Ranger (General Motors)

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Ranger brand logo
Picture of a Ranger (South African model) from 1974.

Ranger was a brand of car . The Ranger vehicles were manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s under the umbrella of the General Motors group. The Ranger joins the Opel Rekord C family, which is produced worldwide and which was also made in Brazil ( Chevrolet Opala ) and Mexico.

description

The brand originally existed in South Africa , later assembled vehicles were also sold under the "Ranger" brand in Switzerland (in the GM plant in Biel ) and in Belgium (Antwerp), some vehicles also in the Netherlands .

The first Ranger vehicles were technically based on the Opel Rekord series of the 1960s ( Opel Rekord C / Opel Commodore A ). Outwardly, some body parts, such as the radiator grille , were reminiscent of the Vauxhall Ventora .

Chevrolet engines were installed in the South African models introduced in the summer of 1968 . The models built in Europe had Opel engines, and indeed the entire range also offered in the corresponding Rekord and Commodore models.

The first Ranger model (1968–1972) is known today as the Ranger A, from 1972 there was the Ranger B. This was based on the Opel Rekord D and the Opel Commodore B.

Models

Ranger A (South Africa)

In South Africa, the Ranger was offered by General Motors South Africa as a two- and four-door sedan, a two-door hardtop coupé and a five-door station wagon. With the exception of the Vauxhall-like front section and a few details such as hubcaps and rear lights, it completely corresponded to the Record C optically. Chevrolet four-cylinder 2.1 liters ("Ranger 130", 73 DIN PS) and 2.5 liters (" Ranger 153 ", each so called after the cubic capacity in cubic inches; 106 SAE-PS) cubic capacity, furthermore there was, only as a coupé and four-door, the Ranger 153 HO and SS 153 (2.5 liters, 120 SAE-PS). It was shifted via a synchronized four-speed gearbox or a Trimatic three-speed automatic.

Data sheet Ranger (South Africa)
ranger 130 130 HC 153 SS 153
Engine: 4-cylinder in-line engine (four-stroke)
Displacement: 2124 cc 2479 cc
Bore × stroke: 90.5 x 82.55 mm 97.79 x 82.55 mm
Performance at 1 / min: 48 kW
(65 hp)
at 4400		 54 kW
(73 hp)
at 4400		 57 kW
(77.5 hp)
at 4000		 88 kW
(120 SAE PS)
at 4600
Max. Torque at 1 / min: 155 Nm at 2400 174 Nm at 2800 206 Nm at 2400 220 Nm at 3200
Compression: 7.5: 1 8.5: 1
Mixture preparation: 1 downdraft carburetor 1 double Weber carburetor
Valve control: Lateral camshaft, drive via gear wheels
Cooling: Water cooling
Transmission: Fully synchronized 3 or 4-speed gearbox,
rear-wheel drive
Front suspension: Wishbone above, wishbone with tension strut below, coil springs, stabilizer
Rear suspension: Rigid axle on four trailing arms, Panhard rod, coil springs
Brakes: Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, servo
Steering: Recirculating ball steering
Body: Sheet steel, self-supporting
Track width front / rear: 1400/1400 mm
Wheelbase: 2670 mm
Dimensions: 4550 × 1750 × 1460 mm
Empty weight: 1035-1095 kg
Top speed: approx. 140 km / h approx. 145 km / h approx. 155 km / h approx. 165 km / h
0-100 km / h (factory): not specified
Consumption
(liters / 100 kilometers, factory):		 approx. 10-12.5 N / S approx. 10-13 p approx. 10-15 p

Ranger A (Europe)

In Europe from the beginning of 1970 in Biel, Switzerland, and in Antwerp, a model that was largely identical to the South African model (including the Springbok emblem) was assembled, albeit with Opel engines. The 1900 S engine (90 hp) from the Rekord, the 2500 (120 hp) and the 2500 S (130 hp) from the Commodore were used. The Ranger was sold in selected countries through the respective Vauxhall dealers; This explains the Vauxhall radiator grille used here and the model range: the 1900 was only available as a two-door model (because Vauxhall did not have a two-liter sedan in its range with the Victor), while the 2500 and 2500 GTS were also available as four-door models (because Vauxhall itself had this Class was not represented). In Switzerland, a two-door Ranger in 1900 cost CHF 11,325 in 1971, a comparable record in 1900 CHF 11,450, and the four-door Vauxhall Ventora 2000 CHF 11,300.

"Ranger B" (South Africa)

From 1973 onwards, a new model based on the Rekord D / Commodore B was offered in South Africa similar to the Ranger A, but no longer bore the name Ranger, but instead the Chevrolet 2500 (Chevrolet four-cylinder) or 3800/4100 (Chevrolet six-cylinder) was called. Apart from the engines, the differences to the Opel models were small.

Datasheet Chevrolet 2500/3800/4100 (South Africa)
Chevrolet 2500 3800 4100
Engine: 4-cylinder in-line engine (four-stroke) 6-cylinder in-line engine (four-stroke)
Displacement: 2479 cc 3768 cc 4093 cc
Bore × stroke: 98.4 x 82.55 mm 98.43 x 82.55 mm 98.43 x 89.66 mm
Performance at 1 / min: 88 kW
(120 SAE PS)
at 4600		 104 kW
(142 SAE PS)
at 4400		 115 kW
(157 SAE PS)
at 4200
Max. Torque at 1 / min: 216 Nm at 3200 298 Nm at 1600 318 Nm at 1600
Compression: 8.5: 1
Mixture preparation: 1 double Weber carburetor 1 Rochester downdraft carburetor
Valve control: Lateral camshaft, drive via gear wheels
Cooling: Water cooling
Transmission: 4-speed gearbox
aW three-speed automatic
rear - wheel drive
Front suspension: Wishbone above, wishbone with tension strut below, coil springs, stabilizer
Rear suspension: Rigid axle on four trailing arms, Panhard rod, coil springs
Brakes: Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, servo
Steering: Rack and pinion steering
Body: Sheet steel, self-supporting
Track width front / rear: 1425/1410 mm
Wheelbase: 2670 mm
Dimensions: 4570 × 1720 × 1415 mm
Empty weight: 1150 kg 1240 kg 1240 kg
Top speed: approx. 155 km / h approx. 165 km / h approx. 170 km / h
0-100 km / h (factory): not specified
Consumption
(liters / 100 kilometers, factory):		 approx. 13.5 p approx. 12-16 p approx. 12-17 p

Ranger B (Europe)

Only in Europe there was the Ranger B based on Rekord D / Commodore B. The Ranger B was only manufactured in Switzerland and as Ranger 1700 (83 HP), 1900 (97 HP), 2500 (115 HP) and 2500 GTS (130 PS) were offered, on request there was also the 2800 GTS (140 PS). The 1700 was only available as a two-door sedan. The 1900, 2500 GTS and the 2800 GTS were only available as a coupé. The 2500 was only available as a four-door sedan. The Ranger B only differed from the Rekord and the Commodore in the double instead of rectangular headlights, the indicators moved under the front bumper, a different radiator grille, a modified rear fascia, the emblems and a bonnet with an angular hood that does not correspond to the diesel bonnet, but one own press part. A Ranger 2500 GTS Coupé cost CHF 19,300 in Switzerland in 1973, whereas a Commodore GS Coupé from German production was even a little cheaper at CHF 19,250. (The Ranger was 50 CHF more expensive because, unlike the Commodore, it had double headlights at the front and the indicators therefore had to be mounted separately under the bumper.)

literature

  • Roger Gloor: Passenger Cars of the 1960s. Hallwag Verlag, Bern and Stuttgart, 3rd edition 1990, ISBN 3-444-10307-7 , p. 303.
  • Automobil Revue , catalog numbers 1969, 1971 and 1973.
  • Werner Oswald (editor): Auto models, 1974 catalog. Vereinigte Motor-Verlage, Stuttgart 1973.