In 1972, Ford started selling Mazda Proceed pickups with Courier badges in the United States. At the same time, Mazda was offering the same trucks as the B-Series. The Ranger eventually replaced the Courier in 1983, while the B-Series continued to be available in North America until 1993. In 1994, the Mazda/Ford pickup landscape changed with a Mazda-ized Ranger taking over the B-Series name in the U.S. The featured Junkyard Gem is one of the early Ford-built Mazda pickups discovered in a North Carolina car graveyard.
The practice of badging U.S.-market Ford trucks as Mazdas began in 1991 with the Mazda Navajo, which was based on the Explorer. Throughout the 1990s, various Mazda-derived Ford and Mercury models were sold in the U.S., leading to the adoption of Ford products carrying Mazda badges.
The replacement of the B-Series with Ford products might have been a bittersweet moment for some in Hiroshima.
The B-Series model designations with numbers after “B” indicated engine displacement in cubic centimeters, starting with the 1971 B1600. This particular truck, a B4000, is equipped with a 4.0-liter Cologne V6 engine, producing 160 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque.
The Cologne V6 made its debut in the U.S. market in the 1969 Capri, eventually finding its way into various Ford models over the years, including the 4.0-liter SOHC version used until the early 2010s.
Featuring a long wheelbase, a large engine, the top LE trim level, and the extended Cab Plus, this 1995 Mazda B4000 is the most premium rear-wheel-drive model for that year, priced at $16,035.
With just over 100,000 miles, this Mazda B4000 is in good condition.
The last model year for the Ranger-based Mazda B-Series pickups in the U.S. was 2009.
FAQ
Q: What was the price of the 1995 Mazda B4000?
A: The MSRP was $16,035.
Q: When did the Ranger-based Mazda B-Series pickups end production in the U.S.?
A: The final model year was 2009.
Conclusion
The 1995 Mazda B4000, a Ford-built Mazda pickup, represents a unique era in the collaboration between the two automakers. With a powerful 4.0-liter engine and premium features, this rear-wheel-drive model marked the end of an era for the Ranger-based Mazda B-Series pickups in the United States.
