Ranger XLT spruced up

SNAZZY: OFFICIAL UPGRADE NOW OFFERED BY LOCAL DEALERSHIPS

- Mark Jones

Go to any flea market or aftermarket accessory outlet and there will be a stall that specialises in add on bits and pieces for bakkies.

Anything from garish splash like sticker kits to full on nudge bars that are fitted outside on the pavement with a shifting spanner. From Ford Ranger to Toyota Hilux and everything in between, there is a part to suit you and your bakkie.

You could argue that this is backyard economics at its best. You would think that it's over-traded and can't be all that lucrative, but you would be dead wrong.

It's a booming, multimillion-rand, business that grows bigger each day as increasingly more bakkies hit the market.

This is a business that Ford Motor Southern Africa has decided it wants a chunk of.

"The accessory market is huge, allowing customers to personalise their vehicles according to their unique styling and lifestyle requirements," said Sunil Sewmohan, executive director of product marketing.