25 Influential Pickups Drivers Will Never Forget

24. Willys Jeep Pickup Truck

Willys was an economy car manufacturer before World War II. They produced Jeeps for the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946. When the war ended, Willys found it hard to transfer to passenger car production. They had a surplus of Jeep engines, chassis, and components.

So they made the logical decision to produce Jeeps for civilian use, mainly as farm and utility vehicles. Willys thought that ex-military personnel would buy Jeeps as everyday cars after they got to know them on the battlefield. It turned out that Willys was right, and civilian Jeeps did, in fact, have a market in post-war America.

But the company wanted to go further, so they introduced a line of pickup trucks using Jeep mechanics, engines, and the design, but with a twist. That’s how the Willys Jeep Pickup Truck came to be in 1947.

The Willys Jeep pickup truck had four-wheel drive and was much more capable than any regular pickup truck available at the time. Today, four-wheel-drive trucks are nothing special. Most new models come with a 4×4 drivetrain as standard. But back then, it was revolutionary.

Although those early Willys Jeep trucks had smaller, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines only producing 63 HP, they were tough. They came with a lot of pulling power and durability. Willys also produced a couple of variations. Over the years Willys introduced some bigger six-cylinder engines. Sadly, they ceased production of their original model in 1965.

23. Datsun 120/220

You may wonder why a Japanese brand is on an almost purely American list of significant pickups. This is because the Japanese had their share of innovations in truck design and construction. The first Japanese compact truck was the Datsun 120 introduced in 1955.

Immediately after the war, Japan needed light delivery vehicles. Most car companies started producing three-wheeled Kei cars and vehicles based on motorcycle technology. Those pickups were small, light and nimble, but they weren’t real trucks. So, in 1955, Datsun produced the 120, the first real compact truck.

Under the hood was a diminutive 860-cc engine delivering just 25 HP. The payload and towing capacity were not great, but by Japanese standards in the 1950s, the Datsun 120 Pickup did the job. For that reason, it was the first true compact pickup truck. After the 120 series, Datsun continued to produce small trucks. Today the compact truck market is huge, especially in Asia, Africa, and Europe, all thanks to this little pickup.

22. Chevrolet Cameo

Before the 1955 to ’58 Chevrolet Cameo, pickups had a step-side design in the truck bed. It was a production method that dated to the first trucks from the early 1920s. But as one of the biggest pickup manufacturers in the U.S., Chevrolet introduced the fleetside truck bed for the 1955 model.

The truck bed looked more elegant because it was flush with the lines of the cabin and the whole design of the truck. Second, the fleetside design allowed for the use of the maximum width of the truck bed, making the truck more capable to carry a wider load.

The first model to feature this construction solution was the Chevrolet Cameo, but it wasn’t successful at first. The Cameo was an upscale version of a standard Chevy truck. It featured a V8 engine and updated equipment, and some earlier versions even featured a fiberglass fleetside bed instead of steel. They discontinued the Cameo as a model in 1958, but the fleetside style continues to this day.

21. International Harvester Travelette

For those who don’t know, a crew cab configuration means a truck has four doors and a truck bed. It’s a common option today. But back in the day, they only made trucks in a single cab configuration with two doors.

Back then, it was unimaginable for a truck to have more than two doors or carry more than two to three people inside. Then, in the early 1960s, International Harvester presented the Travelette version of their C-Series truck. It changed the industry as the first-ever crew cab pickup truck.

International Harvester is the famous producer of agricultural machinery and big trucks, but during those days it was active in the pickup truck market. Their products were always heavy duty and for professional use. The idea behind the Travelette was simple. Allow a group of up to six workers to travel together with their tools or machines.

At the same time, International produced an SUV version called the Travellall with a closed roof. Somebody in the company came to the idea of bolting half of a Travellall SUV to a truck bed and creating a crew cab. As with all successful ideas on the pickup truck market, all major companies soon adopted the idea.

20. Ford Ranchero

By the late 1950s, pickup trucks were an established car class with numerous models from several major manufacturers. All trucks were mechanically similar, featuring straight-six engines and newly-introduced V8s. They had a ladder-type chassis and a live axle in the back.

However, Ford, always at the forefront of the market, realized there was a market niche for smaller, more car-like trucks. They recognized some needed a usable vehicle, but not one that could carry a heavy load or have the ruggedness of a regular truck.

The solution was simple. They decided to turn a full-size passenger car into a small pickup truck by chopping the body and adding a truck bed. As a result, they introduced the Ford Ranchero in 1957. It was a hit and featured the same Ford passenger car styling and appointments along with a payload similar to full-size F-Series trucks.

With the Ranchero, customers could enjoy the drivability of a regular sedan with the usability of a proper pickup. It was something the market had never seen before. Ford fanatics could get a big V8 engine, a two-color exterior, an updated radio, and even seat belts. They produced the Ranchero until 1979 in seven model generations.

19. Chevrolet C/K Pickup

Back in the day, basic pickup construction was extremely simple. It included a ladder chassis, live axles on both ends and rear-wheel drive. However, with the introduction of the Willys Jeep Pickup, the truck market got its first four-wheel-drive model. After that, four-wheel-drive was something all the car manufacturers later accepted.

The truck manufacturers of the ’50s only concentrated on trucks that could haul heavy, large items. But in 1960, Chevrolet introduced an all-new model they called the C/K. They produced it in various trim lines. The “C” in “C/K” meant it had rear-wheel drive, and the “K” stood for four-wheel drive.

These trucks proved to be a sales hit, but they had one interesting aspect first. The 1960 Chevrolet C/K had an independent front suspension, which replaced the old and rugged live front axle. The “C” models with rear-wheel drive got the independent front, but “K” models with 4×4 retained the live axle.

Today, all trucks have this type of suspension, but in 1960, Chevrolet was the first. The advantages of this were numerous. First, the truck handled like a passenger car and was much more pleasurable to drive, the steering was easy and precise, and driving a truck on rough terrain was not a punishment but an enjoyable experience.

18. Jeep Gladiator

A direct descendant of the Willys Pickup, Jeep introduced the Gladiator in 1963 with new styling and great new features. The most important feature was the independent front suspension, which was the same as on the Chevrolet C/K. Jeep wasn’t the first to offer it, but it was the first four-wheel truck that featured this kind of front suspension.

They presented the first truck ever with an independent front suspension and a 4×4 drivetrain, which was quite an achievement. The Jeep Gladiator immediately became the best off-road truck on the market. Even the U.S. Army used a special version for various duties. With a powerful six-cylinder or V8 engine, the Gladiator was one of the most versatile and popular trucks of the era.

17. Dodge Lil’ Express Truck

The muscle car era affected the truck segment, which resulted in a few more powerful engines. However, nothing changed the truck industry more than when Dodge introduced the Lil’ Express Truck in 1978 as the first full-size muscle truck. The secret of the Lil’ Express Truck and its importance lies in the strict rules of the late 1970s, which robbed V8 engines of their power and vehicles of their performance.

But, Dodge found an interesting loophole in current regulations that declared pickup trucks didn’t need catalytic converters. This meant Dodge could install a more powerful engine and allow it to breathe easier and deliver more punch than previous models or competitors.

Dodge took a standard D Series short bed truck, added a 360 V8 engine, and put big truck-like stacked exhaust pipes right behind the doors. They also installed a more durable automatic transmission. It was attractive due to a red color scheme, signature decals and details, and lots of chrome trim. Also, this wild-looking special model had a 225 HP engine, which was considered powerful in those days.

It was the fastest-accelerating domestic vehicle in 1978. This means that the little Dodge pickup truck was faster than muscle cars like the Mustang, Camaro, and Corvette. The Lil’ Express Truck was back for 1979. It remained famous, but overall production numbers were relatively low at just under 3,000. Today, these cool-looking Dodge trucks are highly sought-after and rare, commanding high prices.

16. Toyota Hilux

Toyota’s main pickup the Hilux is one of the best-selling compact trucks in the world. They sell it all over the globe, and it is a versatile, tough and durable vehicle capable of conducting all kinds of tasks. Toyota even modified it as an armored car for paramilitaries in crisis areas.

First emerging in 1968, the Hilux was not much different than other Japanese compact trucks that were small and efficient as well as affordable. Over the years, Toyota perfected this model. In 1979, they introduced an all-wheel-drive version, making it the first compact truck with this feature.

With the introduction of the 4×4 drivetrain in a compact truck, this class of pickups was no longer just a small, affordable truck, but a capable machine. Unfortunately, the 1979 Hilux 4×4 didn’t come with a powerful engine, which affected the performance. However, in later years Toyota offered more powerful units.

15. Ford Raptor

Since modern trucks come with more powerful engines, 4×4 drivetrains, and tougher suspensions, it was only a matter of time before someone sold a proper off-road performance truck. Ford answered the call for one in 2010 with the first-generation F-150 Raptor. Now there is a new and even better Raptor with amazing performance.

The latest Ford Raptor includes a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 with 450 HP and 510 lb-ft. It also has a 10-speed automatic transmission with sub-five-second acceleration times. Although that suggests it’s an exotic supercar, it’s a full-size pickup truck with room for five people and a regular truck bed.

The Ford Raptor is the closest thing to a full Baja 1000 racing vehicle that drivers can buy today. The truck-buying public didn’t expect such a move, but they were fascinated by the truck’s looks, performance, and capabilities. The idea behind the Raptor was to construct the fastest off-road truck money could buy.

Ford did just that through installing numerous chassis and suspension upgrades as well as a powerful engine. The best thing about the Raptor is that Ford prepared an extreme off-road truck with a warranty for customers. With multiple driving modes, a 10-speed automatic gearbox and an adaptive suspension, you can take this truck rock crawling, desert crossing or mud dipping. Ford did a great job of combining the toughness of an extreme off-road truck with the usability of a regular modern pickup.

14. Dodge Dakota

Years ago, there was also a mid-size class of trucks led by the Dodge Dakota. As one of the industry leaders, Dodge noticed that some buyers of full-size trucks didn’t need all that power and space.

They also observed how buyers of compact size trucks often wanted more power and usability. Their solution was to produce a smaller pickup than a full-size Dodge Ram. It also featured optional all-wheel drive and had a respectable towing capacity and larger payload.

Dodge decided to price it between their big and small models so it could appeal to a wider audience. Dodge was right. After they introduced the Dakota, sales went up significantly. It was the first mid-size truck on the market. It was affordable, usable and had better fuel economy than bigger models.

Even though the Dakota wasn’t the only model on the market, it was the most successful. Unfortunately, Dodge retired it in 2011 and has offered no replacement for it yet.

13. Chevrolet 490 Series Half-Ton Pickup

Chevrolet introduced the Half-Ton Pickup in 1918 based on the new 490 Sedan. In fact, the Half-Ton was the first special-design pickup in the world. This means that Chevrolet intended to present this model as a light-duty delivery vehicle rather than just as a chopped-off sedan.

The power came from a four-cylinder engine which was standard. Interestingly, this pioneering truck came from the factory without the body. Customers could buy their own cabin and truck bed according to their needs. Chevrolet sold a running chassis with the engine, transmission, wheels, hood, and fenders, and the buyers ordered the rest.

In those days, there were many local body shops that provided services that produced open or closed trucks per the customer’s specifications. Some trucks even had a few bodies that drivers could switch for different applications.

12. Studebaker L5 Coupe Pickup

Just a small percentage of today’s car enthusiasts remember Studebaker since they discontinued the company in 1966. However, Studebaker was active on the pickup market with some of the most beautiful and classic trucks ever. They based the L5 Coupe Pickup on their passenger lineup.

The 1938 L5 Coupe was an elegant and quality-built pickup truck despite the name. It featured spare wheels on the fenders and luxury equipment. Although it wasn’t a big sales success, it was influential since it showed that trucks weren’t just workhorses.

11. Dodge D-Series Dude

The Dude was a regular D-Series truck but with a few important features. It had bucket seats, a tachometer, an improved interior, and lively colors. The best thing was its 383 V8 engine that came with over 300 HP, providing a significant performance. However, the feature the Dude is most famous for is its big black “C” stripe on the sides.

It was reminiscent of Dodge’s muscle cars of the period. The Dude is also interesting for being the first special-edition truck older guys welcomed, as well as younger people who were into muscle cars.

10. Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a legendary truck. It wasn’t the first of Ford’s limited-edition trucks but it was the best. Ford made the first generation they sold from 1990 to 1995 a true automotive icon. The basic idea was to make a muscle truck using a regular F-150. Ford put a lot of effort into designing and producing the first generation F-150 Lightning.

First, there was the engine, a 5.8-liter V8 unit with GT40 heads and a special camshaft. The power output was 240 HP with 340 lb-ft of torque. But, the Lightning had a revised suspension and transmission that translated to awe-inspiring acceleration times.

9. Chevrolet C30 Dually

Chevrolet presented the C30 Dually in 1973 as a part of their major offensive on the global truck market. In fact, the C30 One-Ton Dually was the first crew cab Dually Chevrolet ever offered for sale and the first heavy-duty truck ever.

Back then, nobody offered a Dually model with space for six passengers, heavy-duty components, and a long bed. However, in 1973, Chevrolet offered those exact models Also, they offered this truck with Chevrolet’s biggest 454 V8 and a four-speed transmission. The automatic was also available.

8. 2015 to Present Ford F150

You may be wondering why the latest generation of Ford`s legendary F-150 truck is on this list, but the answer is simple. The current F-150 is one of the most revolutionary trucks ever produced because it was built fully out of aluminum. The use of aluminum was a big step in pickup technology.

It required a whole new design and production process. However, Ford invested an enormous sum of money and the results are amazing. Not only is the new F-150 better looking, but it’s also stronger and more durable. It’s rustproof and lighter, which means it can carry and tow more using less fuel.

7. Dodge Ram Cummins

There were diesel trucks before the ’80s-’90s Ram Cummins, but they weren’t as good as this one. Under the hood was a venerable 5.9-liter straight-six diesel engine with only 160 HP but a healthy 400 lb-ft of torque. However, for the 1991 model year, Dodge updated the truck, giving it more power and options.

As a matter of fact, most diesel truck fans consider this to be the best year in the series. The power and torque figures seem low considering today’s engines, but this is an old truck with old technology. However, old technology doesn’t mean that the ’91 Ram Cummins is not a capable vehicle. With a 4×4 drivetrain, it is an extremely good truck.

6. Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

If Ford has cornered the market in full-size trucks with the amazing new F-150, Chevrolet is leading the pack in mid-size trucks with its new Colorado. But its ZR2 version is the most influential because it’s a perfectly-designed off-road pickup. Better yet, it has the economy of a diesel engine and the usability of a regular truck.

Its diesel engine delivers just 181 HP but 365 lb-ft of torque. And that makes the Colorado ZR2 an astonishingly capable off-road machine with great fuel economy and towing capacity.

5. Chevrolet Task Force

After the successful Advanced Design generation, Chevrolet presented the Task Force in 1955 and continued to improve the product with more options and better design. Capturing the essence of ’50s styling, Chevy Task Force was bigger and better with the introduction of two V8 engines (265 and 283 cid) and automatic transmission as an option.

The venerable 235 CID six-cylinder was standard and buyers could get three truck bed lengths and various trim levels, from the basic working truck to the more luxurious Apache with four headlights and a heavily-chromed grille. The Task Force generation showed that Chevy looked at the truck market as equal in importance to its passenger car lineup, and invested heavily in equipment.

4. Dodge Ram SRT-10

Produced from 2004-2006, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is one of the fastest pickups ever built. That itself is a hard thing to say since Dodge always had pretty wild special versions of their trucks. The 8.2-liter V10 engine with over 500 hp, 0 to 60 times of fewer than 5 seconds and fuel economy in single digits. It also had a crazy bright red or yellow paint job, white racing stripes, and big chrome wheels.

It was something you couldn’t miss if you saw it on the street. Of course, with its price tag of over $45,000, the SRT-10 wasn’t exactly a sales hit.

3.Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

The Chevy El Camino was conceived as a half-car/half-truck vehicle for carrying light loads, and delivery duty for small business owners. ABut, in 1970, Chevrolet introduced the wildest El Camino of all in the form of the El Camino SS 454.

The mighty 454 V8 LS6 was a 7.4-liter Chevrolet big block engine with a 450 hp official rating. The engine delivered around 500 hp in real life. In the El Camino SS, this engine provided significant performance figures which were close to the best regular muscle cars of the day.

2. Dodge Power Wagon

Dodge has a long history in the pickup field and one of the best-known, most influential examples is the legendary Power Wagon. This was a model introduced in the ’40s which combined rugged truck construction with four-wheel drive.

The six-cylinder engine in the Power Wagon wasn’t particularly strong, but the truck was extremely capable, dependable, and loved by the customers who needed a workhorse. It remained in production for almost 20 years and sold internationally.

1. Kaiser Jeep M715

The Kaiser was mainly a military truck, but a few of them were sold to civilian customers. Based on the Jeep Gladiator pickup, the KaiserJeep M715 was introduced in the late ’60s and produced for United States Army.

The engine was a strong six-cylinder with just 130 HP but a lot of torque to move this three-ton truck. The M715 was built to be easily serviceable and extremely durable which was proved in the Vietnam War and several conflicts. Kaiser Jeep produced over 30,000 of them until 1969.