Where is the modern mini-truck?

[Nessism1]

Am I the only one that thinks that the time may be right for a modern mini-truck? How about a Nissan built Datsun truck. Make it small, rugged, and cheap. Standard 2.5L engine is plenty. 1/2 ton. Small enough to fit in the driveway. I'd buy one anyway.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Am I the only one that thinks that the time may be right for a modern mini-truck? How about a Nissan built Datsun truck. Make it small, rugged, and cheap. Standard 2.5L engine is plenty. 1/2 ton. Small enough to fit in the driveway. I'd buy one anyway.

View attachment 250733

The ODO died at 350K on my 1993(?) Toyota 4WD strippie with the mighty 22RE.
And was in-service for years after that.

 

[WobblyElvis]

The Chicken tax did away with them.

Chicken tax - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[CKN]

Am I the only one that thinks that the time may be right for a modern mini-truck? How about a Nissan built Datsun truck. Make it small, rugged, and cheap. Standard 2.5L engine is plenty. 1/2 ton. Small enough to fit in the driveway. I'd buy one anyway.

View attachment 250733

So-I guess it's not the Maverick? It would be interesting to note payload, towing, etc., numbers against your example and a new Maverick.

 

[ctechbob]

And the EPA (Apparently)

 

[fantastic]

Think that was the 520? Looks similar to the Love. Never got to finish my 97' Hardbody that was bodydropped on airbags w/suicide doors. Oh well. Midsize was getting more popular. Lot's of folks just blame the EPA but there's more to the story than that. They would never cut the mustard on safety ratings either by today's standards. But I do want to see another mini truck pop up in the USA & CA.

 

[JTK]

I don't think the market would support a small 2-seater, long bed, ultra basic pickup truck anymore. I think it would be a great option, but we BITOG fellers are in a league of our own.

What would be closest today? A ~$24K Ford Maverick if you could find one?

 

[tcp71]

The older son has a 2008 ranger single cab with a 2.3 and manual transmission. pretty much what you want.

 

[Kira]

LOVE the fender mounted mirrors. Made me think of James Bond's car.
Sis' '84 Toyota Pickup (2 years before 'Hilux' in the USA) was just that...a tin box.
A fun to drive tin box with a 5-speed. I don't recall it being called an "SR5" or not.

 

[cptbarkey]

Thailand, most of the world still has respect for trucks. Here is a small load of durian. The USA has jewelry, not trucks.

 

[Rmay635703]

So-I guess it's not the Maverick? It would be interesting to note payload, towing, etc., numbers against your example and a new Maverick.

The Maverick is as big as some of the old full size trucks but the interior is like a cargo van and the bed is as big as the trunk on an old car

 

[dlundblad]

Here’s this thing, but no US sales unfortunately.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a45752401/toyotas-10000-future-pickup-truck-is-basic-transportation-perfection/

 

[SC Maintenance]

The Chicken tax did away with them.

Chicken tax - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No, chicken tax has been around since WW2 and the easiest way around it is to build them here - aka the original Ranger / S10.

The real reason is Cafe, and specifically the Cafe formula, contrived by Morons, is the reason.

The Maverick / santa cruze type is pretty close. Maybe more manufacturers will make those type going forward.

 

[mr_boring]

Those old Datsuns/Loves etc were tiny. When the S10 made it's debut (and it was still pretty small especially compared to the monsters of today) they were just so much more comfortable. Not much bigger overall, but to a big 6'1 220lb 18-19 year old me, it was a world of difference.

To me, the early S10's had it all. I had an '83 Durango single cab short box V6 stick shift 4wd. It was my first truck. I could get it muddy as all sin inside and out and as long as I covered up the radio with a bit of plastic I had no problems hosing out the interior. With the stock radio I probably wouldn't have even bothered covering it.

 

[eljefino]

Like said, it's the "shadow" of the vehicle and which CAFE segment it gets put into. Bigger shadows have an easier time. Even the corolla has dumb ground effects now, which I figure are to enhance it into the next "shadow class."

 

[mr_boring]

No, chicken tax has been around since WW2 and the easiest way around it is to build them here - aka the original Ranger / S10.

The real reason is Cafe, and specifically the Cafe formula, contrived by Morons, is the reason.

The Maverick / santa cruze type is pretty close. Maybe more manufacturers will make those type going forward.

"You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new west. You know… morons"
Gene Wilder - Blazing Saddles.
Replace the word 'farmers' with 'politicians' and what was true then is still true now....

 

[D60]

Yep, the vid in Post #5 seems to cover it. Even if you wanted to build it and 500 million people would buy it, those who know better than you would not allow it.

It doesn't make sense, thus it does.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Those old Datsuns/Loves etc were tiny.

A neighbour had a Datsun when I was a kid, and I remember riding in it thinking it was awesome. I ran into one a few years ago and was shocked how small it actually is. Curb weight was a little over 2000 lbs.

 

[camrydriver111]

I saw several US states are also banning registration of Kei cars, because it's "unsafe".

Meanwhile motorcycles are perfectly safe.

 

[Nessism1]

I saw several US states are also banning registration of Kei cars, because it's "unsafe".

Meanwhile motorcycles are perfectly safe.

Everyone knows motorcycles are NOT safe. Buyer/user beware.

"Cars" on the other hand, are perceived as safe. Not everyone is logical.