12 Best Classic Trucks
Modern American trucks are made to be safe, gas savvy, and packed with power. Let’s give a shout-out to the classic U.S. trucks that inspired us all.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Best classic trucks from the ‘40s and ‘50s
Inspired by the WC series Dodge three quarter ton trucks, the 1945-1968 Dodge Power Wagon was powered by only 94 hp. According to
HotCars
, “This was America’s first-ever four-wheel-drive and got the job done because of an ultra-strong transmission as well as a low axle.”The Power Wagon’s high-ground clearance allowed the truck to tackle rough terrain with ease. Just make sure you keep an eye on the rust.
Chevy and GMC wanted a piece of the Power Wagon pie and produced their own Napco Chevy and GMC trucks from 1942 to 1959. Napco (Northwest Auto Parts Company) made AWD conversion kits for GMC and Chevy trucks. Super rare, you’re lucky if you can find this collector’s item.
After the first World War, Chevrolet created more work opportunities by manufacturing a new line of Advanced-Design commercial trucks. The 1947 Chevrolet 3100 featured a “pre-1950 six-cylinder engine [that] gave it power and trustworthiness as well, especially for those not terribly impressed with Ford or Dodge,” according to HotCars.
We love the 1956-1960 Ford F-100 that preceded the F-150 and F-250. An instant best-seller, the F-100 was more of a looker than a performer. “The engine was okay because the bigger Ford pickups boasted the bigger engines, but the F-100 looked so rugged and handsome—it became an instant favorite especially with the light pickup users because it was just a half-ton truck,” HotCars tells us.
MORE: The Top 5 Luxury Trucks You Have to See
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Best classic trucks from the ‘60s and ‘70s
The 1967-1977 Ford F-250 “Highboy” had a wire suspension that could accommodate 35-inch tires. According to HotCars, the Highboys “normally came with 31-inch tires, but moving on four inches bigger minus a suspension change need was pretty big for that era.”
The mean high-roller was lowered two inches in 1977 but still had a sky-high feel. This was also around the time the Ford F-150 became the best-selling pick-up in America.
We love the vibrant 1971-1975 Ford Baja Bronco that's in a class of its own. It’s estimated that only 400-640 Baja Broncos were produced. The rugged truck sported a 4.9-liter V8 engine and room for big tires in the rear. Drivers could also add customizations like heavy-duty suspension, roll cages, winch and lights.
How cool is the 1976-1977 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet? Less than 2,000 of these off-road
campers
were built for drivers with some serious wanderlust. According to
HotCars
, “The Chalet had a Chinook-made pop-up camper body that sort of slid into the cargo hold of a 4WD Blazer and provided a snug motorhome for two.” Sounds perfect for camping out under the stars on the California
coastline.The 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express smoked the competition. “Launched in 1978, [the truck] proved to be more potent than a Corvette even, going 0-100 mph in 19.9 seconds, and doing a quarter-mile in 14.71 seconds,” HotCars notes.
The Lil’ Red sported a modified 360 police engine that supports 225 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. You may know its sibling, the Midnite Express clad in black.
Nothing says USA quite like the Jeep. The 1963-1987 Jeep Gladiator and J seriestrucks are another fan favorite. Though you may be familiar with the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, back in the day it was quite the modern full-sized pickup truck. Twenty-seven years later, there’s been but minor tweaks to the overall design.
Best classic Trucks from the ‘80s and ‘90s
The 1981-85 Jeep Scrambler has an awesome name that screams adventure. Also known as the CJ-8, “it was built upon the CJ-7 only, with a longer wheelbase to fit in a pickup bed to widen the Jeep inventory,” HotCars reports.
Though only 30,000 models were made, and the popularity of the Scrambler never caught on, it's still a truck we’d love to venture in on a desert road trip.
Only 20 units of the 1991 Ford SkyRanger were made. A special edition of the Ford Ranger, the SkyRanger sported a 4-liter Cologne V6 engine, AWD, and an extended cab.
According to HotCars, “The American Sunroof Company turned it into the SkyRanger by adding the Targa removable top and was all set to sell plenty.” Unfortunately, Ford put this creation on the chopping block.
A well-received classic, the 1993-1995 Ford Lightning was made by Ford’s Special Vehicles Team (SVT). The pickup was powered by a 5.8-liter V8 engine with 240 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque.
The truck also received “a lower suspension on 17-inch tires and heavy-duty shockers, springs, and anti-roll bars [that] made it an American darling,” HotCars tells us. The Ford Lightning could tow up to 5,000 pounds and made a supercharged return in 1999.
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