Small pickup nostalgia and why they are gone

Why they are gone is thanks to CAFE and the EPA. Auto manufactures here can make significantly better profits delivering a gigantic vehicle that has average MPG vs trying to develop special powertrains to meet these EPA guidelines on smaller trucks. The weight of the vehicle makes a huge difference in MPG relegations. This is why Toyota got rid of the V8 in the Tundra and V6 in the Tacoma. Prioritizing mileage over reliability.

 

I've been soured on American vehicles since 1977, then for the last time in 1983.
Never again.

They can reintroduce small American made trucks again, and I will turn a blind eye.
I just don't want the grief.

If I wanted a full size truck, I would have looked at the Tundra, but if the V8 is gone.. so is any consideration for a Tundra.

The last thing I want is some itty bitty turbo powered gnat with a high rpm range and low life span.

 

There are plenty of vehicles that comfortably carry 4 people and have a nice interior. In fact I already own one! But that's not what I need from a truck.

 

BOO!!

 

'Bigger' as in fat-asses.... It's not like we averaged another 6" in height over the last 30 years...

 

Had a D50 in high school through college. My dad bought it new to tow the fishing boat and daily commute, and it was given to me with about 90k miles on it.
The frame finally rotted through at about 230k miles. We had the head milled on it with Weber carb later after a head gasket and the original carb gave out.

We towed a 68 Chevy project truck home with and my dad like the color so much, he painted the Chevy the same color.

I miss it!

 

Correct. Obesity!

 

First vehicle was an 88, S10 blazer with a 4.3l. I never thought of it as a "big" engine. Got excellent gas mileage when I drove it conservatively. 22 mpg and the thing was a brick.

 

You've just about described my 2010..except it has AC and power steering, and it did come with a CD player. I got it for 17K in 2012 with almost zip for miles. I'd continue to buy that kind of vehicle definitely.

 

My first car was the single cab 1992 red pickup with the swoosh decal. The 22RE was a legend. It was taken far too soon in 2003 by a Subaru running a red light to T bone me.

 

I had a 72' Datsun 1600 PU and years later a 90' Mazda B2200. Was my 1st NEW car! The Mazda was bullet-proof... The Datsun, not so much, but still a good mini-truck.
LOOOOVED the Mazda... It was back when Mazda made their own trucks and they hadn't turned into (Ugh) re-badged Furd Rangers.
Had to trade it in for a large 'family-sized' full size van.... Damn kids poppin' out of nowhere at the time.... But that Mazda was one of those rigs you really hated having to part with.

 

Got some news for ya.

 

All of my friends had mini-trucks growing up. I had an '81 Toyota 4wd SR5 and later an '88 4runner DLX. I'd rather take either of those wheeling than a new TRD Pro Tacoma or 4runner.

 

Classy

 

when I was 25 years old I purchased a 1982 Toyota PU 4x4. Really loved that truck, since it would go anywhere I needed to go. But 18 Wheelers would pass me going up Raton Pass while I was dragging a small U-haul trailer moving to Denver. I used to call it my kidney buster since the bench seat offered no comfort whatsoever. 4 speed manual with no A/C, plain truck. You could just about dent the side of the bed with your index finger. I don't think I could even ride in one today with my screwed up Back. But I will say those old 22R Engines would run forever.

 

i hadn't heard of that site before, thanks but no thanks for sending me down a rabbit hole of stuff it'd be wiser not to spend money on!

and i know i'm 4 pages deep at this point, but i talked to multiple ford salespeople after the original death of the ranger in 2011. every one of them cited that it basically cost the same as the base f-150 at the time, and the f-150 got similar mileage, with increased payload and interior space. many of them said that upselling to the f-150 was an easy move most times, to the point that it upselling was close to 48 out of every 50 sales. it's a really hard business decision to keep them around when alternative products within the same brand are actively eating into sales that much.

more importantly, i've been looking at kei trucks for the 'high' payload, tiny size, and good mpg, but all the spontaneous laws getting passed to make them unregisterable as on-road vehicles has me particularly gun-shy for something i'll keep for the next 5 years minimum.

 

Thank you! It rusted to the ground like all rust belt S10's did, but in 2019 my buddy Scott and I were happily unemployed for the summer so we rebuilt it.
Scott happens to be an expert bodyman with GM parts supplier connections so yeah, that helped!
The body donor truck was a rust free 2000 Sonoma from Tennessee.

 

The original overlander...

with back row seating...

 

oh, if i could find a brat or a plymouth scamp/rampage that wouldn't rot out over one winter....