A History of the Classic Pickup Truck 1970 -2018
Chevy Trucks - Earlier than Ford?
Although Ford gets credit for designing the first bona fide pickup truck, Chevrolet made an effort that predates the Ford model. Chevy's Model 490 was available in 1918 and designed to go head-to-head with Ford. The 490 was named for its price tag, $490. These Chevy vehicles were offered with the frame only: Buyers had to purchase the cab, bed, and body for the frame to complete the vehicle. These parts were often made of wood during this era, and drivers usually purchased these parts from independent companies. Billed as light delivery vehicles, these pickups were rated as half-ton, and they shared many features with cars. Chevrolet also offered a sturdier one-ton model designed for commercial service. Both of these vehicles were produced through 1922.The original Ford Model T Runabout With Pickup Body had a bed that was 56 inches long and 40 inches wide. Ford added extra leaf springs in the rear of the vehicles for extra stability. It featured a 40-horsepower engine with four cylinders, and it drew plenty of notice; the Ford company sold nearly 34,000 of these vehicles during the first year. To keep up with demand in subsequent years, Ford implemented the game-changing assembly line that has become an automotive industry standard.Luxury pickups hold a place of dominance in today's pickup lines. These sporty vehicles feature massive grilles, reshaped bodies, and every feature that discerning drivers could want inside, including on-board entertainment systems, in-dash touch-screen consoles, heated and cooled seats, backup cameras, collision-alert systems, and navigation systems. Newer crossover vehicles also combine the standard pickup features with SUV style, giving drivers the best of both worlds. No longer relegated to the farm or the construction site, pickups sit proudly in the garages and driveways of many urban and suburban drivers.
0 Comments