Most people think of pickup trucks as workhorses that get the job done and fade into the background. But occasionally, manufacturers let loose and create something weird, experimental, or so unique that only a handful ever roll off the line. Whether they were performance monsters, odd styling exercises, or simply ahead of their time, these pickups are now incredibly rare and highly collectible.
Dodge Dude
The Dodge Dude hit the market in 1970 and made quite an impression — for those lucky enough to see one. It was a regular Dodge D100 underneath but came with bold body stripes, a tailgate logo, and the word “DUDE” slapped across the flanks in huge block lettering. Dodge wanted to attract younger buyers and leaned into Western flair. Actor Don Knotts even pitched it in ads. Just over 1500 were made, most sold in the southern states. It never caught on widely, and today they are almost mythical in their rarity, especially in decent condition. If you spot a yellow or lime green Dude, consider yourself lucky.
Chevrolet 454 SS
This was muscle car madness applied to a full size pickup. Chevrolet dropped its massive 7.4-litre V8 into the 1990 C1500 and created the 454 SS. It came in one colour — black — and boasted red interior trim and sport suspension. The truck was fast for its time and handled well for its size. It was not exactly a sales hit, though, as buyers expecting work utility were put off by the single cab and low payload. Just a few thousand were sold in its three year run. These days, clean original 454 SS trucks command serious attention at auctions.
GMC Syclone
In 1991, GMC blew minds with the Syclone — a turbocharged all wheel drive compact pickup that outran sports cars. Built on the Sonoma platform, the Syclone came with a 4.3 liter turbocharged V6, producing 280 horsepower and 350 pound feet of torque. It could sprint to 60 in under 5 seconds, faster than a Corvette or Ferrari of the day. Only around 3000 were built, with very few ever making it to Canada. Their drivetrain complexity means most have long since disappeared, but if you see one on the street, it’s a flash of the future from the past.
Ford SVT Lightning
The first generation of the Ford SVT Lightning hit the market in 1993 and was developed by Ford’s newly formed Special Vehicle Team. It had upgraded suspension, a 5.8-litre V8, and unique styling touches. It was meant to be a muscle truck for people who liked a little attitude with their cargo bed. The second generation that followed in 1999 took things even further with a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 that made over 380 horsepower. The SVT Lightning was a bit of a cult truck, produced in limited numbers and mostly driven hard. Finding one in its original, unmodified form today is tough.
Subaru BRAT
The Subaru BRAT — short for Bi drive Recreational All terrain Transporter — was part pickup, part compact car, and all strange. Built between 1978 and 1994, it was imported to North America with rear facing jump seats in the cargo bed to dodge a chicken tax on trucks. The idea was quirky, the execution oddball, and the BRAT became a cult car for misfits who needed four wheel drive and a bit of hauling space. Most have rusted into oblivion, but survivors are prized by Subaru fans and collectors who love rare oddities.
Jeep J10 Honcho
The Honcho was a special appearance package offered on the Jeep J10 pickup during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It included bold striping, fender flares, and decals that screamed outdoor lifestyle before overlanding was even a thing. The J10 was already a low production model, and the Honcho was built in even smaller numbers. With their AMC mechanicals and rust prone bodies, few remain today. But for Jeep fans, the Honcho represents a glorious and gutsy chapter of Jeep’s attempt to make trucks fun and flashy.
Lincoln Blackwood
Lincoln’s first and last attempt at a luxury pickup was a bizarre creation. The Blackwood, launched in 2002, was based on the Ford F150 but featured a completely carpeted and covered cargo area, a power tonneau cover, and was available only in black with pinstripes. There was no four wheel drive option and it cost a fortune. Unsurprisingly, it was a sales flop with just over 3300 built. Yet its oddness has made it oddly desirable in collector circles. It was short lived, overly plush, and pointless, but unforgettable.
Dodge Ram SRT10
Take a Dodge Ram, stuff in the 8.3-litre V10 from the Dodge Viper, and you get the Ram SRT10 — a loud, fast, completely unhinged pickup truck. It was produced from 2004 to 2006 in small numbers and came in both regular cab and quad cab form. The regular cab version even had a six speed manual gearbox, making it a true enthusiast vehicle. It holds a Guinness World Record as the fastest production truck of its time. Fuel economy was laughable, but nobody cared. Today, finding one in good shape is difficult, and prices are climbing fast.
Chevrolet SSR
The SSR, or Super Sport Roadster, was a convertible hardtop pickup with retro styling and a whole lot of personality. Built from 2003 to 2006, it combined the looks of a 50s Chevy pickup with modern V8 power. Unfortunately, its practicality was limited and its price was high, which kept sales down. Only around 24000 were ever produced and many were optioned strangely. The SSR is now becoming a collector curiosity thanks to its unique blend of features. It is not particularly useful as a truck, but it turns heads like nothing else.
Dodge Rampage
Built in the early 1980s, the Dodge Rampage was a front wheel drive car based utility vehicle that aimed to compete with the VW Rabbit Pickup and Subaru BRAT. It was light, efficient, and surprisingly fun to drive, but it never took off in the market. Its short production run and limited options have made it a rare sight today. It is one of those trucks that seems to confuse people at car shows, especially when you pop the hood and they see it has no driveshaft going to the rear.
Hummer H2 SUT
The H2 SUT took the already oversized and aggressive Hummer H2 and added a small open bed out back. It was not very practical, could barely carry cargo, and drank fuel like a dragster, but people loved the way it looked. Built from 2005 to 2009, the SUT version never sold in big numbers, especially as fuel prices began to rise. Now, finding one in unmodified condition is rare, and values have started to rise among those who love big, brash machines.
Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup
VW’s little Rabbit Pickup was built in Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1984 and had all the charm of the Rabbit hatchback with added utility. It was front wheel drive, came with either gas or diesel engines, and was ridiculously efficient. They were cheap and rust prone, so few survived. But today, enthusiasts hunt them down, especially the diesels. They are simple, fixable, and weird enough to stand out at any car meet.
International Harvester Travelette
Way ahead of its time, the Travelette was one of the first full size crew cab trucks ever sold in North America. Built by International Harvester in the 60s and 70s, it was targeted at work crews and farmers who needed to haul both people and gear. It had serious presence and was built like a tank, but the company faded out of the consumer market in the early 1980s. Today, they are rare and expensive to restore due to a scarcity of parts, but highly respected by vintage truck lovers.
Studebaker Champ
The Studebaker Champ was produced from 1960 to 1964 and was an interesting effort to stay relevant in the pickup market. It reused a lot of sedan parts to cut costs and had a unique appearance as a result. The idea was clever, but Studebaker was already struggling, and the Champ never sold well. Today, it is rare simply because the company vanished, and not many were preserved. Spotting one today is like seeing a piece of ghosted automotive history roll past.
GMC Caballero Diablo
The Caballero was GMC’s answer to the Chevy El Camino, but the Diablo package was the wild child of the family. It added red and orange flames and a blacked out tailgate. The look was pure late 70s cool, but the Caballero never matched El Camino’s popularity. Diablo variants were especially rare and hardly ever seen today. If one shows up at a show, it usually draws a crowd.
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