What Happened To The Minitruck Scene?

This was my daily for seven years. Sold it 2014, because me and my two pre-teen boys weren't going to fit the standard cab much longer.

No mini van for me now, but when I drove this, most folks thought I was driving my kid's mini truck.

I had a Toyota mini pickup in high school and loved it. It is a shame that no one makes a crew cab mini pickup anymore .

the minitruck scene effectively just died out due to the automotive landscape moving on. Minitrucks don't exist anymore in stock form, and they basically haven't for 10+ years now.

Trucks were plentiful, cheap, and the scene provided a lot of fun. It was a similar entry point as what many of the stance kids are doing now. Affordable used cars, fancy wheels, lowered suspension, with some dabbling into more extensive mods and fabrication.

There is still a legitimate minitruck culture out there, but it's much smaller, and mostly a lot more serioius. Extensive modifications, fabrications, etc.

throwback time... this was my '87 S-10 longbed I put together after high school. Body dropped, bagged, shaved, candy paint, Fiero buckets.

As for the fiberglass era, the trend of body kits gave way to bags by the late 90's. Then it was viewed almost as cheating at being low vs. actually laying frame on the ground.. then pinch welds.. then rockers... then doors as people kept pushing the envelope.

You should be able to find an Extreme body kit with some internet digging, but good luck finding 80's style aftermarket minitruck body kits.

There are zero factory mini trucks anymore and all the old ones are rusted to e36m3. Damn shame. The thing is, it makes no sense because little trucks make awesome little work vehicles, they're much more fuel efficient, and they're cheaper to buy.

I miss small trucks, shopping for one now. Looking for a mid 90's Toyota or Nissan.

Here's my contribution:

What happened to the minitruck scene?

It's Dead Jim.

I'll leave these here...

sesto elemento wrote:

I don't recognized this one...

Nigel's gets two hotlinks because best truck ever.

stan wrote:

sesto elemento wrote:

I don't recognized this one...

Saw a couple of those (I think?) in Bolivia this summer. Do want.

stan wrote:

sesto elemento wrote:

I don't recognized this one...

It's a hakotora (a datsun sunny pickup with a hakosuka skyline front end ). And it's god damn beautiful.

And a 2jz no less. Wicked.

I think this body style is gorgeous. Love the rear flares. Love the exhaust exit. Needs a tonneau cover and some finah work but damn.

Amazing that the 2wd version looks so slender and that goes away completely with some ride height.