As commercial vehicles, pickups are destined to work hard. That means survival rates remain low, but as more enthusiasts come to appreciate the ruggedness, usability and rarity, demand and values of classic pickup trucks are rising at auction. With room for a mountain bike, surfboard or camping gear, they are a practical vehicle for those looking for something to match their lifestyle.
Something for Everyone
The classic pickup scene is diverse, stretching from the American pickups so ingrained in their culture to the modified Volkswagens and, increasingly, Japanese 70s and 80s models; there’s something for everyone.
As values rise, it’s opened up the market for imports from right-hand-drive markets such as Japan, Malta and South Africa, where typically (though not always) rust isn’t the enemy it is here.
A flick through the auction pages of online specialists Car & Classic underlines the classic pickup, no matter how you plan to enjoy it.
Generational Rivals
The contemporary kings of the American scene, the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, have enjoyed a healthy rivalry for decades, with the site reviving the 50s edition of their famous faceoff. This 1952 Ford F1 Pickup
and 1950 Chevrolet 3100, the ancestors of the modern rivals, are both presented in stunning, restored condition.
The F1 and the 3100 are both icons of America’s post-WW2 commercial vehicle industry, each beginning production in 1947 and exclusively for the USA. Both imported examples being auctioned are highly original and offer a fascinating opportunity to own authentic 1950s workhorses. Arguably offering a greater prediction of the appearance of models to come, the Chevrolet shares a similar grille to that of its younger counterpart, whereas the F1’s bold chrome ornamentation (stripped and re-chromed by its current owner) has been all but abandoned by the current F-150.
Non-Identical Twins
Unlike the previous pairing, these two examples have very different histories. This Datsun Sunny Truck and this Toyota Hilux Mk2 are both children of the 70s, hail from Japan, and both have lived parts of their lives in the custody of the same South African collector, yet couldn’t be more estranged.
Built on the Sunny’s VB10 estate chassis, the compact 1970 model is an incredibly rare utility coupe, making just 62hp from its 998cc engine — enough for light duties and to reduce its annual road tax obligation. But the main appeal of the Sunny is undoubtedly its characterful appearance and condition. Exhumed from ‘deep storage’ at a Nissan museum 120 miles outside of Johannesburg, it’s been well looked after and repainted at some point.
Not so with the purposeful, utilitarian 1974 Hilux. Famed for its durability, this N20 derivative — the second-generation Hilux introduced in 1972, but the first to brought to the UK — now benefits from the more potent 2T motor. Still, with only 67,000km on the clock, this truck has barely been broken in as far as a Hilux is concerned. Past sales indicate either could be yours for less than £10k.
Cortina Couple
From the same collector as the Japanese trucks are these two Ford Cortina P100 Pickup “one-tonners”. As with many Fords from that decade, these 1982 and 1984 ‘bakkies’ are expected to rise in value, and similar vehicles are already popular draws at Ford and commercial vehicle meets, with past sales indicating they could sell for between £5k and £10k today.
Whilst they both share visual similarities with the Mk5 Cortina, the two trucks have very different engines. The younger 1984 example houses a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine, whereas its 1982 modified model, also sporting a very 1980s front air dam and aftermarket wheels, is powered by a thirstier but rarer 3.0-litre Essex V6 lump that was never offered to UK buyers at the time.
All the import paperwork is done, making it easy to enjoy or put to work straight away.
A Round of Golf
Rounding out the latest crop from Car & Classic is this well-loved Mk1 Volkswagen Caddy. With just 10,000 to go until this little Caddy hits’ moon miles’, this truck has clearly been worked and adored for many years. Well used, with its expected scratches and marks, this truck is in much better shape than it could be after 228,339 miles.
Based on the Mk1 Golf, the Caddy was initially released as the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup in the US. It was renamed Caddy for European and export markets in 1982. More than 200,000 Caddys were built, initially in Pittsburgh and then Sarajevo before South Africa, in a cycle that lasted until 2007, during which it earned a reputation as a practical and versatile machine for cargo of up to 500kg. One of just 6,700 Mk1 Caddys sold in the UK, this one might be as little as £5,000 — will you be the one to take it to the moon?
“Pickups can deliver so much to the enthusiast,” says Dale Vinten, editor at Car & Classic.
“The same size as a car, they make sense yet also bring the versatility for today’s lifestyle. Not only that, but they can be put to work for marketing purposes, too. Car-derived pickups are equally easy to run but often feature more heavy-duty parts than their car counterparts for added peace of mind. With rust-free RHD cars more easily accessible from markets such as South Africa, now’s a great chance to add one to your fleet.”
