Pickup trucks usually mean rugged reliability and utility. But sometimes, American automakers throw the rulebook out the window and get creative in all the wrong or right ways. These 15 discontinued pickups were either ahead of their time, totally impractical, or just plain strange. Some were kind of lovable. Others left folks scratching their heads.
Chevrolet SSR
The Chevy SSR was a retro styled convertible pickup that looked more like a cartoon hot rod than a utility vehicle. Built between 2003 and 2006, it had a retractable hardtop and rear wheel drive. It borrowed parts from the Trailblazer and even came with a V8. But the whole thing confused buyers. It was too stylish to work and too heavy to really move. The weird mix of features sealed its fate.
Dodge Rampage
Back in the early 1980s, Dodge took a front wheel drive economy car and gave it a tiny pickup bed. The Rampage was built from 1982 to 1984 and was based on the Dodge Omni platform. It looked like a coupe that someone forgot to finish. With a four cylinder engine and limited payload, it was not exactly truck material. But it had charm in a weird mullet kind of way.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
From 2001 to 2010, Ford offered the Explorer Sport Trac. It was basically an SUV with a bed grafted onto the back. The wheelbase was stretched, but it still looked like a science experiment. It was not quite a full truck and not quite an SUV either. People liked the idea, but the execution left a lot to be desired. It rode well enough but never became a big hit.
Lincoln Blackwood
Luxury trucks have become popular now, but in 2002, the Lincoln Blackwood was ahead of the curve and way off the mark. Based on the Ford F 150, it had a plush interior and a bizarre hard tonneau cover that turned the bed into a trunk. With limited utility and a high price tag, the Blackwood confused everyone. Lincoln pulled the plug after just one year.
Subaru Baja
Yes, Subaru is Japanese, but the Baja was sold and marketed heavily in the US between 2003 and 2006, and it was assembled in Indiana. It looked like someone chopped the back off a Subaru Outback and added a tiny cargo area. It had all wheel drive and quirky appeal but almost no practicality. It was too carlike for truck buyers and too weird for sedan lovers.
GMC Syclone
Built in 1991, the Syclone was a turbocharged compact pickup that could outrun sports cars of its time. It used a 4.3 liter turbo V6 with all wheel drive. This thing could beat Ferraris in a straight line. The weird part? It looked like a regular small GMC truck with some cladding and bad attitude. It made no sense but was brilliant in its madness. Production stopped after just one year.
Dodge Dakota Convertible
Dodge took a regular Dakota pickup and gave it a soft top. Yes, it was a convertible pickup. Offered from 1989 to 1991, it was as odd as it sounds. The roof folded down and everything. It came with a roll bar and looked like something a Florida beach rental company might own. It did not sell well, but it remains one of the strangest factory pickups ever made.
Ford Ranchero
Technically a car based pickup, the Ranchero ran from 1957 to 1979 in various forms. The idea of turning a car into a truck was always a bit odd. It had its fans, especially among folks who wanted the style of a coupe with some bed space. But let’s be honest, it always looked like a car that lost a bet. It paved the way for other weird hybrids.
Chevrolet Avalanche
The Avalanche, built from 2001 to 2013, had a unique trick. You could lower the midgate and expand the bed into the cabin. It was a cool idea, but the design was blocky and covered in plastic cladding. Some people loved it. Others called it ugly and bulky. It tried to be everything at once and never quite nailed any of it. Still, it earned a small but loyal following.
Dodge Warlock
The Warlock was part of Dodge’s adult toy series in the late 1970s. It was a factory custom truck with gold pinstripes, wooden bed rails, and bold paint colors. It looked like something a rock star would drive between gigs. Underneath it was just a regular D Series pickup, but Dodge wanted to add a little flair. It was fun but very niche, and its styling aged fast.
GMC Caballero Diablo
Basically a rebadged Chevy El Camino, the Caballero Diablo added odd decals and a name that sounded like a villain from a spaghetti western. It was produced in the late 1970s through the mid 1980s and never sold well. It looked like a car and a truck had an awkward child. The flames and Diablo badging made it even stranger. Most people never even knew it existed.
Chevrolet LUV
Built in partnership with Isuzu, the Chevy LUV was a tiny pickup truck sold between the 1970s and 1980s. It had a small four cylinder engine and not much muscle, but it was affordable and strangely durable. The name stood for Light Utility Vehicle, but people always thought it sounded more like a Valentine’s Day promo. It was a quirky truck in a mini package.
Jeep Comanche
The Comanche ran from 1986 to 1992 and was Jeep’s attempt at a compact pickup. It shared its platform with the Cherokee SUV and looked like someone tried to turn a Wrangler into a hauler. It had solid off road chops but awkward proportions. Most people wanted either a Jeep or a truck, not both. Still, it has gained a cult following among fans of the weird and capable.
Studebaker Champ
Back in the early 1960s, Studebaker tried to make a pickup by combining a truck bed with the front end of a Lark sedan. The result was the Champ, which looked more like a home built mashup than a factory model. It had charm and functionality but felt like it was held together with spare parts and hope. Production ended in 1964 when Studebaker began winding down its operations.
Dodge D50
Also known as the Ram 50, this was a rebadged Mitsubishi truck sold by Dodge from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. It was tiny, economical, and weirdly styled. The interior was cramped and the ride was firm, but it could carry a surprising load. It never really fit into the Dodge lineup, and most people forgot it existed once the compact truck boom ended.
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