This truck features Ford’s diminutive 60-horsepower V8 engine that debuted in 1937. It was quickly discontinued in the United States, but remained popular in Europe where cars were taxed according to their power output.

1937 Ford 73 STATS

Exhibited through the courtesy of The Early Ford V8 Foundation Museum, Auburn, Indiana.

DID YOU KNOW…?

Like the rest of Ford’s 1937 line, this truck featured mechanically actuated brakes.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Keep on Truckin’: The American Pickup Truck was on display at the Museum from 2017-2018.  This series of articles comes for the displays from that exhibition.

The post 1937 Ford 73 appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

This 1949 Studebaker 2R-5 was a part of the 2R series.  Studebaker debuted its new 2R-Series truck line in mid-1948 to much fanfare. The 2R’s styling was penned by Studebaker designer Robert Bourke, who later designed the 1953 Studebaker Starliner hardtop.

The 2R was offered in a wide variety of models from the standard pickup to heavy duty 2-ton units, and included such modern features as concealed running boards and a double-wall pickup beds. The 2R line remained in production through 1953, and was Studebaker’s best selling truck series.

1949 STUDEBAKER 2R-5 STATS

Gift of Bill Steinmetz, Lakeville, Indiana.

DID YOU KNOW…?

2R-Series trucks were built at Studebaker’s Chippewa Avenue plant, which still stands today.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Keep on Truckin’: The American Pickup Truck was on display at the Museum from 2017-2018.  This series of articles comes for the displays from that exhibition.

The post 1949 Studebaker 2R-5 appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

The Scout debuted in 1961 and remained in production through 1980. The Scout 800 was built from 1965-1968 and offered many comfort and convenience upgrades over earlier models. This Scout was purchased new by a former International Harvester employee upon his retirement in 1967.

Exhibited through the courtesy of National Automotive and Truck Museum, Auburn, Indiana.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Keep on Truckin’: The American Pickup Truck was on display at the Museum from 2017-2018.  This series of articles comes for the displays from that exhibition.

The post 1967 International Scout 800 appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

Because of the Model A’s low price, it became a staple of rural life in the United States into the late 1940s. It was not only produced for the domestic market but also built in foreign countries. The Model A pickup was built under license in the Soviet Union as the GAZ-A from 1929 until the 1940s.

Exhibited through the courtesy of Paul and Cathy White, South Bend, Indiana.

The post 1929 Ford Model A appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

Exhibited through the courtesy of Richard Quinn, Mokena, Illinois.

The post 1941 Studebaker Coupe-Delivery appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

In the early 1900s, hundreds of Midwest communities were home to startup automobile manufacturers and Ann Arbor, Michigan, was no exception.

The Huron River Manufacturing Co. of Ann Arbor believed that rural Americans needed a dual-purpose vehicle to transport the family to church on Sunday and bring products to market on Monday. The Ann Arbor Convertible Touring achieved this versatility through removable seating and a folding top. It is exhibited here with one of its two seats removed.

Exhibited through the courtesy of Arthur French, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The post 1911 Ann Arbor Convertible Touring appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

Studebaker’s Coupe Express foreshadowed the passenger car based trucks of the late 1950’s. It was based on the Studebaker Dictator, sharing its chassis and many body components with that model.  The Coupe Express was produced from 1937-1939, and was updated each year to reflect the latest Studebaker passenger car designs. It never sold in great numbers – only 5,700 were built during its three-year run. Coupe Expresses are highly sought after today by vintage truck enthusiasts.

Gift of Gladys Christian, Tacoma, Washington

The post 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.

The pickup truck is a true American icon, embodying versatility, ruggedness, and dependability. It traces its roots to horse drawn farm wagons and delivery vehicles and has evolved into the motor age’s workhorse.

Early pickup trucks were often modified passenger cars with makeshift beds replacing the body’s rear section. The Ford Motor Company was an early player in the pickup truck market with its Model T-based light truck models. By the late 1930’s, many of the major U.S. automakers offered light-duty commercial vehicles.

After World War II, pickup trucks began evolving from basic utility vehicles to a new mode of personal transport. Manufacturers invested more resources in commercial vehicle styling, and pickup trucks grew more comfortable and refined.  Chevrolet’s Cameo Carrier debuted in 1955 as a “luxury truck” featuring two-tone paint, fiberglass bed panels and a long list of standard features.

The truck market continued to expand in the coming decades, including car-based trucks (Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero) and performance/specialty trucks (Ford F150 Lighting, GMC Cyclone, Dodge Ram SRT 10.)

The pickup truck is a common sight on American roads and remains the world’s top-selling passenger vehicle. Once a simple tool of labor, today’s pickup trucks range from spartan work vehicles to luxurious boulevard cruisers.

About this Series

Keep on Truckin’: The American Pickup Truck was on display at the Museum from 2017-2018.  This series of articles comes for the displays from that exhibition.

The post Keep on Truckin’: The American Pickup Truck appeared first on The Studebaker National Museum.