America for a saloon delivery. The most recent model in the Ford Courier series, developed by Ford Brazil and introduced in 1998įord Courier is a model nameplate used by Ford since the early 1950s.
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