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My wife and I are kicking around the idea of a little truck -- maybe something like a 60s-70s datsun or toyota. Don't really want to deal with having a big truck, but would like something with a little more hauling ability than a camry with a roof rack. We don't have a racecar or sailboat to tow.
General sort of light utility use, occasionally hauling plaster or clay (1000+ lbs?) in the bed.
Would prefer cute.
Thoughts/ideas? Matt
I had a 64 Datsun 320 as my home depot runner, neat, fun truck, but very quirky. With only 48 HP and hard to get parts I would look for a 521, 620, or 720 instead.
I've had a number of these, back when. They are surprisingly capable (within reason) for light hauling of building materials, firewood, dump runs and so forth. They are also great for fishing, camping, beer keg hauling and similar recreational utility.
Given their propensity to dissolve in water, I'd put condition ahead of any bias towards a particular model. I had a bunch of Datsuns, but Toyotas were every bit as good. From a 'quirky is good' standpoint, probably the Mazda rotary would be the one to look out for.
It may not be your cup of tea, but I'd also consider a split-window single cab VW as an entertaining light utility hobby-type truck.
Datsuns, hands down. Pick one, they're all great. Some have classic styling and all are reliable as gravity.
I've long had the Jones' for a rotary pickup. They were cute, and I've seen them lowered and quite fast. Don't forget 1961 to 1965 Rancheros either. They were basically a Mustang truck and almost all the Mustang goodies bolt on.
El Camino's for me!
I had almost mythically good luck with mid 80's datsun pickups, but I'm not sure you can call them classics. yet anyways
Does a Brat count as classic yet?
I'd have to go REPU on this as well, but I'm a Mazda guy. An El Camino or Ranchero would also be cool if you're into American classics. I prefer the Ranchero, which should have substantial compatibility with Mustang stuff if you want to resto-mod it.
REPU for me also, although it wouldn't pain me to have a Datsun.
I have a 72 Ranchero, and although its on the to do list, I love the fishmouth look
Just follow this guy's template:
http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0801_1965_ford_ranchero/index.html
Mini made a pickup...
96DXCivic wrote:Does a Brat count as classic yet?
1st gen (yes) or 2nd gen (maybe)? 
How tall are you? with some of these trucks it matters. My '74 620? Yeah, not really made for my 6'3" body.
bludroptop wrote:From a 'quirky is good' standpoint, the Mazda rotary would be the one to look out for..
Responding in no particular order to things said above:
I'm 6', my wife is 5'10".
I thought about REPU, but something about the look isn't right -- and I'm not totally into the magic spinning triangles thing, anyway.
I did think about the Ranchero this morning, and just looked through the back issues of CM on my shelf, in which they built up a '63. Nice truck by the time they get finished with it, though they seem to have replaced and upgraded every moving part to get there -- engine, trans, driveshaft, rear end, brakes, steering, spindles, hubs, shocks...
Then again, if stock means a straight 6, 2-speed auto, and 4 wheel drums, maybe lots of replacing is in order.
Lots of neat stuff on that Ratsun site, btw -- thanks for pointing that one out.
And the Mini pickup is a neat idea... it's got the "cute" requirement covered, for sure.
I've owned several. If they are for minor occasional hauling and just running around they are okay, but are about useless for any real heavy jobs. The LAT's (Little Asian Trucks) evaporate in any kind of moisture or salt so depending on where you live they may not even exist anymore.
Toyotas you can never go wrong with. I had a mid 70s Datsun King Cab that was okay but I never really felt much love for it. My sort-of favorite was a Ford Courier (Mazda B1600). I always felt Mazdas were the best handling trucks of all of them. The downside to the older ones though was the brakes...manually adjusted wheel cylinders, 2 per wheel. And for good braking, they always needed adjusting. Like every 2 weeks. Annoying. The old engines were also prone to cracking cylinder heads if overheated. The 'next' generation Courier was available with disc brakes and the Ford 2.3 which was probably a better combination.
I think an early or 'mid' (64-66) Ranchero is a great choice. American simplicity and easy parts coupled with a larger, more comfortable cab and--let's face it--better styling. The six is fine and every bit as capable as the underpowered lumps in the LAT's. The drum brakes are okay if you keep them in good shape, or if you loathe working on drums as much as I do disc swaps aren't that hard. Rancheros are far more affordable than El Caminos, which are also only available on the bigger chassis. If you really want odd, you can get a Econoline, Dodge D100 or Corvair pickup.
A Mini pickup is cute but the cab is not friendly to people around 6 foot or better as the seat can't be moved back. Plus, any Mini pickup that isn't a advertisment for Bondo will cost you $10,000+.
The Brat is quite popular and hard to find. Keep in mind the rear seats are welded into the bed to make it classify as a 'car'.
Don't rule out the Chevy Luv/Isuzu P'up twins, they will run forever.
Treb wrote:... I'm not totally into the magic spinning triangles thing, anyway.
Heretic! 
You could also do VW--you know--the one that looks like a hippie van with the back cut off. Dropping a Porsche engine into that would be way cool.
80's RN Truck.
I don't know if these fit classic criteria or not but what about an early to mid 80s Ranger or one of the Dodge D50/Plymouth version or even a Dodge Rampage?
For the odd factor there is always the Chevrolet Corvair Rampside...
maroon92 wrote:Check Jay Leno's site for a recent video ^For the odd factor there is always the Chevrolet Corvair Rampside...
What about a watercooled VW Caddy? Prices are coming back up on them, but parts are cheap & you can go anywhere from mild-to-wild with your build.
Treb wrote:Responding in no particular order to things said above:
I'm 6', my wife is 5'10".
I thought about REPU, but something about the look isn't right -- and I'm not totally into the magic spinning triangles thing, anyway.
Take a look at the Ford Courier. It was the inline 4 version of the REPU with out the odd fender flares or funny lights.
I changed the engine in mine a few times due to youth and ended up with an engine out of a Mazda B2000. For weight, just add air bag helper springs.
