The old Ford Ranger looks like a raptor, but it only sounds like a raptor.

The modified version uses the original parts of the current Ranger and an 8-inch lift kit, but unfortunately, the horsepower under the hood is still only 80

The new Ford Ranger is a cool midsize truck, but in some parts of the world, its price is a little too high for the average buyer. A boat builder from Thailand found a clever way to solve this problem by transforming an old Ranger into an affordable Raptor knockoff.

Starting with the first generation Ford Ranger – one of the cheapest trucks in Thailand – Facebook User The Earth Shatters It was decided to modernize this older model using original parts from the current fourth-generation model.

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The transformation included borrowing the grille, hood, headlights, and taillights from the new Ranger, while the fenders also had to be customized to blend in with the old body. To give it an off-road edge, the manufacturer ditched the front bumper altogether, because who needs something like that?

The obvious size difference between the first- and fourth-generation trucks makes this conversion look like a stripped-down version of the Raptor. And the collection of Ford, Ranger, F-150, and 4×4 decals doesn’t do much to dispel the identity crisis this truck is experiencing.

What really stands out, though, are the 18-inch Ranger Wildtrak wheels shod in chunky off-road tires that, combined with a lifted suspension, raise the truck an astonishing eight inches. It’s a mix of old and new parts, but somehow it works—at least until you pop the hood.

Unfortunately, the donor truck was equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter diesel powertrain that produced only 80 hp (60 kW / 82 PS) from the factory. While the manufacturer hints at a possible upgrade to a turbocharged version that would increase power to 113 hp, don’t get your hopes up for the Raptor’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. No matter how much good intentions are put into the engine bay of a 26-year-old.

The seats have been given a Raptor-style makeover, with a black and orange interior. The rest of the interior? Well, it’s mostly original, reminding you that the bones of this truck are still from the late ’90s.

The Earth Shatters Automobile Information Network The Ranger in the pictures is just a prototype, and the next one will be sold. The entire project took 11 months, costing $1,350 for the donor truck, $1,900 for parts, and another $1,900 for the lifted suspension and wheels. If you keep track, this is a very affordable way to transform a beat-up old Ranger into a striking vehicle.

The owner of Newton’s Ship in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, is more than happy to accept similar conversion orders, which could turn his side hustle into a full-fledged business.

As a quick backstory, the original Ford Ranger was launched in 1998 as a rebranded Mazda B-Series and was facelifted in 2002. Its underpinnings later formed the basis for the second-generation Ranger in 2006, which received a mid-cycle refresh in 2009 and remained in production until 2011. Even so, it seems the truck’s legend is far from over.

Photo: Sky Fall/Facebook