We do not know about you, but we are smitten with trucks. If you ask us, these great vehicles deserve even more love. We bet that these photos will change the mind of the nonbelievers! After all, we have taken the time to compile this list of the greatest trucks that the automobile world has ever built.
Chevrolet Dubl-Duti
Chevy created the Dubl-Duti, but outside builders made the bodies on the delivery vehicles with its flat face cowl chassis. You are looking at a unit that must have served as a milk truck. The hosts of Turnin’ Rust purchased it from a car collector named Trent. It is possible that this is the only surviving one out there. A website claims that about a hundred of these babies were made. According to the YouTube channel hosts, they plan to bring it back to its former glory. Are you as excited about the result as we are?
Chevrolet Dubl Duti
Ford Model A Mail Truck
In 1928, the US Postal Service began to use the Ford Model A Mail Truck. It stayed in use all through the ‘30s and ‘40s. The agency used both the Model AA and the Model A passenger chassis models. In those days, they used 4,300 Model A’s as mail carriers. They had a lot of body options that ranged from a cab to an ambulance to a funeral coach. The Postal Service also used a fleet of cab variants and had them customized. Check out this restored Ford Model A from 1931. It is now at the National Postal Museum.
Ford Model A Mail Truck
Volvo L495 Titan
In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, Volvo built a lot of classic commercial trucks. The L495 Titan is a great example of this. You are looking at the first truck by the Swedish manufacturer to have air brakes and turbodiesel. It saw a lot of usage in Europe and offered a good long-distance option all over the world.
Volvo L495 Titan
Bedford J1 Fire Truck
Are you a fan of classic trucks? If this is the case, we want you to meet the 1965 Bedford J1. The one below was formerly a property of the New South Wales Fire Brigade. In Australia, it was distributed by General Motors-Holden. You will now find it in the Museum of Fire Collection. This photograph was taken during the 2011 Sydney Antique & Classic Truck Show.
Bedford J1 Fire Truck
Studebaker M-16
You should not believe the people who say that utility vehicles are ugly. The Studebaker M-16 is here to prove them all wrong. It was the only model in the Studebaker M series with the Commander “Big Six” 226 ci engine and a 6-blade shrouded fan. This lineup was used a lot in the Second World War. The image below was photographed at the Hays Antique Truck Museum in Woodland, California.
Studebaker M 16
Russian Military Truck
If you want to see the war relic in this photo, you will have to go to the Museum of Military Equipment. The Russian Military Truck is a great war vehicle. This one is just a replica. Even if this were the case, it gives us a good peek at the fascinating past of this country. It is worth seeking out if you are in Russia.
Russian Military Truck
Ford F-250 Highboy
The trucks that make up the Ford F series were generally light and medium duty units. In the US, they became the best-selling models from 1977 onward. The photo below shows us a great example of what made those trucks so popular. After all, the Ford-250 Highboy is definitely a stunner in our books.
Ford F-250 Highboy
Old Truck, New Bed
A lot of people think of the trucking industry when they imagine GMC trucks. It is true that the company built many big and noisy vehicles in the past. The GMC pickup truck below was retrofitted so that it can be used as a nomad truck. We want to congratulate the owner. They clearly knew how to look after it.
Old Truck, New Bed
Jeep Wagoneer
You are looking at the Jeep Wagoneer. This model is set for a comeback soon, and you should be thrilled about that. In the meantime, let us check out its glory days. It is known as a station wagon used as the marque vehicle of the manufacturer for decades. To be specific, it held that role from 1963 until 1993.
Jeep Wagoneer
Bedford QL
These trucks were made for the British Armed Forces during the Second World War. The Bedford QL was the first vehicle made by the company for military use. It found new life as a heavy-duty tow truck in the late ‘60s. It was a great model, but the most interesting fact about it was that the driver had to sit in the forward control cab atop the engine. This was revolutionary as it only became common after the war.
Bedford QL
Willys CJ-2A
Will you look at this open-bodied off-road vehicle? From 1944 to 1986, the Willys CJ-2A was in the production line of the company. The automaker created over a million and a half copies during that period of time. It was originally meant to be used on farms, but it was later adopted by the military.
Willys CJ-2A
Volvo N88
It might not look very different from the models that came before it, but this one was a powerhouse. The Volvo N88 had an engine that was revolutionary for its time. In the ‘60s, it was released under the System 8 truck series. They focused on weight constraint, future developmental opportunity, reliability, and extended service life. The photo below was shot at the Jack Hartogh Oldtimer Truck Museum.
Volvo N88
1939 La Salle Wines and Champagne Delivery Truck
Chevy and GMC did not make trucks with a 4WD in the ‘50s. This is the reason the Northwest Auto Parts Company sold conversion kits that allowed drivers to do it on their own. There are a lot of cool photos in this slideshow, but this is something else. I mean, just how awesome is this beer delivery truck?
1939 La Salle Wines And Champagne Delivery Truck
Fargo W300 Power Wagon
Without a doubt, the Fargo W300 Power Wagon is an awesome vehicle. It is a good thing that someone made an effort to restore the one in this photo. The trucks got rebadged to Dodge after a certain period of time. In the late ‘20s, Chrysler Corporation bought them. The truck hailed from Canada. Over there, the Fargo name remained in use all the way up to 1972.
Fargo W300 Power Wagon
Jeep FC-150
Willy’s Motors initially made the Jeep FC 150. However, the company eventually changed the name to Kaiser-Jeep. This name stuck around from 1956 to 1965. The vehicle came with a cab over cap design. At first, it had the Jeep CJ-5 chassis with a new body design. It is not hard to see why collectors love it a lot.
Jeep FC-150
1948 White WA122 COE Streamliner
Do we really need to say more than the fact that this sweet ride is electric? This alone is enough reason to put the 1948 White WA122 COE Streamliner on the list. At the moment, this bad boy is located at a brewery in London, Ontario. If anything, it certainly knows how to make a memorable entrance.
1948 White WA122 COE Streamliner
International Scout II
The International Scout II had been one of the most well-known 4WD vehicles of the ‘70s. They were in production from April 1971 to 1980. In less than a decade, the company made more than half a million units. The truth was that its design was frozen earlier on, so it was delayed a couple of years.
International Scout II
Ford F-150, But Different
This is a photo of the Ford F-150 from the ‘90s. This model is as classic as it can get! It had not only the body of a workhorse but also the engine to go with it. What will happen if you flip it? We would rather not know. Let us just hope that no one got into an accident after staring at it for a second too long.
Ford F 150, But Different
Ultra-Long Bed Pickup Truck
Sorry, but we honestly do not have a lot of information about this vehicle. We would love to hear from you if you know anything about it. This very long bed pickup truck is definitely one of the strangest entries on the slideshow. After all, this is the first time we have seen a truck that long!
Ultra-Long Bed Pickup Truck
Jeep Honcho
The truck below is the Jeep Honcho. This was actually a trim package that was offered on the J10 pickup truck in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. They were made available exclusively on the stepside and short bed trucks. The company only made 1,264 units! It is neat to see that this one is in such great shape.
Jeep Honcho
1956 Powell Sport Wagon
Are you a fan of mid-century trucks? If this is the case, we bet that you are already familiar with the Powell Manufacturing Company. This is the 1956 Sport Wagon that had a 1941 Plymouth chassis, an oak front bumper, a storage box on the back, and a fiberglass nose piece. It might be rare, but you might find one at a decent price if luck is on your side. In 2014, this was sold on Craigslist for below $15,000.
1956 Powell Sport Wagon
Dodge D100
The Dodge D100 is part of the Dodge D lineup. It is generally a light truck. The automaker made the model in an effort to upend the status quo among pickup trucks. This was introduced in 1964. We are not going to be surprised if you confused it for the Dude Sport Trim Package. They do look similar.
Dodge D100
Ford Baja Bronco
The Ford Bronco was in production from 1966 to 1996. The package in question came out in 1971. It was then marketed through dealerships. Quick-ratio power steering, fender flares, roll bars, automatic transmission, and reinforced bumpers were some of the features of the Ford Baja Bronco. If you like this model, you might be interested in the new version that just came out in 2020.
Ford Baja Bronco
1956 Mercury 600 Tow Truck
The truck may have both Ford and Mercury emblems, but it was actually the Mercury 600 Tow Truck of 1956. What makes such a special thing? These trucks were, for one thing, sold only in Canada. This makes it, as you can imagine, very rare! On top of that, we’re just huge fans of the way it looks.
1956 Mercury 600 Tow Truck
International C120 Utility Fire Truck
We are so grateful that there are truck fans who do not get tired of restoring old units. This is a photo of an International C120 Utility Fire Truck. Based on the look of things, it is either the model from 1961 or 1962. It was AWD and had a Travelette cab. The photo came from the Southampton LIRR Station.
International C120 Utility Fire Truck
Dodge Power Wagon
The automaker kept the Power Wagon in production for quite some time. In fact, Dodge made it from 1945 to 1981! In 2005, the 4WD truck made a comeback. This means that you can still buy a copy of this if you want. It has, however, been rebranded. With the reboot, it is now known as the Dodge Room.
Dodge Power Wagon
International KB Series
You are looking at the successor of the cars from the K lineup. You can identify the International KB series with the “wings” courtesy of the widened lower grille. The restored KB in this photo was pretty unique since it came with Toyota 4×4 components, as well as bed liner paint in the IHC chassis.
International KB Series
Dodge Ram Rod Hall Signature Edition
In 1990, Dodge only made 33 copies of the Ram Rod Hall Signature Edition. This makes it a very rare vehicle. The package came with sweet cosmetic enhancements like the branded brush guard and light fog lights. That was pretty much it, however. This aside, it was just another standard-issue truck.
Dodge Ram Rod Hall Signature Edition
Classic Ford Transport Vehicle
Is this a bus or a semi-truck? To be honest, it is hard to say. In reality, it is both things at the same time. The unique vehicle was once used at the Zurich airport to bring passengers from terminal to terminal. This is on display at the Swiss Transportation Museum in Luzern. It must be a blast to hop on one of these.
Classic Ford Transport Vehicle
Ken Thomas Ltd Volvo F7
Do you like classic trucks? If so, we are sure that you are already familiar with the Ken Thomas Ltd Volvo F7. After all, it is super popular. The photo was shot at the Gaydon Classic Truck Show, which took place in the United Kingdom. It was a limited edition model, so not very many people got to drive this.
Ken Thomas Ltd Volvo F7
Plymouth PY-50 Pickup
The Plymouth PY-50 Pickup is not as rare as other cars on this list. Even so, you will find it hard to look for a copy that retained its original drivetrain. The one in this photo was a part of a car show in Baltimore, Maryland. We love the way that the black and red accents look on it. Isn’t it a beauty?
Plymouth PY-50 Pickup
Jeep CJ 8 Scrambler
In 1981, this company introduced the CJ-8. Some people know it better as the Scrambler. It is pretty much just another version of the Jeep CJ-7. However, the main difference between these models is the fact that the CJ-8 had a longer wheelbase. The Scrambler was in production from 1981 to 1986.
Jeep CJ 8 Scrambler
Bedford S
In the ‘50s, the Bedford S series was introduced. After its launch, it became known as the Big Bedfords. They had a weight of seven tons, so it made perfect sense. They were once used as emergency fire trucks in Great Britain, but this is no longer the case. In Africa, they are still in use in certain countries.
Bedford S
Jeep Wrangler Renegade
A lot of people know the Jeep Wrangler as a compact mid-sized off-road vehicle. In 1986, it was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. The automaker had the “Renegade Décor Group” for sale from 1990 to 1994. These cars had a small sticker on the driver’s door. They came in red, black, and white.
Jeep Wrangler Renegade
1939 Plymouth Pickup
Fans of classic trucks love the 1939 Plymouth Pickup. It is truly a timeless beauty, so we can see why. We are sure that you will also love it once you see its wood frame bed and its classic Plymouth grill. Props to the person who brought this back to its former glory! This one was at the Antique Autos in History Park.
1939 Plymouth Pickup
Jeep FC150
It is awesome to hear that the 1961 Jeep FC150 is cool, rare, and affordable at once! Do you want to know what its name means? Apparently, FC stands for Forward Control. Later called Kaiser Jeep, Willys Motors produced these bad boys. If you ask us, we really like how ruggedly handsome this model looks.
Jeep FC150
Mack FR-700
The Mack F series began production in 1962. It did not stop until the early ‘80s. The model was part of the third generation of cabover trucks from the automaker. This is a photo of an FR-700 truck that was likely on display at the Riverina Truck Show. There is a chance that it was from 1980, but we could be wrong.
Mack FR-700
GMC Syclone
Many people think that the GMC Syclone is nothing more than a high-powered version of the GMC Sonoma. They were actually made as companion models, so this makes sense. Its production started and ended in 1991. GMC only made 2,998 of these cars. It used to be the fastest stock pickup truck!
GMC Syclone
1942 FWD Co. Snow Plow
Do you want an antique snow plow that you can call your own? If so, the 1942 FWD Co. Snow Plow might do the trick. It comes with three-tier line rotary blades. For nearly five decades, it helped keep the streets of Minnesota county clear. In 2013, however, the government decided to auction it off.
1942 FWD Co. Snow Plow
F-100
Ford unveiled the F-100 in 1953. When compared to earlier models in the F series, it had a better engine, a larger size, and an improved chassis. There is no need to be surprised by its beauty. After all, every single car in the lineup was a stunner! We really like how eye-catching the blue paint is.
F-100
Ford Econoline
In the fall of 1960, Ford introduced the Econoline. It was quite unlike the other models in the lineup. It came with a lightweight design, a 6-cylinder engine, and a unibody construction type. The engine is lodged between and beneath the mini cab. It was often used as a utility truck since it was pretty affordable.
Ford Econoline
Ford Skyranger
Check out the Ford SkyRanger Convertible. This model is very special since it was not a factory offering from the automaker. That makes it is one of the rarest entries on the list, which is saying a lot! Underneath the hood, you are going to find a manual transmission and a V6 engine in this bad boy.
Ford Skyranger
Lamborghini LM002
The LM002 was in production from 1986 to 1993. The off-road sports utility vehicle from the Italian company was super rare. After all, Lamborghini only produced 328 copies. They were originally made for the military, but things fell through. The prototypes did not get a good reception. At any rate, it was part of the Militaria series by the automaker.
Lamborghini LM002
World War One Army Truck
Any truck lover would love to be the proud owner of an army truck from the First World War. We will let you drool over this photo in the meantime. This vehicle has been through a lot of restoration processes. If you ask us, it is really impressive. On top of that, this vintage truck has seen a lot of things in the past.
World War One Army Truck
GMC Sierra Classic Gentleman Jim
What a stunning vehicle! We won’t believe you if you tell us that you don’t like the GMC Sierra Classic. It can also be called the Gentleman Jim. Its gold and black palette is drop-dead gorgeous. Do not worry, the interior is just as gorgeous. The woodgrain interior adds a more extravagant touch, and we love it.
GMC Sierra Classic Gentleman Jim
Commer Q4
This is the Commer Q4. It was a part of the military vehicles by the British automaker. It was made for use during the Second World War, although the military kept using some of these well into the ‘80s. Aside from that, the company designed and built diesel engines for heavy duty vehicles as well.
Commer Q4
International R190 Mover
Thanks to the International R190 Mover, the brand made a name for itself. The heavy-duty trucks were solid choices in the ‘50s. The R series made for excellent trucks if you needed to haul heavy stuff. This model was a success. We are glad to report that this blue R190 has been restored to great success.
International R190 Mover
Mercedes L319
There was a time when the Mercedes L319 truck was a lightweight commercial vehicle. This was back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There were many body styles on offer from the automaker. They had everything from vans to trucks! While the vans are still pretty common, it is hard to find the pickup style at the moment.
Mercedes L319
Jeep Gladiator
The world got to know the Jeep Gladiator in 1962. It shared the frontend architecture style of the Jeep Wagoner. It stayed in production for more than 25 years. During that span of time, there were no major mechanical changes. The one in the photo had a camper shell, but there were three other variants.
Jeep Gladiator
Austin 1800 Utility
This one is so small! We can’t possibly blame you if you are not convinced that it is truly a truck. The Austin 1800 Utility was designed and constructed in Australia. You might not have heard of it unless you are Aussie. Called the “Ute,” this was designed to be both useable and comfortable at the same time.
Austin 1800 Utility
Studebaker Champ
The Studebaker Champ was in production from 1960 until 1964. During that time, the automaker was going through a bad time. It hoped that lightweight pickups would improve the state of things. They made the Champ with existing components, but it was a success. Sadly, minimal changes brought the sales down, so the company was bought out in the end. Fun fact: the Champ was the first vehicle with sliding back windows.
Studebaker Champ
Chevrolet C/10 Cheyenne
They were only sold from 1967 to ’72, but the “Action Line” pickups from Chevy rank as one of the company’s best-looking trucks ever built. The ’71-’72 Cheyenne, which introduced more car-like features to the still spartan full-size truck range, was the range-topper. The Cheyenne also had special trim on top of the front disc brakes and a standard radio (both new for ’71), a more luxurious interior, and a carpeted, insulated cab. It is worth saving any Action Line truck, but the Cheyenne is still the one to have.
Chevrolet C/10 Cheyenne
1978-1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express
The Express was based on the lightest Dodge truck built, with a factory-modified 360 cubic inch V8 with a combination of Police Package and MOPAR performance parts of the ’60s era, a beefier rear axle, and unforgettable chromed exhaust stacks. Trust it or not, in the late ’70s, the 225-horsepower truck was the fastest American-made vehicle from zero to 100. Its design may not be for everyone, but the Li’l Red Express is an undeniably significant component of the history of American performance.
1978-1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express
1960-1984 Toyota FJ40 Truck
To call the FJ40 Land Cruiser an icon is an understatement. Built largely unchanged from 1960 to 1984 (and then until 2001 in Brazil), the FJ40 ranks as one of the world’s most rugged, go-anywhere 4x4s with the Jeep CJ and Land Rover. The pickup variant is rarer than the open-top or enclosed, and its counterparts can do everything they can, plus carry a small payload. Rust is just about the only thing that can kill a Land Cruiser pickup, as is the case with most vintage Japanese cars.
1960-1984 Toyota FJ40 Truck
1979-1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup
In the ’70s, thousands of compact trucks a year were still being scooped up by Americans, and Volkswagen wanted in on the action. The outcome was the strange Rabbit Pickup, largely based on Golf mechanicals, a compact, American-built unibody truck. After 1984, the Rabbit Pickup was discontinued in the U.S., but its compact size and reliability kept it in production until 1992 in Europe. By swapping out the initial 1.5-liter diesel or 1.7-liter gas engines for power plants, transmissions, suspensions, and trim from a Mk, modern customizers have done great things.
1979-1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup
Chevrolet Cameo
In the 1950s, thinking of a pickup as anything more than a bare-bones workhorse was a radical idea. But in 1955, Chevy introduced the Cameo Carrier, a beautifully styled, fast, comfortable pickup designed not just for work, but to be driven and enjoyed. It was distinguished from any truck on the market by things such as full-hubcaps, chrome trim, carpeting and a radio, a slab-sided bed, and powerful engine options. But the Cameo was doomed by a high price and increasing competition despite strong initial sales, and it was gone after 1958.
Chevrolet Cameo
1964-1966 Dodge Custom Sport Special
The Dodge Custom Sport Special, a comparatively rare package offered by Dodge, was the answer. Outside, you have steel wheels and stripes for racing. Inside, you’ve got a Dart bench seat, a Polara center console, and a thick pile of carpeting. You could also opt for the High Performance Special with the CSS, adding the 426 cubic inch V8 365-horsepower, TorqueFlite 727 automatic transmission, and torque rods. The Custom Sport Special, a special and criminally underrated truck, is one of the most interesting performance vehicles ever to come from Dodge.
1964-1966 Dodge Custom Sport Special
1976-1977 Chevy Blazer Chalet
We selected the rare Chalet instead of picking a pedestrian version. In the mid-to-late 1970s, two red-hot trends were off-roading and camping. But you needed a motorhome and a 4X4 for towing behind it to do both. Not so if you ordered a chalet for the Chevy Blazer. The Chalet was a Chinook pop-up camper body that slid into a 4WD Blazer’s cargo hold and provided sleeping accommodation for two. For just under $10,000, the Chalet retailed, and less than 2000 were ever made.
1976-1977 Chevy Blazer Chalet
2008-2010 Hummer H3 Alpha
After nearly a decade marketing gargantuan SUVs, Hummer finally launched a smaller vehicle for the 2005 model year. The H3 was based on the Chevy Colorado’s bones, and so it had the pokey inline 5-cylinder engine of that vehicle. In 2008, when the company slid its powerful 300-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 into the compact H3, the power shortcoming was fixed. Finally, this design had the muscle to match its brawny appearance. The H3 Alpha was able to reach 60 mph in 2 to 3 seconds faster than the five-cylinder models.
2008-2010 Hummer H3 Alpha
1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
Although fans of GM and Ford would argue that the first “downsized” compact SUVs were the 1983 S-10 Blazer and Bronco II, it was the Jeep Cherokee XJ that really set the stage for what would become modern SUVs and crossovers. Conventional body-on-frame construction was not used by the Cherokee. Instead, XJs were a unibody that, like passenger cars, combined the body and frame. And perhaps most important, with two or four doors, the Cherokee was available. Up until 1991, the Chevy and Ford wouldn’t get proper four-door versions.
1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
2003-2006 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Rubicon
The TJ was smaller than the Wrangler of today and used the inline six-cylinder engine of Jeep’s torquey 4.0-liter, so it could crawl hard, narrow trails with virtually no modifications. The Rubicon package included beefy front and rear Dana 44 axles, with electronic locking differentials, an ultra-low gear in its transfer case, and aggressive 31-inch Goodyear mud tires to transform the TJ into an even more talented dirt machine.
2003-2006 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Rubicon
1961-1975 International Harvester Travelall
The SUV may have been invented by the Chevrolet Suburban, but it was International that had put the correct number of doors on it. It was easy to climb into the third row of Travelall, with four real doors. And in 1961, with curves making it a classic, the Travelall received stylish new bodywork. The four-inch wheelbase stretch over the 1950s Travelall meant that this one could really haul, whether it was people or stuff.
1961-1975 International Harvester Travelall
1999-2007 Ford Super Duty
The 1999 Ford Super Duty revolutionized the market for heavy duty trucks. Manufacturers used largely upgraded versions of their light-duty trucks to handle heavy-duty work before this large, bad pickup arrived. With its own style and hardware underneath, the 1999 Super Duty was a separate model line. That way, for milder tasks, the light duty Ford F-150 could be engineered while the Super Duty could handle the work crowd as well as the hardcore leisure towers.
1999-2007 Ford Super Duty
2010-2014 Ford SVT Raptor
Back in the 1990s, Ford had been toying with the idea of a raging off-road F-150. Even so, when we got our first glimpse in 2009, the transformation that Ford’s SVT team achieved with the Raptor was shocking. It promised to smooth out the worst desert terrain for high-speed, fly over jumps, and handle four-wheeling slow-speed better than just about any production truck.
2010-2014 Ford SVT Raptor
1935-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
The impact of the Chevrolet Suburban can be felt in every corner of the 4WD world. America’s first SUV was the Suburban (originally named Suburban Carryall). In 1957, four-wheel drive came along and would transform how in inclement weather America got around. Until the boxy 1973 model arrived, the Suburban did not get four true passenger doors, but that square-fendered Suburban would remain on the market until 1991.
1935-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
1979-1985 Toyota Hilux pickup
Datsun may have gotten the first toehold in the United States back in the late 1950s among Japanese truck manufacturers, but in the decades after, it was Toyota that began to dominate the market. Toyota was the first manufacturer to offer 4WD with the 1979 Hilux in a compact truck, and gave this pickup an almost bulletproof drivetrain. These trucks sat tall on their suspensions, providing off-roading with serious ground clearance. More significantly, these rigs had enormous reliability and were quickly adopted as the small pickup of choice.
1979-1985 Toyota Hilux pickup
1984-1985 Toyota 4Runner
These 4Runners were some of the most robust and capable 4WD compact cars ever offered in the United States. The 4WD Toyota pickups of the day were based on them and were seriously over-engineered for durability. Jeep-matching off-road capacity was provided by the solid axle and leaf spring suspension at each end of the 4Runner. And the 22RE four-cylinder, fuel-injected engines are almost indestructible. The early 4Runners were much closer to pickup trucks with caps on the back than they were to integrated SUVs.
1984-1985 Toyota 4Runner
1972-1979 Datsun 620
Datsun, as noted, pioneered the U.S. compact truck market, rolling its first one onto American streets in 1959. It had years of compact truck expertise and a strong reputation by the time the firm launched the 4th generation 620 in 1972. Not only did the 620 look great with those winglets along the sides of the bed, but with a number of innovations, this compact truck also broke through.
1972-1979 Datsun 620
1993-1995 Ford Lightning
Ford introduced the Lightning, a high-performance pickup tuned by the Special Vehicles Team of the company, as a direct response to Chevy’s hot 454 SS (SVT). The SVT team modified Ford’s 5.8-liter small block V-8 inside and out with high-performance components to provide 240 hp and a solid 340 lb-ft of torque instead of dropping into the truck in a larger and heavier engine. The suspension was reduced by 2.5 inches, and the Lightning handled better than its Chevy rival, thanks to new shocks, springs, anti-roll bars, and huge 17-inch tires.
1993-1995 Ford Lightning
1989-1993 W-250/350 Dodge Power Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel
By the 1980s, heavy-duty pickup trucks with diesel engines were already made by Chevy and Ford. So the heavy-duty Dodge Ram trucks with Cummins turbodiesels were late for the game. However, Dodge got an engine known for its durability and longevity by installing essentially the same six-cylinder Cummins diesel that came in big commercial trucks (at that time, the Cummins brand was perhaps even stronger than that of the Dodge Ram). And that’s what finally helped Dodge succeed in the market for heavy-duty pickups.
1989-1993 W-250/350 Dodge Power Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel
1979-2014 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen
We do not know if there is a vehicle that has been in continuous production for longer than the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. The Geländewagen was developed as a military vehicle, like many great trucks. But it has been a hard-working and robust SUV since 1979. They have the reputation as street machines as rugged as G-Wagens are, because Mercedes-Benz has its in-house hot-rodding arm, AMG, turning these SUVs into road rockets. Today’s G63 AMG packs 536 hp and in just 5.3 seconds it will run to 60 mph. Before you add any options, it also costs $135,700.
1979-2014 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen