Encyclopedia Hoonatica: FWD Pickups
The idea of burdening a vehicle with a load of cargo as far as possible from the wheels that both drive and steer said vehicle is at the very least undesirable to many, repugnant to some. Yet, wrong-wheel-drive pickups exist. The question is, how many?
Rather than skim off all the most obvious examples to get the ball rolling, this time I picked one easy option — Chrysler’s “Omnizon”-based Rampage/Scamp — and one that is a more obscure, at least to those of us in the U.S. of A. The Opel Corsa Utility (or “ute” or “bakkie”) was never sold here, but it has been a popular vehicle elsewhere in the world, including Mexico, where it is known as the Chevrolet Tornado (formerly, just Chevrolet “Chevy”) and Brazil, where it is called the Montana.
Read through the comments first, and avoid duplicating examples that have already been named. Use standard HTML to embed images and remember, include width="500" on large images!
Related posts:
VW Rabbit
<img src="http://image.trucktrend.com/f/9088316/163_17z_2007_big_socaleuro_gathering+volkswagen_rabbit_pickup+front_view.jpg">
<img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Skoda-Felicia_Pickup_1999_1280x960_wallpaper_01.jpg" width="320" height="240"> Skoda pickup thingy–please delete above comments!
I was getting worried we go more than a day without seeing that pic.
It's only a matter of days before it becomes a meme.
All your car photo are belong to NetCarShow.com
Best FWD Pickup EVER. You sir, get a +1
Fixed it for you:
<img src="http://ploader.net/files/b9bc6409fa6f31f32f2df1c102b310a3.jpg">
HAHAHA!
Frickin' awesome.
Mini! What? Yup.
<img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/trucks/1/0/S/O/mini_side3.jpg">
WANT!!
I has. I love.
<img src="http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8084/20100425123457.jpg">
Proton Jumbuck
<img src="http://www.themotorreport.com.au/content/image/4/3/43501_ancap_proton_jumbuck_01-4b77aa302af68.jpg" />
I see these around every now and then, and I still wonder how they can still be producing vehicles based on an early? 90s Lancer platform. Awful cars then, horrible little utes now. Cheap though, thanks to the Malaysian government.
Proton has sure gotten their money out of that platform. When I was in Malaysia, I remember thinking how weird it was to see so many mint old Lancers. Then I read the badges.
I drove my K-5 Blazer as a FWD for a few miles when it snapped a u-joint on the rear drive shaft.
I remember Georgia Tech had some converted Caviler or Celebrity wagons that had been camino-ized. This was the early 1990s. The athletic department used them to shuttle gear around campus. I believe these were built by the factory (Did GM Doraville build J-bodies or Celebrities?) and donated to the school, probably from rejected, pilot production, or some such wagons.
I did come up with one Aussie ute, the Proton Arena:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Proton_Arena_%28solid_bed_cover%29_%28front%29%2C_Kuala_Lumpur.jpg"width=600>
Tempo Matador
<img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2007/10/tempo123a.jpg">
WTF?? Never seen that before!
And if you aren't a fan of air cooled VW flat 4s, the very similar Jensen Tempo 1500
<img src="http://www.british-steel.org/brochure/trucks/tempo_58_1_l.jpg"width=600>
That is awesome. wantwantwantwantwant. So compelling, I had to find many pics here:
http://www.oldbug.com/tempo.htm
I have this site sitting on my favourits list, there are some of these pick-ups in Brazil
That has got to be one of the most stupendous vehicles ever made.
So. Much. Awesome…
What a gorgeous vehicle! Had never heard of it before either.
I am having difficulty gathering the words to describe how much I desire this vehicle.
Ford Bantam from South Africa
<img src="http://www.carsinaction.net/userfiles/image/newsletters/lb_1409%20bantf.jpg"width=600>
Does the Citroen Mehari count?
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari_offen.jpg" width="500">
I wanted to post the Mehari, but I still don't know how to post photos here. What am I missing? The US market Meharis were almost certainly pickup trucks, all 214 of them.
use standard HTML img tags. +img src="URL"+ replace plus symbols with <>
Here is a scan of the brochure for the Mehari: http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/a-series/a-…
From the excellent Citroenet.co.uk
Looks like a VW Thing as styled by Pontiac circa 1996.
Great news! Dacia makes a ute version of the Logan.
<img src="http://www.news-auto.at/img-news-auto/dacia-logan-pick-up.jpg" width="498" height="295" />
Can we call that a draw? Must have been pretty much simultaneous with me. And I have to go out for the evening. I can't leave without making a contribution…
Works for me.
Here in Brasil, we have plenty:
The VW Saveiro:
<img src="http://wp.zap.com.br/autos//2009/08/saveiro-trooper-lateral.jpg" "width=500">
The Chevy Montana:
<img src="http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/Y/l/chevrolet_montana.jpg" "width=500">
The disgusting Fiat Strada – now with seating for 4 (it's shorter than a Jetta. Go figure…):
<img src="http://spbcar.ru/news/en/i/2009-07-06/fiat_strada_dupla1.jpg" "width=500">
The Dacia Logan pickup (not sold in Brasil):
<img src="http://img4.imagebanana.com/img/9telyfh5/DaciaLoganPickup.jpg" "width=500">
Those are out of the top of my head. We also have the Ford Courrier, but it's a sister to the Bantam posted above.
What's wrong with the Fiat? It's got Countach-esque wheel arches.
Way,WAY too much cladding for such a small car. plus, the standard or trekking models -this is the adventure- have round wheel arches which work much better.
Trabant 500 pickup – only a prototype.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Trabant500Pickup.jpg" width=500>
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1321/539467725_9f54cbbd09.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1983 Renault 4 pickup truck" />
The Renault 4 truck.
Hanomag made some front wheel drive trucks in a variety of configurations:
<img src="http://th04.deviantart.net/fs51/PRE/i/2009/271/a/d/F35_car_transporter_by_Mechanicman.jpg">
(image from this page: http://mechanicman.deviantart.com/art/F35-car-tra…
<img src="http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/68115.jpg">
(image from this page: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/international-autom…
Here is a drawing (taken from the same page as the previous picture), showing the chassis:
<img src="http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/68109.jpg">
ARRGH! That first image looked fine on the original site!
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
I will use width=500 from now on for all my images.
/Bart Simpson'd
I've only ever seen pictures of Hanomags – I hope to see a real one someday.
Does the Pruck count?
<img src="http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Pruck-painted-001.jpg"width=600>
See, I thought it was symmetrical all wheel drive, but I am probably mistaken.
Looks pretty damn assymetrical to me.
There's the Hoggar with the creepy smile.
<img src="http://www.autocarbe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/PeugeotHoggar_01.jpg"/>
Hoggar the Horrible?
<img src="http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationscomic/other/hagar.jpg">
I spent some quality time looking up FWD pickups at work. I wonder what the charge code is for that?
Cadillac occasionally did Caminos, and one of them was based of the FWD ElDo at one point, I believe.
Cadillac themselves didn't build the pickups, but you're right in that there were definitely third-party pickup conversions for the Eldorado.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3711484902_926c7f0448.jpg">
FWD. T-Top. Cadillac. Pickup.
Beware flying pigs.
The awesome doesn't end there – wood bed and landau roof. The Pep Boys Daytons have to go, though. That deserves wide whites, or at least Vogues.
That there is the Cadillac of Cowboy Cadillacs.
It's very close but not quite there yet. This must be THE Cowboy Cadillac to end them all.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2505/4078545631_7565438094.jpg">
That is pimp-tastic. Who cares that the hood is longer than the bed?
Bonus points for paint-matching the hubcaps.
Did you know there was a "California Shelby" version of the Rampage? 218 were built.
<img src="http://www.dempseybowling.com/sheldodg/rampage.jpg" />
Image from http://www.dempseybowling.com/sheldodg/sheldode.h…
Yes. And you beat me to posting it .
Technically it's AWD, but since it's derived from FWD products…
<img src="http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2011/Ridgeline/shop/gallery-image-02.jpg" width="500"/>
<img src="http://images.caradisiac.com/logos/8/7/4/5/128745/S5-Miniature-1-43eme-CITROEN-2cv-pick-up-32772.jpg">
Fiat 147 Pick-up
<img src="http://sp6.fotolog.com.br/photo/54/39/116/80s_cars/1227892429457_f.jpg">
The Citroen H van was/is front wheel drive, right? As the site where this picture comes from states: pickup were very rare.
<img src="http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/h-van/hvan-srw/pickup2.jpg"> <a href="http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/h-van/hvan-srw/hvan12.html” target=”_blank”>http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/h-van/hvan-srw/hvan12.html
Ford Pampa
<img src="http://www.clubdelrey.hpg.ig.com.br/fotos/pampa86.jpg">
Alfa pickup
<img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8057/2089/1600/alfa05.0.jpg">
hoonibbles
<img src="http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachments/anything-about-alfa-romeos-alfabb-com/165978d1265785203-alfa-pickup-conversion-alfa-romeo-164-pickup-02.jpg">
<img src="http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachments/romeo-f12-a12/78375d1189751519-romeo-romeo-2-romeo-3-pictures-4qyywe0.jpg">
SM pickup always worth showing
<img src="http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/enthusiast176/hathaway_citroen_sm-01a.jpg">
More from Citroen: the Berlingo is available as a chassis-cab!
<img src="http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/psa/berlingo/images/blingo11.jpg" width=500> <a href="http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/psa/berlingo/berlingo-2.html” target=”_blank”>http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/psa/berlingo/berlingo-2.html
One more. I promise, I'm done with Citroen: http://www.citroenet.org.uk/utilities/c15/c15-1.h…
I wonder how much chassis flex that has?
It's a Citroen, are you sure the back didn't just fall off?
And one that is near and dear to my heart:
<img src="http://image.automotive.com/f/featuredvehicles/mazda/11206098+soriginal/0504st_01_z+custom_mazda_protege_5+front_left_view.jpg" width=500>
Do these count as pickups?
<img src="http://www.perftrlrs.com/images/FRONT004S.jpg">
<img src="http://www.perftrlrs.com/images/REAR001S.jpg">
<img src="http://www.442.com/tech/haulerside.gif">
Got any more info on the top pic of the Sterling? That is so friggen cool!
The link appears to be dead, but here it is at archive.org: http://web.archive.org/web/20061023202852/http://…
I found another pic of a FWD truck, sort of.
<img src="http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=280351&d=1172087520">
wat is this i dont even…
It's a yard mule for a marina. It's designed to haul boats out of the water, I believe.
I love it and want it with every fibre of my being.
I was all set to post an old beetle pickup, but then I remembered that it would be RWD, so I went with this instead:
<img src="http://chrisescars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/vw-beetle-pickup-large05.jpg" width=500>
O.k., last one, I swear:
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4048138594_b39aef7e45.jpg">
+1 for the typically attractive drivers and multitudes of Red Bull found within, -1 because I'm fairly sure they're all automatics.
<img src="http://i.pbase.com/o2/21/513721/1/127846242.EkB3TE7H.brat.jpg">
I think the Subaru Brat fits here, ya I know it was sold as a 4×4 but it was based on a FWD car, ya I know it came with seats in the bed and was sold as a car not truck but most every one took those out.
All Subarus are 4WD, so you can't really say it's "based on a FWD car". Sorry.
it wasn't until 97 that all Subarus were AWD before that it was an option, still the Brat was offered only as a AWD Still I think most would put it in the Volkswagen Caddy, Mopar Rampage camp but admit it is a criticizable pick.
I think the DAF truck were front wheel drive. http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/rustypatro…
DAF? Who cares! Feast your eyes on the FAF-amino! http://jalopnik.com/cars/retro/screw-the-dafamino…
For those new around these parts, the post linked above is part of a series of illarious articles from the early days of Jalopnik called FAF versus DAF.
DAF were RWD.
Therefore, FAF wins! Well, except I believe the FAF trucks were 4WD, though they were built on a FWD chassis.
I've been to some deep, dark places on the internet, and I've found this:
Daihatsu Mira:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/Daihatsumira.jpg">
Factory 2CV pickup for the Royal Navy:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/citroen5.jpg" width="500">
Jiane, Iranian 2CV:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/jiane.jpg">
FAFamino, 2CV base:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/fafamino_blue.jpg">
Renault Rodeo, to be added to the convertible pickups thread:
<img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/RenaultRodeo.jpg" width="500">
And to be a jackass, I should add an Avalanche to the convertible pickups thread as well.
EDIT: Hat tip to OA5599 for the Chevy.
Somehow I remembered having read about this on Allpar one long, cold winter night…
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/1977_Simca_Matra_Rancho.jpg/800px-1977_Simca_Matra_Rancho.jpg" width="500">
Which led me to the Matra/Simca Rancho's origins, a Simca 1100 based LCV.
<img src="http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3588/simca11001200pickupll5.jpg" width="500">
And who hasn't cruised AllPar reading about Matra Simcas?
I have not. Yet!
I saw an '83 the other day, in real life! I rule.
Ooh, I know what's going to happen to my wife's GC, when she's done with it.
Where did that pile of awesome come from? And does it have enough power to move?
Here:
http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=21
And apparently, yes.
I actually found that myself yesterday, and posted it as a feature for today.
Great minds think alike.
Bwa? It seems ridiculous to have tires that wide on the rear if they're not handling the power. But, I suppose, weirder things have been seen at SEMA.
That said the co's bread and butter are commercial trucks/trailers with the application of their technology and serious capacity.
<img src="http://www.dallassmithcorp.com/images/cabchassiszframecutaway.jpg"/ width="500">
I'll bet you could build one helluva nice motorhome on that chassis. I wonder if anyone does.
Probably to distribute payload weight.
Damn, you guys picked this one pretty clean here, even the El Doradomino… what don't we have here… one off crazy custom SAAB, here you go…
<img src="http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2096616040_e597946ed2_b.jpg" WIDTH="500">
Front wheel drive Unimog! I'm not sure if these were factory built, but CERN had (and probably still has) a few of them.
This particular one comes from our friends at Bring A Trailer:
<img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/1966_Mercedes_Benz_Unimog_Ruthmann_Car_Hauler_Front_1.jpg" width=500>
The US Government considered this a truck (even though it really isn't)
<img src="http://www.dragtimes.com/images/11483-2003-Chrysler-PT-Cruiser.jpg"width=600>
Technically a flower car, not a pickup it was at least professionally converted:
<img src="http://www.northlandpcs.com/images/museum/Eagle_LeEscort_Flower_Car_1221.jpg"width=600>
Interesting. Do they just take a 4×4 and take off the back driveshaft? I wonder how that'd drive…?
It looks more complicated than that: they swap in a Dana 60 front and use some very heavy duty transfer cases. http://www.dallassmithcorp.com/manufacturing.html http://www.baesystems.com/WorldwideLocations/Sout…
I just got a weird image in my head of a rear engined, front wheel drive vehicle.
You mean this guy?
<img src="http://nialldebuitlear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dymaxion-001.jpg" />
Or this. 350 Chevy in the back driving the front wheels through an Audi axle. Some serious engineering, outweighed only by the stupidity. [youtube Fqrqqb3H43U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqrqqb3H43U youtube]
A couple of years ago, I was a local wrecking yard here northeast of Dallas, and spotted a Mexican Ford Courier (a silver one) sitting out in front of the office:
<img src="http://images04.olx.com.mx/ui/1/71/33/1726833_3.jpg">
There wasn't any body damage on it, so I assumed that the engine or transmission crapped out.
Had a friend do that for a couple of months with a lifted Bronco II…
Don't forget the Fiesta based 1990 Ford Bebop Concept:
<img src="http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/studio/large/90Ghia_Ford_Fiesta_Bebop_03.jpg%20.jpg" width="600">