Has anyone heard that Ford is bringing the Ranger back? Could we or should we even hope the Stallion might be revised?:cxtv:
New Ranger by Ford
- Thread starter Ed Hobgood
- Start date
I don't think it will make much difference if the Ranger comes back to the U,S. - it will most likely have a different engine than the one used on the Stallion. One of the reasons Thoroughbred (Motor Trike) discontinued the Stallion was it would have been too expensive to redesign the chassis and retool for a new engine. If it was financially viable, any engine about the same size could have been used to continue production.
- Moderator
- #3
Regrettably I believe you are correct.
rocket1lf
450+ Posts
I feel the Stallion was brought out at the wrong time and wasn't given a chance. I saw it in the Ford booth at the SEMA show, with Jeff, in 2007. I got a chance to talk to him and he was very excited about it as was I. In 2008, and for several years after, the economy was in the trash can. Now, the economy is trying to come back. If you look at the prices for a new Goldwing, Harley or other conversion, they will be way more expensive that a Stallion and they're selling. If Thoroughbred could hold the price, which to me is outrageous along with the other ones, they would sell a bunch of them. It wouldn't be that hard to redesign it to hold a different motor as the bones are there. I feel they just don't want to put in the effort.
New engine....New EPA Certification....Time and $$$$$$$$$$$:AGGHH:
With the upsurge of "Autocycles" (3 wheelers mostly with steering wheels, semi-enclosed or enclosed cockpit, and usually side by side seating, not motorcycle based, etc.) such as the Slingshot, T-Rex, Venom SS and the upcoming (promised) Elio gaining acceptance it my be a good time to introduce the Stallion MK II.
To add to that, what are the odds that the wiring and connectors are the same on the new engine? Bet it's a different transmission and computer too (especially since 5,6,&7 speed auto transmissions are "the thing" now days). New engine would also mean new emissions system. I know I have a few friends who would LOVE to see the Stallion come back, but with as many changes as would have to be done, and new testing for compliance (EPA and CARB) I just don't see it being done without several hundred thousand dollars, if not millions that would have to be invested to make it happen all said and done.
- Thread starter
- #8
I know it was a long shot but just wanted to see what others thought.
We can only hope! Just remember that the new engines are smaller and lighter so I don't think that they would have to do much if anything to the frame. Back when Ford stopped making the Rangers in the US the main issue was fitting in another Ford engine and what they had at the time wouldn't fit. I for one am not giving up and hope to someday have a new modern Stallion.
Tomg
Tomg
I've always liked the Stallion and really hope it can make a comeback. FWIW, V8 Choppers gets around the EPA certification by building only a certain amount of V8 bikes and trikes,every year. I think the number is somewhere around 50-100 units/year.
Anyone know about how many Stallions were built each year?
Anyone know about how many Stallions were built each year?
- Moderator
- #11
They started building in 2007 for 2008 delivery year. The last ones in early 2013. None at all in I believe 2011 and 2012. Total production I estimate at around 850 units.
The last of the '10 models was #780 which was purchased by Heartstopper at Hattisburg. Then in '13 they built another 150 units. So add 780 and 150, that would be your total.
Mine is number 927 , should be about the last one made . I finally got it registered yesterday, so now I can legally ride it .
- Moderator
- #14
There is some question about 000 to 100 I have not heard of any with a vin number below 125. Our first stallion was 175 delivered in March of 2008. I have seen 125. Anyone seen one lower?
- Thread starter
- #15
Ted I think you are right. Jerry from IL had I believe has 126.
I have 101
- Moderator
- #17
Question does it have a fiberglass body or the newer plastic body? I had heard that they changed the body on some of the first ones that were built as demos for the original dealers.
Charlie D
Contributing Member
Per my local Ford Dealer largest in Ill. YES the new Ranger is coming.. How soon ?????
I spoke with a Motor trike authorized dealer here in central Florida who said he was leaving for Texas in the next few weeks to go to the factory. He said he believes that the stallion will be produced again. I asked him to let me know if he finds out anything. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, just not sure what's shining the light! Lol<br />
<br />
Tomg
<br />
Tomg
per motortrike its the the first with ABS
- Moderator
- #21
Doc:
Vin 100? to 150? or somewhere in that area, as far as Vin numbers go, were the first 50 built in 2007. They were the first deliveries to their then dealer network as Demo,s and were made with fiberglass bodies. Then in 2009 when the plastic bodies came out, the factory got some of those demos back and rebuilt them with the plastic body for training, test fitting etc of the new body before they sold the new Stallions with them. The re-bodied plastic demos were sent back out to the dealers as demo's again but eventually they got sold.
There is a very good chance that VIN 101 maybe the first Stallion built for distribution that was not a prototype. I have not heard of a lower VIN number yet.
My wifes Stallion was 175 built in February of 2008 and was among the first delivered to customers. They started deliveries in Oct/Nov of 2007 to customers after the demo's were built.
They were only able to build 3 to 4 a week because that is all the molds they had to lay the bodies up in.
The body layup was extremely time consuming.
My wife and I visited the factory in the summer of 2008.
I'm pretty sure my facts are somewhat accurate because I got them from the manager of the Factory owned Dealership in Daytona and from Jeff Vay the owner of TBMS. We made our original purchase of VIN 175 in October of 2006 when all they had was a rolling prototype. It ran but you could not adjust the mirrors, the front nose piece did not open because the whole section was one piece. The suspension was limited but my wife loved it.
It would be nice for you if your 101 was the first. The fact that it has a plastic body tied the information I had together as I was told it. It did originally have a fiberglass body because plastic bodies started in the mid 400 range and year 2009. I have not tried to pin down the first plastic body VIN that was not a reconstructed demo. My wifes current Stallion is 406 which is also fiberglass.
Enjoy
Ted
Vin 100? to 150? or somewhere in that area, as far as Vin numbers go, were the first 50 built in 2007. They were the first deliveries to their then dealer network as Demo,s and were made with fiberglass bodies. Then in 2009 when the plastic bodies came out, the factory got some of those demos back and rebuilt them with the plastic body for training, test fitting etc of the new body before they sold the new Stallions with them. The re-bodied plastic demos were sent back out to the dealers as demo's again but eventually they got sold.
There is a very good chance that VIN 101 maybe the first Stallion built for distribution that was not a prototype. I have not heard of a lower VIN number yet.
My wifes Stallion was 175 built in February of 2008 and was among the first delivered to customers. They started deliveries in Oct/Nov of 2007 to customers after the demo's were built.
They were only able to build 3 to 4 a week because that is all the molds they had to lay the bodies up in.
The body layup was extremely time consuming.
My wife and I visited the factory in the summer of 2008.
I'm pretty sure my facts are somewhat accurate because I got them from the manager of the Factory owned Dealership in Daytona and from Jeff Vay the owner of TBMS. We made our original purchase of VIN 175 in October of 2006 when all they had was a rolling prototype. It ran but you could not adjust the mirrors, the front nose piece did not open because the whole section was one piece. The suspension was limited but my wife loved it.
It would be nice for you if your 101 was the first. The fact that it has a plastic body tied the information I had together as I was told it. It did originally have a fiberglass body because plastic bodies started in the mid 400 range and year 2009. I have not tried to pin down the first plastic body VIN that was not a reconstructed demo. My wifes current Stallion is 406 which is also fiberglass.
Enjoy
Ted
from what i was told it was a demo for the factory and then re bodied with ABS as ehe the first ABS
when i bought it from a friend of mine here in Fla., they had told him, he would have to wait to pick it up till after it had gone back to the factory . He waited 3 months for it , As it was the factory Demo and was on display only at Dayton Beach less 500 miles on it it was never titiled till he bought it and he was told a that time it was the first ABS ( or at lest that what he had told me ) , i had called Rich at TMS due to the air not working and he recomfirmed that it was the first..and that all the new updates had been done on it..
- Moderator
- #25
What you are told probably is correct. The factory owned dealership did have a demo that color. I rode it several times. That dealership was closed by the factory. Makes sense they would use it first in the re-boding of the trike. But I also believe it might be the first Stallion made after the prototypes. That would be super cool. What was the date it was first titled? If sometime in 2009 it all fits.
late 08
- Moderator
- #27
That would work also. I know Jeff was wanting to get the plastic bodies in production as soon as possible. The laid up fiberglass was costing alot and eating profits. So he very well may have been popping the first bodies out by the last of 2008. Our current Stallion 406 is fiberglass and is titled an "08". Don't know the actual build date, but we bought it in May of "09" in Georgia. Our first Stallion 175 had a bad wiring harness while we were on a trip it gave out. We could not wait the 2 weeks for them to fix it so we traded it in. They did fix 175 and its still running around Georgia area somewhere.
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