[misterp266]

Have you wondered why nobody offers a small pick up truck anymore? They will lie and tell you that there’s no demand. Every year trucks get bigger and bigger even if they have a 5’ useless bed. They are also priced out of reach for a lot of people. No more basic small regular cab pick up with a 6’ bed that the majority of people could afford.
I own a 2011 Colorado regular cab short bed. I no longer need a big truck but I still want a truck. Now it needs to last forever because of the convoluted CAFE rules that all manufacturers need to follow. The basic formula is, wheelbase times track divided by 144 to give you the trucks “footprint”. Plot that against the graph below and you’ll see why small trucks no longer work. My Colorado footprint is 44.4. In 2023 that would be required to get about 41MPG. It gets about 20.
The bigger the footprint, the lower the MPG requirement.
It’s wrong!

[Sirrotica]

Another point that demonstrates that lawmakers don't have a backround to enact all laws. Anything that is operating smoothly will be rendered a mess with gov't oversight. If the gov't had to operate as a business, they would be bankrupt within 6 months.

The great Ronald Regan quote, "I'm from the US gov't, and I'm here to help you"...........LMAO

I've often wondered why all the newer trucks have acres of passenger room, with a bed that is about the same size as a 1960s full size passenger car trunk......... My 71, and 1976 Grand Safari SW could at least hold 4X8 pieces of sheeting with the tailgate closed.

Thanks for making that known.

[Scarebird]

Simply put - it does not cost that much more to build a full size truck vs. something the size of a old Ford Ranger, but the manufacturers can charge quite a bit more.

[b-man]

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

Don’t rule out buying a good used small pickup, otherwise you might be waiting a long time until things change and they start producing small trucks again.

I have a very old ‘66 VW pickup that’s powered by a 50 hp 1600, it’s not very freeway capable by modern standards. Around town it will haul a ton plus no problem (1 ton factory rating) with a bed that’s almost 9’ long, completely flat and 5’ wide. Currently waiting on new a 2180cc engine ($8k) that will almost triple the stock horsepower and make it freeway friendly. Cruising 65 or 70 is about as fast as I want to drive it, having the ability to climb freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd and going 45 mph will be awesome.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by b-man

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

If you find one, don't bring it up north unless it's a summer only truck.

I had a 1985 SR5 extended cab. It ran very well, but the frame and box were toast in short order in snow country. And the replacement body parts weren't any better - in 1991 one of my coworkers slid into my truck and took out the driver's side box. Had the whole truck repainted and the whole box side replaced, but that rusted out too.

I had to put a sheet of 3/4" 4x8 plywood in the box to make the truck functional - otherwise anyone walking in the bed or anything heavy would fall through what was left of the floor.

Ended up donating the truck to the Rawhide Boys Ranch (Bart Starr's camp for problem young men) for the tax deduction.

[Skidmark]

Originally Posted by b-man

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

Don’t rule out buying a good used small pickup, otherwise you might be waiting a long time until things change and they start producing small trucks again.

I have a very old ‘66 VW pickup that’s powered by a 50 hp 1600, it’s not very freeway capable by modern standards. Around town it will haul a ton plus no problem (1 ton factory rating) with a bed that’s almost 9’ long, completely flat and 5’ wide. Currently waiting on new a 2180cc engine ($8k) that will almost triple the stock horsepower and make it freeway friendly. Cruising 65 or 70 is about as fast as I want to drive it, having the ability to climb freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd and going 45 mph will be awesome.

Love the VW truck . Nice ones like that are hard to come by.

[b-man]

Originally Posted by Skidmark

Love the VW truck . Nice ones like that are hard to come by.

Most of them were worked to death and junked, not too many have survived and the ones in nice shape that were actually taken care of are few and far between. I’ve owned this one since 1985 and have known its whereabouts since 1976 when a friend in my high school auto shop class first purchased it.

The 1950 - 1967 split windshield VW buses and their variants are highly valued and sought after these days. The value of my rust-free ‘66 Velvet Green single cab pickup is probably somewhere in the 40 to 50k range now. They’re quite versatile and can carry many things that other conventional pickups can’t. There’s a huge storage compartment under the bed (called the treasure chest) that’s accessible by one or two hatches depending on how the truck was optioned.

Last weekend I built a platform and bolted it down to the bed using the factory provided hold down points usually used for the original bows and canvas. I need to transport my 1957 bug body about 40 miles away to get some sheet metal work done on it, the platform allows me to have something to tie it down to and protect the bed floor.

[400 4spd.]

My little pick-up is an ‘01 that I inherited from my father 5 years ago. It now has 60k miles on it. A few months ago I retired these wheels and tires and wheels for satin black 1969 Rallys and newer T/A’s.

[Jack Gifford]

I've enjoyed a number of early Rancheros. My son now has a '64 that I built as a mild custom in 1972. It's appropriate that he own it, since he rode in it before he was born- when the pregnant wife and I drove it to Memphis for the first annual (1972) Car Craft Street Machine Nationals!

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by b-man

Most of them were worked to death and junked, not too many have survived and the ones in nice shape that were actually taken care of are few and far between. I’ve owned this one since 1985 and have known its whereabouts since 1976 when a friend in my high school auto shop class first purchased it.

The 1950 - 1967 split windshield VW buses and their variants are highly valued and sought after these days. The value of my rust-free ‘66 Velvet Green single cab pickup is probably somewhere in the 40 to 50k range now. They’re quite versatile and can carry many things that other conventional pickups can’t. There’s a huge storage compartment under the bed (called the treasure chest) that’s accessible by one or two hatches depending on how the truck was optioned.

Last weekend I built a platform and bolted it down to the bed using the factory provided hold down points usually used for the original bows and canvas. I need to transport my 1957 bug body about 40 miles away to get some sheet metal work done on it, the platform allows me to have something to tie it down to and protect the bed floor.

Funny to see another air cooled VW guy on a Pontiac forum. I've been playing with those for years, son enjoys driving his 65 bug and is currently building a 2276 for it.

There is a fella in town that daily drives a VW truck just like yours pictured. I see it sitting outside a local business every day and catch him tooling around town occasionally. There are also at least 3 of those things I've seen restored that hit local car shows around here. They are very unusual but gaining in popularity. Typical to see more VW's out here in the desert South West.

To me it makes more sense to keep these old cars running and use them as intended. Way more cost effective than buying something new. Maybe for those that want a small truck it might make more economical sense to search out a nice small truck from the 80's or 90's, even if it seems expensive to buy a well preserved one, it's still cheaper than buying anything new off the lot and may be the route you have to go if there are no current offerings.
I haven't searched but there has to be some nice S-10's out there on the market.

[mysticmissle]

Originally Posted by b-man

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

Don’t rule out buying a good used small pickup, otherwise you might be waiting a long time until things change and they start producing small trucks again.

I have a very old ‘66 VW pickup that’s powered by a 50 hp 1600, it’s not very freeway capable by modern standards. Around town it will haul a ton plus no problem (1 ton factory rating) with a bed that’s almost 9’ long, completely flat and 5’ wide. Currently waiting on new a 2180cc engine ($8k) that will almost triple the stock horsepower and make it freeway friendly. Cruising 65 or 70 is about as fast as I want to drive it, having the ability to climb freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd and going 45 mph will be awesome.

that is the coolest VW i have seen BMAN. are those in the unobatainum price range like the VW windows vans?

[b-man]

Originally Posted by mysticmissle

that is the coolest VW i have seen BMAN. are those in the unobatainum price range like the VW windows vans?

Glad you like it, it’s probably the one vehicle I’ve owned that gets the thumbs up more often than any of the others.

Values depend on condition of course but especially on what body style and the older ones are worth more than later years.

The 1962 Turquoise and White Deluxe Samba (known as a 23-window) pictured next to my truck was getting ready to go onto the transporter to a buyer so we took a few pictures with them together. Both were restored by my friend Greg about 25 years apart. The Samba sold for just a little under 160k and I think he left about 20k on the table. My truck should sell for 40 to 50k but it’s not going anywhere while I’m still on the topside of the grass.

The red 1967 Karmann Ghia was bought new by the father of one of my childhood friends and would likely sell in the 50k range, again it’s not going anywhere, major sentimental value.

[hobbygto65]

It does everything I need it to do and if I need to haul something bigger I just grab my 4x8 trailer.

[carbking]

Very happy with my "new" shop truck, which my Dad bought new in 1998; a Ford Ranger.

I would be delighted had he waited until he could have got the 4.0 engine versus the 3.0.

I'm with B-Man on this one; lots of good used small trucks out there.

And thanks for sharing the "formula"; makes almost as much sense as what is called "taxable horsepower" It really WAS quite accurate in 1911

Jon

[misterp266]

I already have a small truck which is working fine, 145k. I just thought that it might be nice to get a new truck and wanted to know why there are none.

I may replace it one day with an old truck. ‘50s or ‘60s short bed. For now, I’m good.

[59safaricat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azI3...st=WL&index=17

I have to carry a big stick and beat people away every time I drive my mid 80's Toyota truck, I'm just waiting for some idiot to steal it at this point. Everyone keeps haggling me to buy it. What can I purchase today that averages 30 MPG (would get 36 MPG on the highway in the 55 MPH days) with a 7 foot bed that's low to the ground making it incredibly easy to move large items myself? Yeah, nothing.

I also can't stand the short bed trend going on. WTF am I going to do with a 4 or 5 foot bed? Anything smaller than a 6 foot bed is just useless. 7 foot beds need to make a comeback with smaller trucks.

Finding parts for these trucks is not exactly easy anymore. Good luck trying to find an Air Flow Meter, Auxiliary Air Valve, Ignition module, and other electrical parts/sensors. I stocked up over 20 years ago by wandering through junkyards and purchasing brand new genuine Toyota parts for cheap on Ebay with the foresight of knowing it would lead this so I'm good but a new owner would be up a creek if something failed.

[Dave R]

1980 GMC single cab/8 foot box for me. I remember when it was a “big” truck. Now it’s seems like a small truck compared to what they’re pumping out today. My only requirement of a truck is an 8 foot box and a tow hitch. Bonus if it’s a manual transmission.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by 59safaricat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azI3...st=WL&index=17

I have to carry a big stick and beat people away every time I drive my mid 80's Toyota truck, I'm just waiting for some idiot to steal it at this point. Everyone keeps haggling me to buy it.

Same here. 2 days ago I sold my '96 GMC Sierra standard cab short box. In Michigan those trucks have turned to dust, but I bought this from Texas 8 years ago, nice truck that everyone wants to buy. Easy sale on the first day of the ad.

Speaking of small trucks, I just bought a new Ranger 4X4 extended cab with a 6' bed. 2023 is the last year for a small cab Ranger from Ford. That leaves Toyota and Nissan as the only small truck, small cab builders next year. I really wanted a new full size standard cab/short box 4X4 but none in stock within 500 miles and a 4-6 month order time.

[hurryinhoosier62]

I had a ‘91 Mazda B2200 I loved. It got 30-32 mpg on the highway (five speed), could carry anything I could get into the bed and the cab was roomy enough for my NFL defensive tackle body. It made it through three Wisconsin winter before body rot began to appear. I loaned to my nephew shortly after we moved back here to IN the first time (2007). He totaled it in a car accident. I kept it for awhile while I located the parts to repair it, but could not find a serviceable core support. Mazda quoted me twenty-six weeks to get a new one from Japan. I then chose to scrap her. The last time I saw her at our local Pull-A-Part nothing was left but the rust out core support and the frame.

[pontiacstogo]

The number 1 selling vehicles in NZ (and Australia too I think) are 'utes'. These are very much a small truck. For the most part they are all 4 door and most are diesel - they include the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton etc. Ranger here;

https://www.ford.co.nz/showroom/futu...en-ranger.html

Fullsize trucks are available here, but not very common. A Ram1500 Express starts at $99K

https://www.ramtrucks.co.nz/