why no FWD pickup trucks?

[K-Man]

Don't forget the Plymouth Scamp. That was the (rare) sister to the Dodge Rampage, which was based on the Omni/024 two-door.

Actually, I did hear of a few Rabbit pickup owners complaining about lack of traction when hauling and especially if trying to tow a trailer. All of these vehicles are very rare today. I saw a Rabbit pickup at one of the big Pennsylvania swap meets this year and it was the first I've seen in several years.

For our UK and Oz dudes, the Rabbit was the name given to the US-spec first-generation VW Golf in the 1970s-early 1980s. Later it bacame the Golf as it is called everywhere else. VW built Rabbits, Golfs, and Jettas at a factory in Pennsylvania for several years until the early 1990s.

The Rabbit pickup was based on the first-generation model and was built at the Pennsylvania plant for North America only. Like the other FWD trucklets mentioned, it had a "unit" body in the sense that there was no break between the cab and bed. The RWD Chevrolet El Camino and its competitors had this issue too. This limited the body's ability to flex and therefore also its capacity.

 

[Al]

Subaru had that concept in the 70's in their wagon and their "pickup truck"

 

[Shannow]

Most of the people who drive Subaru Brumbies never engage the 4WD, so they are really a 2WD ute.

Down here, there was a pathetic little Suzuki FWD, that would be lucky to hold a 6-pack of your favorite brew.

There's a new one available down here which appears to be based on the J-Car platform.

 

[tdi-rick]

Shannow, isn't Protons 'Jumbuck' ute (a utility is Oz speak for a pick up) based on the FWD car chassis ?

There's still a few Brumbie utes running around farms here.

 

[Shannow]

quote:

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Originally posted by tdi-rick:
Shannow, isn't Protons 'Jumbuck' ute (a utility is Oz speak for a pick up) based on the FWD car chassis ?

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Yep, that's the one. Under the front looks rematkably like my 1987 Camira. Yet to see one with the bonnet open.

quote:

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Originally posted by tdi-rick:
There's still a few Brumbie utes running around farms here.

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There are heaps owned by people I work with.

Have you seen the couple in Sydney with WRX running gear from Japanese half cuts ?