The top most honorable Japanese pickups

I remember those. There was a dark green one a few blocks from my house when I was in high school. This one is a 1971.

Those early Jap trucks are great. I expect to see Godzirra come stomp on them at any time.

Jensenman wrote: Loved the REPU, I had a 1974 Ford Courier which was a rebadged Mazda, basically the same truck with a piston motor. Bulletproof, capable, fun to drive. The cab was a bit cramped for my 6 foot carcass, not good for long trips. I had a Hardbody extended cab 4x4 with a V6 and 5 speed, loved that truck. When the lil' one came along it had to go, no way to get the wife/kid/car seat/me all in dry storage for trips to Gramma's house. That's what brought the Rodeo to my house. Now that she's older, if I were going older riceburner pickup truck it would have to be an extended cab T100. For me it would be the perfect size: big enough bed for a 4x8 sheet of plywood (the gold standard of bed size) small enough to fit in the average suburban garage and still be able to move around inside with an interior big enough to stretch out in. I wonder why the Isuzu P'UP/Chevy LUV and/or the later pickup didn't make the list? Tougher than nails and last forever.

Mazdax605 owns a REPU. They are very handsome pickups, and this coming from someone who doesn't care for trucks. I've also heard a tale or two from guys who've owned/ridden in them back in the day. They all remarked on how friggin' fast it was, how it would max out the speedo and keep accelerating, etc.

Last fall, someone was selling a $800 T100 4x4 near my friend's house in the NH boonies. It was kind of rusty, but it ran like a top. Two of my friends and I were going to chip in and buy it as a runabout for one guy's farm and as a technical for our paintball games. Sadly, one of the guys had to dump money into his Grand Prix's constantly broken suspension and couldn't contribute, so the truck got sold.

Jay wrote: Here's a Fiat Strada:

DO WANT!!!

I hope the deal with chrysler brings them over.. I might actually buy a new car

Jensenman wrote: Loved the REPU, I had a 1974 Ford Courier which was a rebadged Mazda, basically the same truck with a piston motor. Bulletproof, capable, fun to drive. The cab was a bit cramped for my 6 foot carcass, not good for long trips. I had a Hardbody extended cab 4x4 with a V6 and 5 speed, loved that truck. When the lil' one came along it had to go, no way to get the wife/kid/car seat/me all in dry storage for trips to Gramma's house. That's what brought the Rodeo to my house

I too had a 73 courier (they got bigger inside in 76 though). Mine went through 3 engines due to my age. I have also had 2 hardbodies (87 and 96) and now have a Titan. I would love to find a REPU and turn it into a daily commuter with an updated engine from an RX7 for RX8 along with Air. It could be a lot of fun.

A 13B REW/6 speed in a REPU with some serious suspension upgrades but lookin' stock on the outside... man, that could be a LOT of fun.

Well, my 86 RN5 Truck, Number 2 on their list, is still going strong. I took it to work twice this week. The new leather interior rocks. It's like sitting in an easy chair.

alfadriver wrote:

ignorant wrote: I want.. ...... Australian ford ranger.. 4x4.. 4 door basic truck.

Paitence, my friend. Eric

you made me happy.

Datsun1500 wrote: I got #1 YEAH!

SWEET! Dude, ya gotta Readers' Ride it.

A high scool friend of mine had a BRAT, it was his beach wagon. That thing would go places where my Jeep SJ would just sink to the hubs. Great fun, watching in the rearview as our girls screamed and hung on for dear life to the handles in those plastic seats out back.. I think those memories are why I chose Subie over Mitsu in the WRC wars a few years ago.

There's a guy locally who has one of the old Rotary Pickups converted into some kind of work truck, but I can't tell if it still has the rotary in it. I'll try to snag a pic, but I haven't seen it in a week.

I always wanted a Hyundai Pony: Had a '76 Courier. Aside from the manually adjusted drum brakes all around and the complete lack of power, I liked that little thing. I did manage to overheat it and crack the head though.

Never cared for the Rangers much, and I had two of them. Sure were better built than the S-10s I drove though.

Was driving the Mini earlier this week and passed a guy driving a Kei truck. I still lust for one, even though I have no practical reason for it.

those kei trucks are neat.. it would be great if some big name manufactorer actually decided to make a full size pick up in that style. Full size bed on a smaller platform.. sounds like a win to me.

besides, how many guys would LOVE to show off how their cab lifts up to see the engine?

I guess Chevy LUVs don't count?

Actually worked on a couple Toyota Stouts when i worked for a dealer in the mid '70s. We also had a 2000GT in the showroom (on loan)...

I had a 86 yota 4x4. Best truck ever.

I remember the Toyota pickups.. where everyone remoted the "ota" from the end of the names on the tailgate to have it say "toy"

Those little Kei trucks do sweet stoppies .

I remember when people used to remove the "TO" and "TA" and just have "YO". Or remove all the letters and put "TONKA" on instead, which I consider a compliment, as when I was a kid, a Tonka was indestructable and highly prized.

My buddy from school has a Nissan Hardbody. That thing will NOT die, despite rust holes in the frame big enough to put your arm through. He uses it to bomb through the woods near his house in the middle of nowhere haha.

thatsnowinnebago wrote: I'm glad the REPU made that list. One day, I will own one. For now, I'll happily stick with number 2 :

You're in luck,I have one for sale.

mtn wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

ignorant wrote: I want.. ...... Australian ford ranger.. 4x4.. 4 door basic truck.

Paitence, my friend. Eric

Diesel?

Answer the question..

2.5 or 3.0 duratorq would be sweet. I will buy if it comes with a manual trans, no questions asked. I will have the money in 2 years..

alfadriver wrote:

ignorant wrote: I want.. ...... Australian ford ranger.. 4x4.. 4 door basic truck.

Paitence, my friend. Eric

Oh? I'm going to need details here.

thatsnowinnebago wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

ignorant wrote: I want.. ...... Australian ford ranger.. 4x4.. 4 door basic truck.

Paitence, my friend. Eric

Oh? I'm going to need details here.

http://www.nextautos.com/first-look-europe%E2%80%99s-new-ford-ranger-may-give-us-a-glimpse-2011

found there.

I've seen them in the UK and I like.

My favorite japanese truck is the datsun 620 based on its styling. Doesn't hurt that my family has owned a hardbody and both generations of frontier without fault either.

ignorant wrote: I want.. A Diesel UK or Australian ford ranger.. 4x4.. 4 door basic truck.

Or the GM Holden Colorado, for that matter.

Don't know why, but Montana is infested with those kei trucks. Neat, but $6,000+ for a 5-10 year old truck?

mel_horn wrote: I guess Chevy LUVs don't count?

Izuzu. IIRC, they were actually sold over here as the Izuzu "P'up" for awhile after Chevy quit rebadging them.

mel_horn wrote: Actually worked on a couple Toyota Stouts when i worked for a dealer in the mid '70s. We also had a 2000GT in the showroom (on loan)...

Stop that, you're gonna make me drool...