What’s old is new again... Ford Courier

[redpoint5]

So they are trying to capture sales lost to the most excellent ~45 MPG Fusion by offering a ~25 MPG pickup?

[freebeard]

Frank Lee at Permalink #5

Three excellent examples. The Dodge used two-door doors where the Rabbit used four-door doors. More better for ingress/egress.

I knew a guy who had one with utility boxes on both sides of the bed. That tonneau cover is novel.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Rampage

Performance was improved with the introduction of a five-speed manual transmission in 1983. The truck had a load capacity of 1,145 lb (519 kg), for a true "half ton" rating. This compared favorably to General Motors' Chevrolet El Camino's rating of 1250 lbs. In addition to the El Camino, the Volkswagen Rabbit Sportruck and Subaru BRAT were the Rampage's main competition.

A rebadged version, the Plymouth Scamp, was only marketed for 1983. The Rampage lasted three years before being dropped from production after the 1984 model year. There was a "Shelby Rampage" built by Chrysler/Shelby engineers in their free time for Carroll Shelby, but there is no official record of the existence of such a vehicle. However, a special "California Shelby Rampage" was built in 1984 and only sold at certain California-area Dodge dealerships, which featured the front fascia from the Shelby Charger, 15-inch alloy wheels, and a ground effects package.[3]

The only thing it's missing is the Gen II BRAT T-tops.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

So they are trying to capture sales lost to the most excellent ~45 MPG Fusion by offering a ~25 MPG pickup?

It had been recently rumored that Ford was considering to turn the Fusion into another crossover SUV. Well, after Ford turned back at its intention to bring the 4th-generation Focus as a crossover in the American market, I wouldn't be really surprised if a next generation of the Mondeo/Fusion becomes available only with the liftback and station-wagon bodystyles, which presumably are easier to follow an approach similar to what Subaru does with the Outback.

[Frank Lee]

The Dodge used two-door doors where the Rabbit used four-door doors. More better for ingress/egress.

I presume interior space as well. I distinctly recall trying a VW pickup on for size and the seat did not go far back enough which I thought was an astonishingly stupid oversight for a vehicle supposedly designed in America. VW easily could have been like the Chrysler and started with the two-door cab with it's couple of extra inches.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

When 2-door cars became less common in Brazil, local trucklets started to resort to an approach similar to an extended-cab, even though only the Fiat Strada and the current generation of the Volkswagen Saveiro have been available with an extended cab at all.

[Ecky]

Most pickup owners (if what I see driving around is any indication) seem to actually want something with 4 doors and a covered cargo area.

I welcome this new smaller truck, but I expect we'll see many of them as crew cab short bed with a topper or bed cover.

Basically this:

[Frank Lee]

I saw a HD crew cab long box yesterday with TWO PEOPLE in it!

That must be near it's capacity!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'm sure it might be quite challenging to convince the average Joe that a small van like that could actually fare better than an open-box truck, more due to the cultural aspect than anything else. What does surprise me is most automakers not offering anything with a similar layout in my country, throwing either those crossover SUVs or some small pick-up which would require an aftermarket fiberglass top.

[Ecky]

That particular vehicle isn't actually made in the US; it's built in Europe and imported. To avoid the Chicken Tax, it's shipped overseas with backseats and then they're removed and shipped back to Europe.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Ecky

That particular vehicle isn't actually made in the US; it's built in Europe and imported.

Not to mention its U.S.-spec engine is larger than any of the Euro-spec ones.

To avoid the Chicken Tax, it's shipped overseas with backseats and then they're removed and shipped back to Europe.

AFAIK it was not allowed to ship the seats and windows back to Europe, they had to be sent for some recycling facility in America, otherwise Ford wouldn't be able to circumvent the Chicken Tax.