Trucks hold a special place in vehicle enthusiasts’ hearts, and they serve as an important American icon. With both style and utility, trucks deserve more recognition, and here at Classic Auto, we celebrate the extensive history of domestic and international trucks.
In this blog, we list the top six classic trucks ever built.
1. Dodge Li’l Red Express
The Dodge Li’l Red Express is an iconic, high-performing vehicle that Dodge produced from 1978 to 1979. The famous Mopar powertrain engineer, Tom Hoover, developed the Li’l Red Express’s 360 CID V8 engine during a time in which the U.S. government was cracking down on vehicle emissions. Tom Hoover was able to develop a high-powered engine and bypass emission regulations through certain modifications.
He started the engine with a police-code E58 engine then added a camshaft from a 1968 340 cubic-inch V8 and a Carter 4-barrel carburetor. The end result was a powerful 225 horsepower engine with 290 foot-pounds of torque.
The vehicle also came with notable style with its bright red exterior, gold pinstriping, and dual chrome exhaust stacks.
2. Dodge Power Wagon
The Dodge Power Wagon was originally developed for the U.S. Army during World War II. It was originally developed in 1941, and in 1946, Dodge began selling it to the public. It was the first 4×4 factory-built truck, and it came with an appealing enclosed cab and stylish truck bed. The United State’s safety and emission standards forced Dodge to stop selling this vehicle in 1968, but they continued exporting it to countries with less strict emission rules. The finally halted production entirely in 1978.
The Power Wagon came equipped with a 230 cubic-inch flat-head six-cylinder engine. The vehicle offered haulers incredible performance with its ability to haul over 3,000 pounds.
3. Chevrolet Cheyenne
Chevrolet only produced this truck from 1967 to 1972, but it’s still regarded as one the best trucks of all time and perhaps the most stylish. It also came with many desirable amenities at the time of its release including a radio, front disc brakes, carpeted and insulated cab, and a pristine, luxurious interior.
The Cheyenne is especially notable because it came with a special trim package that emulated certain car features, but it still offered the power of a classic 1960s truck. Consumers had many different options when it came to picking an engine from the 150 cubic-inch straight-six engine to the 402 cubic-inch V8.
4. GMC Syclone
The GMC Syclone is the most recent truck on our list. GMC developed this muscle-inspired truck in the early 1990s. The truck offered incredible speed and could even compete with luxury cars like Ferraris and Corvettes. They created this powerful truck by utilizing a Sonoma body with a 280 horsepower turbocharged V6 engine. Unfortunately, GMC only produced this vehicle in 1991, and they only released 2,995 models.
5. Toyota FJ40
Toyota produced its FJ40 Land Cruiser from 1960 to 1984. It’s considered one of the most rugged 4x4s of all time. Toyota originally developed its FJ series in 1948, and they equipped their FJ lineup with an F engine. The F engine was Toyota’s longest-running engine and was used from 1948 to 1992. Consumers had the option of picking up an FJ40 with either the 3.8-liter F straight-six engine or the 4.2-liter 2F straight-six engine. It also came with 2-door and pickup truck options.
6. Chevrolet Cameo
Chevrolet only produced the Cameo from 1955 to 1958. The company discontinued the vehicle because they were struggling to compete with more affordable vehicles. That being said, the Cameo was a hot seller upon its initial release in 1955. The Cameo offered a great deal of style, speed, and comfort that drivers could enjoy while working or in leisure. The vehicle also offered distinct, high-quality style with carpeting, fiberglass slab-sided bed, chrome trim, and full hubcaps. It came equipped with a powerful V8 engine with an automatic transmission.
Protect Your Classic Truck
If you’re driving one of our top favorite classic trucks or another classic or luxury vehicle, you need top-of-the-line insurance to protect your unique beauty. Classic Auto Insurance offers car enthusiasts robust and affordable insurance you can count on. To learn more about how you and your truck will benefit from our policies, call 888-901-1338 or get an instant quote here.
