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A radiator can get clogged up enough to not cool the engine properly and still not leak. Most radiator shops can check it with a digital thermometer and it's easy to see when the radiators capacity gets low enough to require replacement. A very simple test is to hold your hand on the top and bottom hoses. There needs to be about a 50 degree minimum temperature difference for the radiator to cool your engine properly. In most cases the top exit hose will be too hot to hold your hand on for more than a few seconds without getting burned or blistered. The bottom return hose will be much cooler and you caneasily keep your hand on it for much longer. The least temperature difference will be in the hottest weather you experience.
The visible damage you have observed, combined with the age of your vehicle, would lead me to assume it is the original radiator. My ranger still has the original radiator and it is working fine at 17 years age (1997 model) but I would not be surprized if I had to replace it this summer when it gets real hot here in eastern Va.
The risk of a radiator on it's last leg is a blown head gasket.
regards
Mech
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