Dave Caldwell III from Knoxville, Tennessee, is one lucky teenager. Not yet 16, he shares ownership of this beautiful '95 Ranger, a family project that includes Dave's father (Dave Jr.) and grandfather (Dave Sr.). Dave Sr., involved with custom vehicles most of his life, was looking for his next show vehicle and also a way to connect three generations of men in the family. When he discovered this partially customized Ranger on the Internet, he knew it was the one. The paint scheme and bodywork caught his eye, but there were many other areas that needed lots of tender, loving care.
The Ranger was already body-dropped 3-1/2 inches and the body mods included: shaved everything, a cowl induction hood, a Lexan rear window, and a Street Beat 40-inch ragtop. The stepside fenders, tailgate, and rear pan were welded into a one-piece unit, accented with Maltese Cross-style taillights. The front fenders and cowl also use the one-piece approach. In addition to the body drop, this Ranger hits the deck thanks to its air suspension system, using a belt-driven compressor to air up the Firestone 2500/2600 airbags through 1/2-inch valves and 3/8-inch lines. Twin five-gallon reserve tanks in the bed provide plenty of playtime, and the airbags get a little extra height thanks to the cantilevered mounting on the new four-link rear.
While Dave Sr. and Dave Jr. may not have needed a loud, thumping stereo, Dave III considered it essential. The Alpine in-dash CD/DVD unit with 6-inch screen has its signal amplified by an Alphasonix 360-watt amplifier mounted out of sight. Sound comes from a pair of 10-inch Alphasonix subs in their own enclosure and four 6x9 speakers positioned around the cab. A PlayStation 2 with remote infrared controllers and the six-disc changer in the armrest add to the fun. The stereo was done by Dubbed Out in Knoxville, Tennessee, while Kreative Kustoms, also in Knoxville, did the stitchwork inside, adding a new vinyl headliner, custom carpet, and new purple inserts on the seats and door panels. The bed is carpeted with gray and black carpet, using a pair of chrome five-gallon tanks for the air suspension system, along with a fuel cell mounted under the billet gas filler cap and flamed vinyl panel.
Paint on the Ranger is a combination of Acura Silver with Pearl added and Ford Black Sapphire Metallic Blue separated by House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl. Mad Mods in Hollywood, Florida, handled the paint job, while Bonz Designs airbrushed the Tangelo flames. Future plans include more interior upgrades, detailing under the hood, and a larger set of rims and tires. Dave III is also looking forward to the future when he is finally old enough for a driver's license!