ET MOTOR GEAR

sizes. Unlike the Chevy dealers, the Buick-Olds-Pontiac-Cadillac dealers needed a truck to sell, and the GMC franchise filled the void. By 1920, GMC began sharing platform time with sibling Chevy and it’s been that way ever since. Nostalgic Favorite: 1957 (single headlight) 1958 (dual headlight) GMC pickup.

International Harvester (IH): From 1902 to 1986, IH was a successful firm specializing in farm tractors, farm equipment and trucks. By the 1960s, the trucks were very popular and featured many light and heavy duty versions. They are still around today as Navistar Freightliner and are still a major player in the big truck business. Nostalgic Favorite: 1956 C-Line two or four-door pickup.

Jeep Pickups: Known mostly for its Wrangler, early station wagons and then Cherokee style models, Jeep Pickups were very popular over the years until they stopped producing them. The good news is that Jeep is bringing back a 2020 Wrangler platform pickup this April called the Gladiator. The last Wrangler based pickup dates back to the 1986 Scrambler. Nostalgic Favorite: 1980 Jeep ½ Ton Pickup.

Willys Overland: Although Willys had a full line of Jeeps, cars and wagons that date back to 1903, they also impacted the pickup truck market in a big way through the 1930s with a line of solid-built light and heavy duty pickups. By the 1950s, the Willys 4x4 pickup was billed as the “Go anywhere truck” and became a popular workhorse. Nostalgic Favorite: 1952 Willys 4x4 Pickup.

Ford Ranchero: Although half car and half truck, I’ll give a pat on the back to Ford for introducing the 1957 Ranchero a full two years before Chevy’s ElCamino. Rancheros were loaded with car amenities, but still deserve mention. Nostalgic Favorite: 1958 Ranchero.

Dodge Little Red Truck: In 1978 and 1979, Dodge introduced the Lil Red Express high-performance truck, complete with a powerful 360-inch V8 and lots of special goodies that the youth market loved. It deserves a spot on my Top 10 for sure. Nostalgic Favorite: Any 1978 or 1979 Lil Red Express trucks.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and GateHouse Media. Contact him at greg@gregzyla.com or at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840.