You would be hard pressed to find anything more American than a classic pickup truck. For decades they have played a huge part in building the backbone of our country. We continue to work side by side with pickups on our farms, on construction sites and use them as our personal vehicles.
The Ford F-Series truck has worn the sales crown as best-selling vehicle in America for more than 30 years and shows no signs of giving up the throne. It is just proof of the love that America has for its beloved workhorse.
The newer models might have more power, better towing capabilities and other features to make our lives more comfortable, but it is the classic pickup trucks of yesteryear that really steal our hearts. Pickup trucks are quickly becoming one of the most coveted segments of the classic vehicle market. They’re relatively inexpensive, there are plenty of parts available due to high production numbers, they are simple to work on and are extremely easy to admire.
Here are our five favorite classic trucks of all time in no particular order. Each has its own special attributes and it would be impossible for us to crown a winner.
Ford F-Series second generation: In particular we are talking about the 1953-1956 Ford F-100, but the F-250 & F-350 classic trucks from the same years are pretty sweet too! The flathead engine saw its final year in the 1953 F-100 here in America. It was replaced in 1954 with the new overhead valve Y-block V8. AutoWeek has a visual guide to all 14 generations of the Ford F-Series trucks.
The F-100 is one of the first to come to mind for many of us when we think classic pickup truck. When restored correctly they can be real show stoppers. The front grilles of these trucks have become symbolic with hard work and style. The exaggerated fenders add to the coolness. These Fords are definitely picking up speed in the collector market. Now may be the best time to get one to add to your collection before the prices skyrocket.
Chevrolet C/K second generation: The first generation models from 1960-1967 are nice, but we really like the second generation Chevy trucks the best. The 1967-1972 models have a more squared, boxy body style that has become very popular with collectors. They can be customized or restored to original spec and both look great. Many owners still use these as regular drivers because they are that reliable! We see these classic trucks on the streets all the time in good to fair condition.
The “C” indicated two-wheel drive and “K” indicated four-wheel drive. Living down south we prefer the C-series, but to each their own. Again this is a truck that is relatively inexpensive compared to other collectable vehicles. There are also a lot of parts available to restore or customize these Chevys. The trucks are really easy to work on and repair and honestly look like one of the toughest trucks on the planet when done up right. Hagerty’s has a buyer’s guide for the 1967-72 Chevrolet C/K pickup.
1978-79 Dodge Li’l Red Express: It might be hard to believe but this was the fastest vehicle you could purchase in 1978 from 0-100mph. An engine originally built for police cars, Dodge dropped the 360 cubic inch V8 into the Express except they tuned for even more get up and go. This was a pure muscle truck in every sense of the word with 225 hp and 295 lb-ft torque. It was obvious muscle with the racing rims, semi-truck exhaust stacks and custom graphics.
Nicknamed the hillbilly hotrod, the Li’l Red Express crushed the quarter mile in 15.7 seconds at 88 mph according to Hot Rod magazine. It was powered by a 360-ci 4-barrel small block V-8 and driven via an automatic transmission that sent all that power to a 3.55-geared Sure Grip axle. This truck could actually beat a Camaro Z28 on the drag strip. Pretty impressive for a two-ton pickup!
Only about 2,000 of these trucks were produced in 1978. The purchase price was right around $7,000. The 1979 model received catalytic converters, headlights that were rectangular and other minor upgrades. Dodge managed to sell another 5,118. Motortrend has a retrospective on the 1978 Dodge Lil Red Express Truck.
Ford F-Series first generation: We need to circle back to the first generation Ford pickups. 1948-1952 year models to be exact. The second world war was over and Ford gave us the F-Series. It was the first post-war truck design from Ford. In a break from previous Ford trucks, the F-Series was no longer based upon its car chassis, but on a dedicated truck platform. This generation of the F-Series would remain in production until 1952.
We think these trucks look best when restored to their original specifications. Something about seeing them restored to their original glory just reminds of us all of when America was finally starting to right itself and get back on track after many hard years of war. Car and Driver breaks down the history of the Ford F-Series Pickup
Chevrolet Advance Design: Not to be outdone in the post-war era, Chevrolet released the Advance-Design series. It was billed as a bigger, stronger, and sleeker design in comparison to the earlier AK Series. These beauties are easily one of the most recognized of all the classic trucks out there. Many collectors like to keep them original, but we have also seen them completely customized. This Pinterest board has lots of images of 1947-54 Chevrolet and GMC classic trucks.
From 1947 until 1955, Chevrolet trucks were number one in sales in the United States. It is easy to see how these years of Chevy trucks were able to capture the heart of America.
There may be other American made pickup trucks that you feel should make the list of the best classic pickup trucks of all time, and you may be right. There are plenty of high quality and beloved pickup trucks that were designed and assembled in our great country. These five just happen to be our favorites.
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