Comments:
Spotted: If two is good, four is better
And I'm not talking about cylinders, I'm talking about doors. And specifically about Pickup Doors. Pickups are known across the world but their use as passenger carriers is primarily an American phenomenon. My thoughts on this began a few weeks ago.
The Dodge was produced for a couple years in the early Sixties as an aftermarket conversion before the factory decided THEY should be getting the extra work and money. Eventually Detroit excess led to this:
The 4-door trucks in this post were all seen on the same day, in the same neighborhood, in less than 1 hour. I will present them in consecutive order, as we spotted them.
Just what we Americans all need - a Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed Dual-Wheel-axle Diesel pickup with a chrome face and running boards.
You might be noticing other common features, such as tinted glass, raised suspension, custom wheels, etc.
This is a rare Japanese take on the 4-door pickup, first known as the "brat" and then the "baja"
It's liberally clad in "cladding"
This has a full bed cover, further reinforcing the idea that these trucks rarely carry any cargo
The next truck is a very rare Lincoln Blackwood pickup. A "Cadillac" of pickups, if you permit me to say. Its full dose of luxury and elevated price tag of $50,000+ did not convince the 20,000 buyers a year Ford hoped for. Only about 3500 were made in 2002 before it was discontinued.
There were just a few more before the camera started smoking from overuse, and the electric Fiat begged for a recharge.
It's safe to say San Diegans (Americans) love 4-door pickups.
We were in a particularly trucky neighborhood, finding lots of nice vehicles,
when my wife and I spotted this 4-door Dodge Pickup lurking under a shade cover:
The Dodge was produced for a couple years in the early Sixties as an aftermarket conversion before the factory decided THEY should be getting the extra work and money. Eventually Detroit excess led to this:
The first crew-cab pickups were marketed to businesses who needed to carry workers to a job. No longer would you need a bus to follow a truck; now you could have a couple of these and transport 6 grown men (per truck) to a jobsite along with a bunch of equipment or supplies.
The next one we spotted was in a house with about 6 other trucks - all off-road conversions or racers. I deduce that this was "adjusted" from its factory configuration to carry 6 people to the Baja 1000 races. To my knowledge, Ford didn't build an F350 4-door Bronco, so was it a 4-door pickup with a camper grafted on?
The next one we spotted was in a house with about 6 other trucks - all off-road conversions or racers. I deduce that this was "adjusted" from its factory configuration to carry 6 people to the Baja 1000 races. To my knowledge, Ford didn't build an F350 4-door Bronco, so was it a 4-door pickup with a camper grafted on?
The 4-door trucks in this post were all seen on the same day, in the same neighborhood, in less than 1 hour. I will present them in consecutive order, as we spotted them.
Just what we Americans all need - a Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed Dual-Wheel-axle Diesel pickup with a chrome face and running boards.
You might be noticing other common features, such as tinted glass, raised suspension, custom wheels, etc.
This is a rare Japanese take on the 4-door pickup, first known as the "brat" and then the "baja"
It's liberally clad in "cladding"
This has a full bed cover, further reinforcing the idea that these trucks rarely carry any cargo
The next truck is a very rare Lincoln Blackwood pickup. A "Cadillac" of pickups, if you permit me to say. Its full dose of luxury and elevated price tag of $50,000+ did not convince the 20,000 buyers a year Ford hoped for. Only about 3500 were made in 2002 before it was discontinued.
Here's the inside of the bed (thanks Wikipedia). Too small to sleep in; too plush to carry cargo in; too short to be a hearse and carry a casket; etc etc
There were just a few more before the camera started smoking from overuse, and the electric Fiat begged for a recharge.
It's safe to say San Diegans (Americans) love 4-door pickups.
Which raises a question: ARE THERE ANY PURISTS with 4-Door Pickups????? Or do we all prefer "toy cars" for our driving pleasure?
Cazalea
You are the master of automotive posts :)
Another enjoyable installment from you 
Pickups are largely absent from the automotive landscape here (the practical part of their brief has historically been carried out by vans over here), so it's always fun to look across the fence - thanks for another great post!
Pickups are largely absent from the automotive landscape here (the practical part of their brief has historically been carried out by vans over here), so it's always fun to look across the fence - thanks for another great post!
Thanks for the encouragement
I'm sorry we never spotted a Hummer Pickup on that search (shown here next to my 2CV Van - thank God I didn't buy it but I was sorely tempted)
Nor one of these International Harvest Xtreme pickups. A bit much for a trip to the gym and a stop for some Perrier at the market, don't you agree?
Mike
Fully agreed...
Was there not a version of the Mercedes Unimog especially for the US market, too?
Absolutely. Hang on a moment and I'll put one up for you
This one is badged Mercedes but I am sure I've got a Unimog somewhere, but where??
"driving a Mog is like sitting in a 55 gallon drum while 10 guys beat the side of it with sledgehammers"
I had a job once ... much like that...
Mike
Mike
Very cool!
But this is the bona fide, military one, not the civilian 'luxury' version.
I have driven a Unimog...
...and completely agree with Mike. The only saving grace of the geared hubs is the ground clearance, everything else is compromised, a truck on a truck.
I drive a 4 door pickup :-)
Not one available in the US, I reckon - and to be absolutely honest, the bed is only used to haul weekly groceries, school bags and the occasional fishing gear.
Do they charge extra on the ferry?
For its length or height?
No we don't have that one though a new Ranger pickup is thought to be coming soon.
Cheers,
Cazalea
No we don't have that one though a new Ranger pickup is thought to be coming soon.
Cheers,
Cazalea
The rates are different
But not for length or height. The rates differ for different body classes and a pickup sits in the same category as light commercial trucks, hence a higher rate. Same applies to some toll roads.
I get great mileage on the 2.2 turbo diesel though.
I get great mileage on the 2.2 turbo diesel though.
Correct - 4 Is Better Than Two
This is my 1992 Toyota Hilux SSR LN107. It has a 3L (2800 CC 4 cylinder diesel) motor with a 5 speed manual transmission, and is my daily driver. Yes, it's RHD, slower than a tortoise (90 BHP), and great fun to drive. It's the root cause of many strained necks from other fellow Toyotaphiles, after attempting to get a better look at it.
Yes, it's RHD, slower than a tortoise (90 BHP), and great fun to drive. It's the root cause of many strained necks from other fellow Toyotaphiles, after attempting to get a better look at it.This JDM Toyota is ubiquitous all over the world, but was never offered for sale here in North America, making it a very rare bird in my stretch of the woods.
Cheers,
Rocky