Pickup trucks...non-big three

[ironglow]

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  We are all familiar with the trucks from the "big three"..Ford, Chevy and Dodge (Ram)..  ..But let's consider the more esoteric brands, brands not always brought to mind at first thought of a pickup truck..

  Here, I will list some, while trying to refrain from excess verbosity.

   First off, Willys Jeep.. very familiar regular pickup, but keep in mind the FC150.    My friend owned one inthe 1960s, which I drove upon occasion..a bit noisy, and a bit tepid in summer months.

[ironglow]

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   Next, The Hudson..  In my early Years, I worked for a Hudson/Nash (later American motors) dealer.  He had a Hudson pickup as his service car.  As I recall, it rode nicely..buttook a longtime to urge up to 50 mph.. at least in
 the case of THAT truck...

[ironglow]

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  ...And the Nash.. It seems Nash only made a prototype pickup, but they did build a number of Nash tow trucks, of perhaps 1 ton rating..
  Another local dealer had a tow model..but i only saw it, never drove it.

  Pictured here, prototype pickup.. and tow truck

[VA Rifleman]

How about the 3/4 ton M37.  Every now and then I think I want one till I come to my senses.

[Lloyd Smale]

when we were 16 my best buddys dad MADE him buy a 52 willys jeep pickup. It was in absolute mint shape. Jim went kicking and screaming and hated the thing. He put a stereo in it and going down the road 50mph which was all you could take in it you couldnt hear the stereo and had to yell to hear each other talk. Sure wish i had it today though!!! It used to really get to him that i had a gtx and our other buddy had a firebird.

[Lloyd Smale]

theres a mechanic here local thats really into power wagons. Hes got one completely stock. One with a duramax diesel and one with 502 chev in it.

How about the 3/4 ton M37.  Every now and then I think I want one till I come to my senses.

[VA Rifleman]

Like those ol power wagons. A Duramax with new axles, disk brakes and transmission would be super cool.

[Lloyd Smale]

they didnt need new axels. that drive train was about bullet proof. they came very low geared. I know the 502 had 410s he put in it  but dont recall if or what he did to the duramax. the duramax had the transmission that came with the motor he bought used from silverado. The 502 had a built turbo 400. i dont think he did anything to the brakes on any of them. the stock one was just that. Every thing on it was the way it came from the factory. He doesnt even take them down the road other then in the little farm community he lives in. They do have plates on them but for the most part only because there free in michigan. He actually has or at least had last time i stopped over there two more that needed some serious restoration work. He said he had a 471 gm diesel that he wanted to try to shoehorn into one of those two.   

Like those ol power wagons. A Duramax with new axles, disk brakes and transmission would be super cool.

[Lloyd Smale]

local 4x4 shop plays alot with fc170s they got a couple old ones not yet restored and one done up real nice as an expedition vehicle. Its called ROAM automotive. I looked on there site and cant get the picts to open though. 

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  We are all familiar with the trucks from the "big three"..Ford, Chevy and Dodge (Ram)..  ..But let's consider the more esoteric brands, brands not always brought to mind at first thought of a pickup truck..

  Here, I will list some, while trying to refrain from excess verbosity.

   First off, Willys Jeep.. very familiar regular pickup, but keep in mind the FC150.    My friend owned one inthe 1960s, which I drove upon occasion..a bit noisy, and a bit tepid in summer months.

[Casull]

That Hudson pickup sure is purty.

[Graybeard]

That Hudson pickup sure is purty.

Yes it is.

[ironglow]

How about the 3/4 ton M37.  Every now and then I think I want one till I come to my senses.

   I've put quite a few miles on those M-37s.. Some old timers still  refer to them as "weapons carriers", because at times they were mounted with a .50 cal "Ma Deuce" or a recoilless rifle..

      ..But of course, being built by dodge, they are part of the "big three'..

[ironglow]

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  Next..  THe pre-war, 1940  Willys un-Jeep.  My maiden aunt owned a coupe of this model in the mid 40s.
  The pickup is more rare.
   There was a time when hot  rodders thirsted to get their hands upon on of those coupes..

[ironglow]

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   ...And how about the various stages of Studebakers?..

  A 1937 Studebaker, a 1947 Studebaker  anda1965 model..they later built one with the Studebaker Lark base

[ironglow]

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  How about that Rabbit pickup?  My wife had one for 2-3 years..she loved it.. That truck was coal black in color..

[ulav8r]

About 1984 the wife and I were on our way to Conway to do something.  About 2 miles from home there was a Studebaker pickup in a yard at the side of the road, the sign on the windshield said $50.  It had a new bright red paint job and looked real good.  We needed to get to Conway without much delay so went on by.  Of course at that time we were just barely able to pay our bills each month but decided we would stop on the way back and buy it.  Of course, it was gone as we went home.

I found out a few days later that the engine would not start and the idiot that bought it turned around and sold it out of the area after trying for about 5 days to get it started.  There would have been many engines that could have been transplanted into it.

[Lloyd Smale]

theres droll  all over my keyboard

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  Next..  THe pre-war, 1940  Willys un-Jeep.  My maiden aunt owned a coupe of this model in the mid 40s.
  The pickup is more rare.
   There was a time when hot  rodders thirsted to get their hands upon on of those coupes..

[Lloyd Smale]

that 37 is gorgeous.

.
   ...And how about the various stages of Studebakers?..

  A 1937 Studebaker, a 1947 Studebaker  anda1965 model..they later built one with the Studebaker Lark base

[Lloyd Smale]

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  How about that Rabbit pickup?  My wife had one for 2-3 years..she loved it.. That truck was coal black in color..

Now you ruined it. Its about as bad as a suburu bratt. Maybe worse. The suburu at least pretended to be a 4x4.

[ironglow]

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  How about that Rabbit pickup?  My wife had one for 2-3 years..she loved it.. That truck was coal black in color..

Now you ruined it. Its about as bad as a suburu bratt. Maybe worse. The suburu at least pretended to be a 4x4.

   All I can say is my wife loved it..and we did some travelling in it..enjoying every mile..

[ironglow]

About 1984 the wife and I were on our way to Conway to do something.  About 2 miles from home there was a Studebaker pickup in a yard at the side of the road, the sign on the windshield said $50.  It had a new bright red paint job and looked real good.  We needed to get to Conway without much delay so went on by.  Of course at that time we were just barely able to pay our bills each month but decided we would stop on the way back and buy it.  Of course, it was gone as we went home.

I found out a few days later that the engine would not start and the idiot that bought it turned around and sold it out of the area after trying for about 5 days to get it started.  There would have been many engines that could have been transplanted into it.

   Yes, there must have been several that could hve replaced the engine.  The transmission was I believe a T35 by Borg-Warner.  I once bought a Jeep station wagon with a blown 4cyl engine..replaced the engine with a Studebaker Champion 6 cyl.  The trans bolted right up..but I had to do a bit of 'rigging'for the clutch..

[ironglow]

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  Meanwhile; how about the old internationals?  Here's a 1948 model...

[ironglow]

 .
   And how about a  Terraplane .. a Hudson derivative ...  During the 1930's Hudson also made Terraplane and Essex
     cars.  I knew one oldtimer who had no use for the Essex cars..he claimed they were undependable, so he referred to tham as "ass-ache" cars.. 

[ironglow]

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  How about a heavy duty pickup?  Perhaps a 1949 Reo Speedwagon..  Or a 1939 Federal pickup..

[Lloyd Smale]

very pretty hot rod!! love that color

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   And how about a  Terraplane .. a Hudson derivative ...  During the 1930's Hudson also made Terraplane and Essex
     cars.  I knew one oldtimer who had no use for the Essex cars..he claimed they were undependable, so he referred to tham as "ass-ache" cars.. 

[Lloyd Smale]

thats nice. Buddys dad had a 64 IH and it was but ugly.

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  Meanwhile; how about the old internationals?  Here's a 1948 model...

[ironglow]

thats nice. Buddys dad had a 64 IH and it was but ugly.

.
  Meanwhile; how about the old internationals?  Here's a 1948 model...

   My Father-in-law had a 67 model International V8..I used it a couple times.  Seemed it could pass almost anything...  but a gas station..

[VA Rifleman]

Well. IG panned the M37 so I’ll offer the AM General M998. 5200 lbs, 7 foot wide, 150HP naturally aspirated diesel with a 3 speed auto.
0 to 55 mph?  A brisk 24 to 30 seconds.

[ironglow]

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   AM General sure counts..not the "big  three".  ...  Actually I have a couple "big three" surprises, I will offer later..

  Meanwhile, let's consider the 1949 Diamond T pickup..

[ironglow]

Well. IG panned the M37 so I’ll offer the AM General M998. 5200 lbs, 7 foot wide, 150HP naturally aspirated diesel with a 3 speed auto.
0 to 55 mph?  A brisk 24 to 30 seconds.

   Curiously, when My grandson went with the 22nd MEU (Marine expeditionary unit), to Iraq in early 2005, the ships stopped by Rota, Spain.
  There, they picked up their Humvees...some of the first up-armored Humvees to be used in Iraq.  ...Good thing it happened that way, because his first couple days in combat, his Humvee was hit by an IED.

  The crew were not in the Humvee, but on the opposite side of the vehicle..answering some firing from across the river..
  Curiously, after the IED explosion, he was up in his usual spot with the .50 cal on top when he ascertained where th emost firing was coming from.  He asked permission to fire back..time he got the OK..the insurgents were gone..