10 Best Vintage Pickup Trucks

Pickups have been around for a long time and have changed through the years, and here is a list of the 10 best vintage pickup trucks. These vintage pickup trucks are often restored by collectors and occasionally offered for sale, but mostly can be seen in parades.

1. 1941 International K-5 pickup. In 1941, International replaced their D-30 and DS-30 with the K-5 and KS-5.  It had a redesigned engine which was a Green Diamond GRD-233. The new engine increased the horsepower from 81 to 93, making it one of the more powerful trucks in the 1-1/2 ton category.
2. 1932 Ford Model 18 Pickup. To outdo the Chevrolet six-cylinder engines, Ford introduced the Model 18 in 1932. It had a flathead V-8 powered engine. Even though the pickup was offered during the Great Depression, the V-8 feature helped increase sales and caused the four-cylinder model B to fade from the market. The new engine increased the horsepower from 50 to 65. Pickup beds were also expanded to 70 inches.
3. 1939 Ford Pickup. When the 1938 pickup was revamped in 1939, an oval barrel-shaped grille was added, a more spacious cab, a larger cargo box, and fenders that were like those on the cars. It also had a smaller V-8 on the hubcaps, an interior door with crinkle finish, a black spare-tire hubcap, and now included hydraulic brakes. In addition to the 60 and 75 horsepower V-8s, a 95 horsepower was now offered.
4. 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup. The engine in the Roadster pickup was an L-head 4-cylinder and had 40 horsepower. It got between 25 and 30 mpg. The carburetor was a one-barrel up-draft with a top speed of 65 mph. The wheelbase was 103.5. The transmission was a 3-speed with a 1-speed reverse. The brakes were mechanical drum brakes. It was the first to use a standard set of driver controls with clutch and brake pedals, throttle, and gearshift. A cast iron unit over the exhaust manifold brought heat into the cab. The windshield was made of safety glass.
5. 1931 Ford Model A Pickup. The 1931 Model A Ford pickup had all the features of the 1929 Roadster listed above. It also included a stainless steel radiator cowling and headlamp housings. The fuel tank was located between the engine compartment’s fire wall and dash panel in the cowl. Fuel went to the carburetor by the force of gravity. It also had an optic fuel gauge.
6. 1940 Ford F-100 Pickup. When the Ford truck was updated in 1940, it took on the style of their cars which it hadn’t done for ten years. They had a choice of a 60 or 85 horsepower V-8 engine. The grill was V-shaped, the hood was pointed, and headlights were mounted in the fenders.
7. 1946 GMC CC152 Pickup.This vintage pickup was designed like the 1941 prewar pickup. The cab, front fenders, and headlight pods were the same as Chevrolet, but the grille was different. Plaques were mounted on the side of the hood that said General Motors Truck. The GMC engine offered 93 horsepower compared to 90 for the Chevy. They had black runningboards, butterfly hoods and came in both three- and four-speed transmissions.
8. 1929 Ford Model A Woodie Huckster Pickup. It is not the four-cylinder flathead engine, the three-speed transmission, or any of the other features present in the 1929 Model A pickups that make the Woodie Huckster so special. When you see the art and craftmanship in the woodwork, it will amaze you. The Woodies were made from ash wood and how beautiful they were.
9. 1937 Studebaker Coupe-Express Pickup. This very rare and highly collectible vintage pickup was the first light truck Studebaker made. They were made low and more like the Dictator car. They featured chrome trim lines from the grille almost to the door.
10. 1948 Chevrolet Series 3600 5-Window Deluxe Cab. These new Advanced Design ¾ ton pickup trucks were basically unchanged until 1955.  The engine was an Inline OHV V6 that had 90 horsepower, and they came equipped with a four-speed manual syncromesh transmission.