It's the end of an era here at Danny Zeck Ford as we watch the last of the Ford Ranger pickups roll into our showroom. While you can still get your hands on one while they last, you better hurry, because production on this American classic ended mid-December 2011.

The small truck first debuted in the early 80s to compete with smaller trucks from Japanese automakers. Sales peaked in the late 90s, and have steadily declined since then as American shoppers tend to choose larger trucks like the Ford F-150. While other automakers haven't quite ended production on their smaller pickups, the upcoming hybrid F-150 and current model V6 F-150 are more than capable of taking the place of the Ranger. And there's not much of a price difference either. The Ranger starts at just $22,340, and the 2012 Ford F-150 starts just around $23,000.

As for tying up some loose ends with the Ranger, assembly line employees at the St. Paul, Minnesota Plant (all 800 of them), will be given the opportunity to transfer to other Ford facilities. And, Australia, Africa and Thailand will still feature the Ranger in their lineups, as smaller pickups are more practical there than they often are here in the United States.

We're certainly sad to see it go, but we know that this will only make room for some more fuel-efficient and powerful pickups in the new Ford lineup. That said, be sure to stay tuned with Danny Zeck Ford for more news and updates. Or, stop in and see us at 4501 S 4th St Leavenworth, KS 66048 to take one of the last Ford Rangers for a spin.