8 strangest pickup trucks ever produced

Pickups are built to provide the most powerful “horsepower” for consumers. Ever since Australians in the 1910s and 1920s converted Ford Model Ts and similar vehicles into versions called Utes for use on farms and businesses, the segment has been an integral part of the automotive world.

An Australian pickup truck derivative from the Ford brand.

Most pickup trucks are still built with the same basic philosophy in mind, which includes a relatively powerful engine up front, enough room for the driver in the middle, and a large bed that can carry a lot of cargo in the back. In the 1970s and 1980s, the idea of ​​a conventional pickup truck as it is today hit a bit of a snag as automakers began to make their own sporty versions of them. Chevrolet put a V8 in their C1500 truck and called it the 454 SS. Lincoln, on the other hand, took a Ford F-150 and tried to make a luxury version of it with the Lincoln Blackwood.

There have been many instances where automakers have tried to turn the humble and basic pickup truck into something special, but it hasn’t always been the right move. While some have been great, others have been less than stellar, and this list highlights eight of the strangest pickup trucks ever made.

8. Lincoln Blackwood

The Lincoln Blackwood is the American luxury brand’s attempt at a luxury hybrid pickup truck. The Blackwood is an upgraded version of the Ford F-150 Crew Cab, featuring luxury interior amenities, a smoother suspension, and a unique bed cover. Instead of a traditional bed design, it is lined with carpet and uses an automatic tonneau cover.

Unfortunately, Lincoln seemed to be ahead of the curve. The Blackwood was a huge flop because it was too expensive and not popular. The automaker tried again a few years later with the Mark LT, but it had the same result. Still, enthusiasts say that if the American brand were still determined to bring luxury pickups to today’s market, it could have been a big step forward.

7. Subaru Baja

The Subaru Baja is an old Outback with the rear section removed and replaced with a bed. With that new design, many people interested in the Baja say that when they see it, they think of a mobile snack shop.

Because it shares the same platform, engine, interior, and most body panels as the Outback, buyers can only tell the Baja apart by its distinctive bed. This vehicle is certainly one of the strangest pickups ever made.

6. Chevrolet SSR

While the Australians had perfected the Ute design, the American industry was still struggling with the idea. One of the American efforts was the Chevrolet Super Sport Roadster (SSR), a muscle car with a convertible roof.

At least unlike the Plymouth Prowler, the SSR is powered by a powerful V8. Its styling is inspired by the 1951 Chevrolet Advance Design pickup truck, but with a few tweaks that give it a retro-modern look that doesn’t really work.

5. Dodge RAM SRT-10

The Dodge RAM is a great pickup truck. Every generation of it has sold well and has been priced right up there with the Ford and Chevy offerings in the segment. Before Ford spiced up the F-150, Dodge decided to do something completely new and put the 8.3-liter Viper V10 engine in their RAM pickup. The result was the RAM SRT-10, a rear-wheel-drive-only model that came with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. While it was a bit of a departure from its competitors, it still received rave reviews from auto enthusiasts.

4. International CXT

International is primarily known for its massive cargo vans and Scout off-roaders from the 1960s. So what some people may not know is that they also make pickup trucks. Based on the platform of those massive trucks, the CXT pickup is said to be “the size of a house.”

The CXT is the production version, powered by a 7.6-liter inline-six turbodiesel engine. It also has a luxuriously designed interior and weighs more than 6.3 tons, twice the weight of the Hummer H1.

3. Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon is a great car that originated as a military off-road vehicle to compete with the British Land Rover and the American Jeep. However, the German manufacturer commercialized the SUV and it has become very popular with today's elite.

In 2013, AMG took a G63 and added some frame rails and a rear bed, creating the G63 AMG 6X6. It was a massive six-wheeled pickup truck powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 and had a sticker price of around $500,000. It’s now worth over $2 million due to its rarity. Thanks to Mercedes-Benz, the 6X6 trend continues in the automotive world today, and six-wheeled versions of other pickup trucks can be purchased from professional customizing companies.

2. Lamborghini LM002

Like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, the Lamborghini LM002 was a vehicle originally designed for the military. Technically, the LM002 was also Lamborghini's first SUV, in production since 1986. It was originally powered by the 5.2-liter V12 engine found in the Countach supercar.

The LM002 was produced until 1993 and was later available with a different engine, a 7.2-liter V12, for use in marine applications. The Sultan of Brunei also owned one, but in a unique version.

1. Dodge Dakota Convertible

The Dodge Dakota, later renamed the RAM Dakota, is a mid-size pickup truck that is smaller than the Ram 1500 but still larger than the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet C-10. The Dakota was sold from 1986 to 2011, when it was discontinued.

The most exotic version of the pickup is the Dakota Sport Convertible. When it first debuted, it was available with a variety of engines, including a Shelby V8. Although it was designed to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, the vehicle still left consumers skeptical about its practicality.