Last of their Breed

They became more popular when they started making them with 4 doors like they did in America with the super cabs and crew cabs. It is no coincidence that the F150 became America's best selling vehicle a few short years after it was available with a Supercab.

Trucks became more passenger oriented with the introduction of crew cabs in the Toyota Stoutand the Hino Briska, was introduced in 1962. Dodge followed with a crew cab in 1963,Ford in 1965, and General Motors in 1973.

Regardless of where it is designed, where it was built, or which brand makes it. With their body on frame design, higher than a car stance, and purpose built bed; they are all based off of and are just smaller versions of the standard American pickup.

RobertRyan wrote:

I actually said that earlier in another post.. Prior to the that as in my post above yours Pickups did very badly in Australia. When they became more car like and sophisticated they started to sell. Well some have, but not all. Add in the fact they do not make Utes anymore.

RobertRyan wrote:
Hilux is a very much an Asian inspired and developed Pickup.,Ranger has been developed and designed in Australia

. Jim Hunter and his American co-driver, Randy Salmont not only finished the race but won their class, an incredible achievement! In the 1987 Baja

Based on a Ford Falcon XF utility “shell”, the car has been considerably strengthened and front and rear torsion bars used instead of springs. By using these torsion bars, the overall wheelbase has been lengthened assisting the “travel” of the car. The gearbox has been centrally mounted to even out weight distribution. The engineering in the car is quite outstanding with strategically placed shock absorbers allowing the car to negotiate some of the roughest terrain in the world with relative ease.

A Ford Cleveland race engine was fitted which allowed the car to reach speeds of over 200kph. The Americans were impressed by Jim’s achievement and a lot of his ideas found their way into cars being built for subsequent races.

Then I wonder why the smaller version of our American pickups like the Ranger and Hilux are among Australia's top selling vehicles month after month?

RobertRyan wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

No death of the car base killed them and the increasing sophistication of the Asian sourced Pickups. They still have many admirers who bought them instead of Pickups.

They may still have admirers just like there are some that still admire El Camino's or Ranchero's. However, there is either not enough admirers or the Asian sourced smaller versions of the American 4 door pickup is more practical for more people.


Most ute's were single cab's just like most pickup trucks were back in the day so you had to trade off a pick up bed for room for the family. Once frame material was strong enough and smaller pickups started having more than a two doors, then people who wanted a pickup didn't have to sacrifice family space as a trade off. Then Australia and the world finally found out why we American's like our pickups so much. Most ute's continued to be majorly single cabs (due to their unibody no frame car design) and were less practical for a family than the smaller 4 door version of American pickups.

We already had Pickups( including the F150, F250/F350 plus the Japanese Pickups) in Australia they and they did not sell well at all . In recent times Asian sourced Pickups have become more sophisticated and car like. Still Pickups have a patchy performance in Australia, SUV's being preferred. If there had been Australian management teams in both Ford and Holden they would have retained the traditional utes as well as the Pickups. In Holdens case that has become painfully clear.Ford and Holden have lost an enormous amount of market share shutting down local production and products

ShinerBock wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

No death of the car base killed them and the increasing sophistication of the Asian sourced Pickups. They still have many admirers who bought them instead of Pickups.

They may still have admirers just like there are some that still admire El Camino's or Ranchero's. However, there is either not enough admirers or the Asian sourced smaller versions of the American 4 door pickup is more practical for more people.


Most ute's were single cab's just like most pickup trucks were back in the day so you had to trade off a pick up bed for room for the family. Once frame material was strong enough and smaller pickups started having more than a two doors, then people who wanted a pickup didn't have to sacrifice family space as a trade off. Then Australia and the world finally found out why we American's like our pickups so much. Most ute's continued to be majorly single cabs (due to their unibody no frame car design) and were less practical for a family than the smaller 4 door version of American pickups.

RobertRyan wrote:

No death of the car base killed them and the increasing sophistication of the Asian sourced Pickups. They still have many admirers who bought them instead of Pickups.