April 2025: Month in Motoring

In the world of classic car collecting, a uniquely American revolution is underway. Once overlooked by serious collectors, the humble pickup truck is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

The American Cultural Tapestry

There are a few things that are uniquely American. We have been influenced by communities all over the world, and we see it every day. Mexican restaurants, Italian shoes, and Irish beer are just a few examples. But America has been the birthplace of ideas that we have exported with great success. Jazz and country music are unique to America and have been very hard to replicate elsewhere. When you hear them, you think: USA.

From Music to Motors: The American Pickup

So, what does this have to do with motoring? One class of vehicle has defined the American auto industry for over 100 years, and collectors have woken up and taken notice. The interest and investment in pickup trucks is taking off, and the reasons could not be more obvious.

What Makes a True Collector’s Item

When you look at what defines a collector car, a few things must be considered. Importance, its place in history, style, and rarity are a few defining characteristics of what makes a collector car. Pickup trucks meet every one of these criteria.

Born From Necessity: The Pickup’s Origins

The first pickup trucks were built from modified passenger cars, and they were built out of necessity. Unlike Europeans, who never had the same requirements, Americans needed a vehicle that could easily carry a lot of stuff. Sounds simple, but it was a revolutionary concept for a new country around 1900. I would argue the pickup truck was one of the most important tools in history. These vehicles allowed for the expansion of the country. If you wanted to move out of the city, you needed a way to get supplies to your new home or farm from city-located stores. The first pickup truck fulfilled that essential role.

Early Innovation and Adaptation

It didn’t take long for auto manufacturers to notice this consumer demand. They first tried building cars that could be transformed into trucks by removing the back half of the car and replacing it with a truck bed when needed. That transforming body style wasn’t popular, and by 1915, manufacturers were producing no-nonsense trucks. Most were large and commercially oriented.

The Pioneer: International Harvester

One of the early adopters was International Harvester. They recognized the need for a truck that could navigate bad road conditions, so they built theirs like a horse-drawn wagon with high wheels. It was a simple truck, similar in overall size to many family cars on the road. With the addition of a seat in the bed, it could haul anything, including growing families. The IH was the great-grandfather of the modern-day pickup truck.

From Utility to Style: The Evolution Continues

Almost every manufacturer over the next 100 years had pickup trucks in their lineup. Some focused on style, like the 1950s Chevrolet Cameo, allowing them to compete with mainstream cars. Comfort, color, and style made the Cameo one of the most popular vehicles on the road. Trucks were no longer just utility vehicles. They had all the comforts of passenger cars and could be driven every day with pride. But at their heart, they were still pickups and therefore lived very hard lives—which leads to perhaps the most important aspect of a collector vehicle: rarity.

The Paradox of Popularity and Rarity

The pickup truck was a uniquely American creation. It changed America by opening up the country like never before. Nearly every auto manufacturer offered their version of a pickup over the years, building millions. Even today, the most popular vehicle on the road is the Ford F-150. So, how can they be rare?

It’s because they were never intended to be collectible. They were meant to be used as trucks—hauling and being beaten up at worksites. When they broke, they were fixed until they broke again. They were used until they were thrown away. Passenger cars were never used up like trucks. This is why when you go to your local car shows, pickups are outnumbered 10 to 1 by cars. And now you know why.

The Investment Question

Now that it’s established that pickup trucks are collectible, what does that mean for current and future values? Are they a good investment? Can you still find them?

Stay tuned. That will be the subject for the next Month in Motoring.

Happy Motoring!