For over a century, pickup trucks have remained a favorite among American auto enthusiasts, and for good reason. Their attractive appearance, versatility, toughness, and durability have solidified their popularity. If you want a dependable and efficient companion, check out a comprehensive review of affordable and stylish pickup trucks.
Most truck enthusiasts favor Ford, Chevrolet, or RAM brands – the leaders in the industry. Below, I will tell you about some pickups that, unfortunately, remain only in history. So, let’s look back over the last 50 years.
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Ford Courier 1972-1983
The Ford company began working with Mazda in the late ’60s. As a result, in 1971 the Ford Courier, a mild restyling of the Mazda B1500 pickup truck, was born. The company designed this model to rival the increasing popularity of mini-trucks. The Courier was known for its compact size, which allowed it to be used for city driving and light-duty work. It had a tight turning radius, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces easy. In 1983, Ford replaced the Courier with a larger model, the Ranger.
Thus, the forgotten Courier can be considered as the legendary Ranger’s ancestor.
Chevrolet LUV 1972-1982
While Ford was busy partnering with Mazda, General Motors bought a significant stake in the Isuzu company, and, in 1972, launched the Chevrolet Light Utility Vehicle (LUV). The LUV’s production was mainly in Japan, adhering to strict standards. This model was one of the first Japanese cars sold in the US under the American brand name. It helped establish a reputation for reliability and fuel efficiency in the American market for Japanese automakers.
Chevy LUV was known for its fuel efficiency. Powered by a small displacement four-cylinder engine, it got better mileage than many other trucks of the era, which was especially attractive during the oil crisis of the 1970s. General Motors produced the same model in specific markets as the Isuzu KB model.
Eventually, the Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck replaced the Chevrolet LUV.
Dodge Rampage 1982-1984
In the era of the advancing trend for small pickup trucks, Lee Iacocca and his company have created one of the strangest models – the Dodge Rampage/Plymouth Scamp. It was a small, sporty pickup truck in an all-metal body built on the Omni platform. Despite its small size, the Rampage had a surprisingly large cargo space and a payload capacity of up to 1,145 pounds (520 kg). This made it popular among city dwellers and small business owners who needed a practical and efficient vehicle. It came in two trim levels: the base “Rampage” and the sportier “Rampage 2.2”. The latter featured a more powerful engine and sportier equipment.
However, the pickup market began to shrink significantly, and people were interested in this car just out of curiosity. Soon, the model disappeared.
Jeep Comanche 1986-1992
It was a pretty cool pickup truck, based on the Jeep Cherokee, and was supposed to be very successful. With an innovative all-metal design, the Comanche was affordable and stylish. This truck could easily leave its competitors far behind.
But Jeep didn’t have enough money for marketing promotion and PR when the model was put into showrooms. As a result, the Jeep Comanche was purchased by Chrysler in 1988 just for one reason – killing off the Dodge Dakota’s rival. Then, the Jeep Comanche production ceased in 1992.
On the other hand, the original Jeep Cherokee, which inspired the Comanche’s creation, is still a trendy choice. Since I was looking for this SUV, but never had one to know exactly what to consider before purchase, I went to the experts and found the perfect option here.
GMC Caballero 1978-1987
The GMC Caballero was the GMC-branded counterpart to the Chevrolet El Camino. Both vehicles had the same design concept: a passenger front end with a pickup truck in the rear. Like the El Camino, the Caballero was offered various engine options, from fuel-efficient inline sixes to powerful V8s, allowing buyers to choose the power level that suited their needs.
After a slight increase in popularity, the model also disappeared.
Subaru Baja 2002-2006
The early 2000s was the era of the mass transformation of SUVs into pickup trucks. The most prominent examples were the Ford Explorer Sportrac, Cadillac Escalade EXT, and Hummer H2 SUT. But among others, this trend swept the Subaru as well. As a result, the company launched the Baja, a plastic-clad version of the Outback.
In 2004, the Baja Turbo came to the world with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine that significantly increased power and performance. This option made it more attractive for those seeking a sporty driving experience.
The Baja model had a unique seating layout consisting of four separate seats in the cabin. You could fold the back seats to create more space inside for sleeping or to carry huge items.
Unfortunately, the Baja’s production was discontinued in 2006 after selling just 30,000 units.
