In America, when it comes to pickups that are based on passenger cars, the the two most iconic cars at the Chevrolet El Camino and the Ford Ranchero, neither of which have been produced for decades.
Yet anyone who knows cars from outside borders will know that America isn’t the only place where these types of vehicles have been popular. For example, just ask any Australian about their beloved “Utes.” But did you know Japan has also had its fair share of car-pickup hybrids over the years?
Here are five notable examples released over the decades.
Toyota Crown Pickup
Although it was only exported to the US for a short time, the Crown is Toyota’s oldest nameplate, having been in production since 1955. And during the 1960s both the S40 and S50 model Crowns were offered in two-door pickup form.
One of the rarest of all Crown body styles, these pickups are very popular among collectors and customizers Japan, thanks largely to its resemblance to the El Camino and Ranchero.
The Crown wasn’t the only car-based pickup Toyota sold in the ‘60s. The Corona was also available as a “utility” vehicle with both single and double cab versions available.
The Corona was also imported to the US in large numbers during the 1960s, helping put Toyota on the map, but sadly the pickup versions were never imported here.
Nissan Sunny Truck
Next we get to what might be the most successful and popular pickup of the bunch—the Nissan Sunny Truck. It originally debuted in 1971 sharing most its design and chassis with the B110 Nissan Sunny (AKA Datsun 1200).
It ended up being so popular that production would continue on for a long time. It was still sold new in Japan up until 1994, looking nearly identical to the one from the ‘70s.
Honda Life Pickup
Not to be left out is Honda, who in 1973 introduced the Life Pickup. It was based on the micro-sized Honda Life van and had a 356cc two-cylinder engine powering the front wheels.
Not very many Life Pickups were sold, with buyers generally preferring the more purpose-built kei trucks built by Honda and many other Japanese automakers.
Toyota bB Open Deck
Last but not least we get to something that comes from the modern era—the Toyota bB Open Deck. The bB as you may remember, was the box-shaped compact car that was exported to the US as the Scion xB during the early 2000s.
Sadly Scion didn’t decide to bring over the bB Open Deck, which replaced the normal models hatchback rear with an open bed. It also had a double tailgate system where you could pass cargo all the way through cabin.
Special models mirrored the Chevy, with the Sprint/Caballero SP essentially the same as the El Camino SS, and the 1978-80 Caballero Laredo (renamed the Amarillo for 1981-87) essentially the same as the El Camino Conquista.
Production resumed for the 1964–1977 model years based on the Chevelle platform, and continued for the 1978–1987 model years based on the GM G-body platform. Although based on corresponding General Motors car lines, the vehicle is classified in the United States as a pickup.
The Ford Ranchero is a coupe utility that was produced by Ford between 1957 and 1979. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body.
On October 16, 1958, Chevrolet begins to sell a car-truck hybrid that it calls the El Camino. Inspired by the Ford Ranchero, which had already been on the market for two years, the El Camino was a combination sedan-pickup truck built on the Impala body, with the same “cat's eye” taillights and dramatic rear fins.
With a starting price of under $22,000, the 2024 Trax is set to become Chevy's new entry-level model, replacing the Spark hatchback, which has been retired. Higher trims offer enhanced features like a sunroof, an 11-inch touchscreen, and even adaptive cruise control.
This model is considered by many to be the most desirable El Camino due to its 454 cubic inch V8 engine and muscular styling. The 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS454 is a high-performance variant of Chevy's iconic muscle car-meets-pickup truck.
From 1959-60 and 1964-87, the Chevrolet El Camino was a vehicle hybrid, combining the practicality of a pickup truck, passenger car comfort, stylish design, and, with the Super Sport package, high-performance muscle. According to The Drive, the El Camino is “the world's most loved car/truck.”
However, although the El Camino was still a medium car, Chrysler chose a compact utility vehicle. Therefore the Rampage was built on the L base. The exact vehicle gave birth to the Dodge Omni in 1978, the first FWD economy car built in the United States.
The Sprint was renamed Caballero for the 1978 model year, and produced through 1987. The rear-wheel-drive car-based pickups were sold by GMC Truck dealers primarily in the United States and Canada as the GMC version of the Chevrolet El Camino.
The El Camino was built on a car chassis, and its design was based on the Chevrolet Chevelle. The vehicle was designed to offer the practicality of a truck with the performance and styling of a car. One argument for classifying the El Camino as a car is its handling characteristics.
This light-duty pickup truck was identical to the El Camino except for the name, and the chassis for both cars was based on the Chevrolet Chevelle station wagon/4-door sedan wheelbase.
Video: 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Up Close: The Korean El Camino Gets A New Face. Hyundai's Santa Cruz pickup truck gets some mild exterior and major interior updates for the 2025 model year.
Dodge actually did have an El Camino competitor in the 80s called the Rampage. The Rampage was based on the Omni… a lot smaller than the GM. True, perhaps "competitor" was not the right word.
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