Last month, we explored a Mitsubishi small pickup rebranded with Dodge badges. This time, it’s the turn of a Mazda small pickup wearing Ford badges. I came across this Courier at a self-service junkyard in Carson City, Nevada, a delightful discovery for any car enthusiast.
In the early 1970s, automakers were keen to offer compact pickups in the U.S. market. In 1972, GM began importing the Isuzu Faster pickup, branding it as the Chevrolet LUV. Around the same time, Ford entered into an agreement with Mazda to market the Mazda Proceed under the Courier name in the United States.
Interestingly, in 1979, Mazda was still officially known as the Toyo Kogyo Company, having dropped the “Cork” part of its name back in the 1920s. The Courier, which took its name from Ford’s sedan delivery models of the 1950s, was sold through 1982. It was then replaced by Ford’s homegrown Ranger. During this period, Mazda continued selling these trucks in the U.S. under the B-Series badge, even offering a rotary-powered version for a few years. The last B2600 models were sold in the U.S. as 1993 models, after which they were replaced by rebadged Rangers.
The 1979 Ford Courier longbed had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $4,859, equivalent to about $22,351 in 2024 dollars. For comparison, the 1979 Dodge D-50/Plymouth Arrow Pickup was priced at $4,819 ($22,167 today), the Chevrolet LUV at $4,486 ($20,635 now), the Toyota Hilux longbed at $4,938 ($22,714 today), and the Datsun 620 longbed at $4,929 ($22,673 after inflation). So, if you were time-traveling to buy a mini truck in 1979, my advice would be to go for the Hilux!
If you preferred the truck with Mazda badges in 1979, the price was $4,945 ($22,747 today), making the Courier version a slightly better deal. Under the hood, the Courier featured a carbureted 1.8-liter SOHC straight-four engine. Starting in 1980, the Courier (and the Mazda B2000) upgraded to a 2.0-liter engine from the rear-wheel-drive Mazda 626.
The standard transmission was a four-speed manual, with a five-speed overdrive available for an additional $172 ($791 in 2024 dollars). A three-speed automatic transmission was also an option for $375 extra ($1,725 today). The only automatic Courier I’ve ever found in a junkyard was a REPU (Rotary Engine Pickup).
Being a Nevada truck, this particular Courier avoided the rust issues common to those in regions with road salt and high humidity. The odometer reads either 36,950 miles or 736,950 miles—there’s no way to know for sure!
In 1979, Ford’s truck lineup ranged from the compact Courier to the much larger models, offering something for everyone. This 1979 Ford Courier stands as a testament to the era of compact pickups, a beloved segment of automotive history that remains fascinating to this day.
Stay tuned for more intriguing automotive finds and news in our Car Culture & News section!
