The car-based pickup never really caught on in America like it did in places like Australia. Sure, we got our Rancheros and El Caminos, but nothing as crazy as what our friends from Down Under got. But that can’t stop us enthusiasts from dreaming about the perfect small pickup. What car would make a great pickup truck?
There was once a time when modern America was supposed to get its shot at ute greatness. Bob Lutz of all people wanted to slap a Pontiac badge on an Australian ute, but we never got the Pontiac G8 ST and Pontiac itself isn’t even around anymore, either. Nowadays, hungry American ute enthusiasts are satiated through importing utes from Australia, enjoying what we already got here in America, or taking a Sawzall to their ride in an effort to build something like a Smyth ute conversion.
As of right now, there are only a handful of models that companies like Smyth sell conversion kits for.
For years, Smyth has sold kits to convert a couple of Volkswagens, the Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ, the Dodge Charger, and the Subaru Impreza into little pickups. That’s not a lot of choice, but yes, it does mean that you can make a Hellcat ute if you wanted to!
Let’s go further than this and think of cars we haven’t seen turned into trucks before. If you know me well enough, you already know my answer. I’d love to see someone make a ute kit for the Smart Fortwo. Custom builds have been done before, like the first-generation Smart utes that were made in Europe or the weird one-off made in Canada that’s pictured below.
Sadly, this car didn’t have two drive axles or anything wild like that. The builder just extended the car by adding a small bed and two more wheels. That makes it middle-wheel-drive, I guess? Still, I would totally daily drive this thing.
If I expand out of my little Smart bubble, I’d love to see some real oddballs turned into utes. How about a hyper luxury ute by way of cutting up a high-mileage Volkswagen Phaeton?
Maybe speed is your jam? Alright, I got you. Let’s break out the reciprocating saw and make a Chevrolet Corvette truck! Sure, tow ratings for some of these utes might be embarrassing and payloads may leave you with only barely useful loads, but let’s have some fun here. For the purposes of this question, the only limit is your imagination.
I want to know, what car would you think would make for a cool truck? Also, if that Canadian guy happens to be a reader, can you make one of my Smarts into a truck?
I always thought the Mercedes W123 was a great base for a small pickup truck, especially looking at the many conversions out there.
Mercedes 600 Grosser – it should be big enough to support a crew cab and a long bed. A 1960s Chrysler Imperial would also be cool.
Yu forgot about the ultimate car-based ute – the funeral flower car. No matter how hard you try, you can never deny them.
Crown Vic cop car is the only real answer. They come with oversized radiator, brakes, alternator, etc. Plus if I’m not mistaken the older ones were even rated to tow 5,000lbs.
I seriously considered doing this very thing before I bought my F-150. I got as far as bidding on a few at the local auto auction.
On one hand I’m glad I didn’t because my truck has been bulletproof and I’m sure this thing would have been a basket case. On the other how cool would it be to cruise around in modern day Ranchero?
Chevy Spark to make a new Mightyboy.
Suzuki Grand Vitara but it is about 11 years too late. The Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Nissan Sentra
Honestly, I’d always said my CMax would be the perfect tiny, urban workhorse if it had a pickup bed. Ford called my bluff w the Maverick.