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15 Weird Facts About Pickup Trucks In The ‘60s And ‘70s

Pickup trucks went through dramatic changes in the '60s and '70s, but the fact is, these weird changes made them the most popular vehicle in the US.

From its initial intended purpose, no other vehicle has undergone changes as dramatic as the pickup truck. Originally designed as a purely utilitarian vehicle for farmers and ranchers, the pickup truck has become the most popular vehicle in America. They are as likely to be seen in urban as well as rural areas, and only continue to be redesigned to suit consumer tastes.

In the late 1950s, pickup truck popularity in America first started to extend beyond the farms and ranches. As a result, manufacturers had to redesign the truck to take advantage of the growing consumer demand. The 1960s and 1970s were decades of sweeping changes in pickup truck design from the axle on up. Some features came and went, while others are the basis for the designs still in use today.

So what were some of these changes in the pickup truck industry? What follows are 15 weird facts about pickup trucks in the '60s and '70s.

15 Toyota Enters The US Market

In 1964 Toyota entered the US market by introducing the Stout. In the first year only four units were sold, and the model was available in North America until 1969. The small dimensions of the Stout did not appeal to many American buyers and Toyota attempts to improve space was unsuccessful. The Stout was replaced by the Hilux.

14 Crew Cab Introduced

One limitation of early pickup trucks was the lack of passenger space. Due to an increasing demand for more cabin space, manufacturers began to create four door pickup trucks with a rear seat. Initially, these crew cab trucks were mainly purchased by contractors and utility companies to transport workers and gear, but quickly became popular.

13 Pickup Truck Muscle

According to Car and Driver, in 1978, the Dodge Lil Red Express was the fastest American vehicle from 0-100 MPH. Due to a loophole in US emission standard requirements for trucks, there were no catalytic converters. It had a 360 cubic-inch engine, Hemi style mufflers, beefed up transmission and modified rear gearing.

12 Diesel Power Hits The Market

As gas prices continued to rise in the 1970s, diesel was seen as an option for better mileage and reduced fuel costs. In 1978, GMC and Dodge were the first to offer diesel options in their pickup trucks. These early attempts at diesel engines in the US resulted in poor performance and reliability and it took a while for consumer views on diesels to change.

11 Truck and Car Combined

Is it a car…or a truck?  Ford believed there was a market for vehicle smaller than a pickup truck but had an open bed. In the 1960s the Ranchero was based on the Falcon body and pretty much changed in size as the Falcon evolved through the 1960s. The Ranchero became popular and eventually included a V8 variant.

10 Trucks Improved For Road Use

Initially, pickup trucks were designed to go relatively short distances on farms and ranches, and not spend a lot of time on the highway. Transmissions were typically 3-speed manual column shifters as speed was not really necessary on dirt roads.  In the 1960s there were numerous improvements in pickup truck transmissions, to include automatics.

9 Pickup Trucks Go Mainstream

By the late 1960s, consumer demand for pickup trucks increased dramatically. This resulted in improvements in style, comfort and performance. Competition became fierce among manufacturers as they tried to take advantage of the market. Things such as enlarged crew cabs, big block engines and longer bed space became available to consumers.

8 Compact Pickup Truck Introduced

In 1965 Datsun (now Nissan) introduced the compact 520 pickup truck and sold 15,000 units the first year. This development radically changed the auto industry as manufacturers scrambled to take advantage of the market. It was not really, however, until the 1980s that American auto companies started to challenge the foreign competition.

7 Additional Rear Wheels Added

In 1973 GMC and Chevrolet offered the first dual wheel pickup trucks. This was due to an increased consumer demand for increased load capability for campers as well as hauling heavy equipment.  The aesthetics of the rear fender was also appealing. The "dually" provided the convenience of a pickup truck with the capability of a heavy duty truck.

Related: 10 Best Dually Trucks Ever Made (And 4 6x6 Cars We Totally Dig)

6 Gas Guzzler Tax Exempts Pickup Trucks

In 1978 the US passed the mass guzzler tax, requiring manufacturers to pay a tax on every vehicle that does not get at least 33.5 MPG. The tax, however, does not apply to pickup trucks and SUVs. At the time the law was passed, trucks and SUVs were not as popular as today, but pickup trucks are still exempt from this nationwide tax.

5 US Tariff Restricts Imports

In response to foreign tariffs, in 1964 President Johnson imposed a 25% tax on imported light trucks. This tax initially crippled Japanese manufacturers, however, workarounds were soon developed. Toyota and Nissan began exporting parts and assembling their trucks in America, circumventing a majority of the tax.

4 Ford F-150 Begins Domination

The seventh generation Ford F-150 was introduced in 1979 and quickly became the best selling pickup truck in America, and still is. In fact, since 1982, the F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in the country. The exterior design and engine improvements led to the F-150's dominance and was the first ground up re-design of the model since 1965.

3 Lifestyle Features Available

The 1970s also brought about many pickup truck design features to accommodate consumer lifestyle. Dodge, Ford and GMC all developed models with the increased bed size and load capacity to handle camper shells and other requirements. This included improvements in brakes, engine, suspensions as well as rear sliding windows and additional mirrors.

2 Dodge And Mitsubishi Form Partnership

During the recession in 1979, and continued high gas prices, sales of large American pickup trucks dropped significantly. Chrysler formed a partnership with Mitsubishi to take advantage of the Japan manufacturer's superior small truck and fuel efficient engine designs. This was the start of heavy American involvement in the compact truck market.

1 Four Wheel Drive Introduced

Although four wheel drive pickup trucks first became available right after World War II, the 1960s were the first time US manufacturers offered it as an option on most models. Consumers wanted an increased capability for using their trucks in poor weather conditions as well as the more traditional off road use.