Dodge Li’l Red Express
Often considered the grandfather of performance pickup trucks, the Dodge Li’l Red Express became one of the most iconic trucks of the muscle car era.
While it was not the first pickup to receive a big V8 engine, it stood out with its 5.9-liter V8 producing around 225 hp and its distinctive twin vertical exhaust stacks behind the cab.
Introduced in the late 1970s, when many American muscle cars were losing power due to stricter emissions regulations, Dodge created a pickup that still delivered the excitement of a classic muscle car.
Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible
In the late 1980s, sales of the Dodge Dakota began to slow down. To attract more buyers, Dodge tried something unusual: turning its midsize pickup into a convertible.
Selected Dakota Sport models were sent to the American Sunroof Corporation (ASC), where their traditional roofs were removed and replaced with a folding canvas top along with a single roll bar.
The idea was certainly unique, but customers were not impressed. The Dakota Sport Convertible became one of Dodge’s more unusual experiments that failed to gain popularity.
Chevrolet SSR
Chevrolet made another attempt at a convertible pickup with the SSR (Super Sport Roadster) in the early 2000s.
Unlike the Dakota, the SSR featured a modern retractable hardtop roof. However, its retro-inspired styling was controversial, and many buyers found the design difficult to appreciate.
Early models were powered by a 5.3-liter V8 producing around 300 hp, but the SSR was criticized for lacking true sports-car performance and everyday practicality.
With a starting price of around $42,000, it was also considered expensive for what it offered.
Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6
When a regular pickup is not extreme enough, Hennessey Performance has the answer: the VelociRaptor 6×6.
Based on the Ford F-150 Raptor, the truck receives an additional rear axle, giving it a massive six-wheel, six-wheel-drive configuration.
For nearly $400,000, buyers get a vehicle equipped with a 3-inch suspension lift, 37-inch off-road tires, and a design inspired by military-style machines.
The VelociRaptor 6×6 combines the performance of a super pickup with the capability of an extreme expedition vehicle.
Tesla Cybertruck
When it arrived in late 2023, the Tesla Cybertruck immediately became one of the most controversial production pickups ever made.
Its futuristic design, angular bodywork, and stainless-steel exterior completely changed the image of what a pickup truck could look like.
The top Tri-Motor Cyberbeast version delivers up to 845 hp, making it one of the most powerful electric pickups currently available.
Hummer H1
Most people remember the Hummer H1 as a massive military-style SUV, but it was also available as a proper two-door pickup.
Based on the military HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), the civilian Hummer was created partly due to pressure from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wanted the military vehicle available for public buyers.
With its enormous size, extreme off-road ability, and unmistakable appearance, the Hummer H1 remains one of the most legendary trucks ever built.
Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside
During the early 1960s, cab-forward designs became popular among American commercial vehicles.
The Chevrolet Corvair 95 took a different approach with its rear-mounted engine layout and was offered in Rampside form.
Its unique feature was a side-loading ramp that allowed owners to load cargo from the side of the truck instead of only from the rear.
GMC Fenderside Crew Cab
Crew cab pickups are common today, but the idea was still unusual during the 1960s.
After International Harvester introduced the Travelette in 1957, GMC began offering crew cab pickups through outside coachbuilders.
One particularly rare example was the GMC Fenderside Crew Cab, equipped with an enormous nine-foot cargo bed, combining passenger space with impressive hauling capability.
Chevrolet S-10 EV
Electric pickup trucks may seem like a modern invention, but General Motors experimented with the idea back in 1997.
The Chevrolet S-10 EV used a regular-cab S-10 pickup fitted with a modified electric motor from the failed EV1 project.
Power came from a 16.2 kWh lead-acid battery pack, giving it a range of only around 33 miles (53 km).
The S-10 EV was produced for just two years, with fewer than 500 units built, making it one of the early pioneers of electric pickup technology.
From muscle-car-inspired pickups and convertible trucks to futuristic electric machines, these vehicles prove that the pickup segment has always been a place where manufacturers can experiment with bold and unusual ideas.
