Did Ford make a Ranger in 1968?
The short answer is no: Ford did not produce a standalone Ranger model in 1968. The Ranger name was used as a badge for certain higher-spec variants of Ford’s F-Series pickups in the 1960s, but a separate Ranger truck did not exist in that year.
To understand the question in context, it helps to trace how Ford used the Ranger name over time. The badge would later become a true standalone model in North America in the 1980s, with regional variations continuing to evolve into the present.
Ranger as a trim in the 1960s
During the 1960s, Ford employed the Ranger label as part of the F-Series lineup rather than as an independent model. These trucks were essentially F-Series variants with distinct styling and equipment, but they shared the same basic platform and were not marketed as a separate Ranger model.
What that meant for 1968
In 1968, you would have found Ford F-Series pickups carrying the Ranger badge only as a trim/option package, not as a distinct vehicle. The Ranger designation signified a specification level within the F-Series family rather than a standalone model.
The Ranger as a standalone model
Ford later shifted course, launching the Ranger as a true standalone compact pickup in 1983 for the North American market. This marked the transition from Ranger as a trim to a separate model with its own platform. The Ranger name then continued through multiple generations, with regional variations and periods of production pauses—for example, a North American hiatus after 2011 and a revival in 2019.
Regional variations and later history
Beyond the United States and Canada, the Ranger name has appeared in other markets under different development paths. Notably, Ford’s Australian lineup adopted its own Ranger model in the late 1990s, and the global Ranger family has evolved through ongoing generations and reintroductions in various regions.
Bottom line
In plain terms: 1968 did not feature a Ford Ranger as a separate model. The Ranger name existed as a trim designation on certain F-Series trucks, and a dedicated Ranger pickup did not appear in North America until 1983, with later regional variations shaping its global presence.
Summary
Ford’s Ranger in 1968 was not a standalone vehicle. It appeared as a badge on higher-spec F-Series pickups, and the Ranger would later become a separate model in 1983 in North America, followed by regional adaptations around the world. The Ranger lineage has since persisted in various forms, including a 2019 North American return and ongoing activity in markets like Australia.
