Ford Ranger accessories boost

Ford is expected to soon announce a massive boost to the top-selling Ford Ranger ute’s line-up of accessories.

But rather than call on its internal design and engineering staff to do the job, carsales understands independent Blue Oval outfitter Tickford Automotive has won the business, which is also expected to cover off the Ranger-based Ford Everest SUV.

Ford has been aware for years it needed to add more accessory choice for the Ranger, which is the top-selling 4x4 ute in Australia and the second-best-selling model nationally behind the Toyota HiLux.

Ranger accounts for almost 70 per cent of Ford’s total new vehicle sales in Australia and continues to win awards despite being around in current-generation T6 form since 2011.

The Everest would be cream on top for the business case as the seven-seat wagon sells approximately 600 examples per month versus more than 4000 for the Ranger.

Dual-cab 4x4 ute buyers are renowned for their willingness to spend thousands of dollars to personalise their new pride and joy.

This new program would be a concerted effort to keep that money in the family, rather than being spent at external 4x4 outfitters. Ford has already tried to some extent to staunch this outflow, announcing a deal with ARB earlier this year.

Tickford Automotive offers a comprehensive line-up of packs and individual parts for the Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest that range from cosmetics like fender flares through bespoke wheel designs to suspension retunes, disc brake packages and even power-ups of the Ranger’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

It also does the same sort of work on four-cylinder and V8 versions of the Ford Mustang and is an authorised Ford Performance and Roush agent. But the iconic sports car is not thought to be a significant part of this new arrangement.

Currently, Tickford fits its accessories to Ford models at its Tickford Experience Centres (in all capital cities bar Darwin) after purchase.

But carsales understands this new deal will allow Ford Ranger and Everest prospects to select Tickford packs or individual parts at the Ford dealer during the buying process. The car would be delivered with the accessories already fitted.

Whether the fitment would be done by Tickford or Ford dealers is unclear.

A senior Ford dealer contacted by carsales said he had no knowledge of the new deal and expressed doubt he or many other dealers would be interested in taking part unless their workshops did get the fitment work.

While the Ford-focused Tickford accessories business has only been in existence for five years,  it springs out of the former factory Ford racing team that still campaigns a squad of Mustangs in Supercars racing with Mildura’s Cam Waters as its star driver.

Links between Ford and the business can be traced back through Prodrive Racing Australia, Ford Performance Racing, Ford Performance Vehicles, the Ford Tickford Experience and the establishment of Tickford Vehicle Engineering in Australia in the early 1990s.

If it comes to reality as expected around October this year, the deal will be a significant boost for Tickford Automotive, which has not always been looked upon favourably by Ford Australia.

Former local Ford boss Graeme Whickman was understood to be negative about Tickford when it launched. However, his successor Kay Hart was far more positive.

At one stage it’s understood there were even Tickford Ranger and Everest special-editions mooted. They seem to have disappeared off the radar, but current Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic has seen the Tickford deal through to reality.

Tickford was also linked with a Hart-driven plan to convert the Ford F-150 full-size pick-up to right-hand drive. But that appears to have now stalled.

Both Ford Australia and Tickford were approached for comment.