What’s more, the new Ranger has just been introduced here in Mexico, and the bed is only about 4 inches narrower and about 6 inches shorter on the Ranger big-cab-small-box version than on the version seen above.
This is what happens when the J. C. Whitney catalog comes in the mail the same day as the letter from Publishers Clearing House.
Daniel, I saw a 1971 Ford pickup truck in a field today. Though it had tons of “patina” it was still (and always will be) a handsome vehicle – much more so than anything built today.
Does anyone still order anything out of a physical catalog anymore? Even in my father’s time, the “Monkey Ward” catalog was more for looking at than actually ordering; they’d head over to Sioux Falls frequently enough that it was unnecessary as anything besides “reading material”.
“Does anyone still order anything out of a physical catalog anymore?” Answer: I doubt it. I was making a joke of course but I guess many people born in the Reagan era or later would have no concept of ordering from a printed catalog.
In the mid 1906’s my mother would get the Sears catalog out, get on the phone and order things by catalog number, then go to the local Sears store a few days later and pick up the items she ordered. Many, but not all, of the items in the catalog were available in the store but ordering ahead saved time.
I’m sure I could find chrome bed rails and a louvered “headache rack” on-line today but I really don’t know where I would start. There are local places in town that have this stuff in stock but only for Chevy/GMC, Dodge, and Ford trucks. If you have a 22 year old Jeep Comanche like mine it’s on-line or nothing.
I like the ideas of catalogs (doesn’t have to be physical, but sometimes it is good to write notes along side what I’m buying (especially parts) to remind myself of some detail I want to keep track of). Often the notes are useful if I’ve forgotten some of the info, or if I want to buy another one for somone else (if I like something and think someone else would too, I’m not beyond buying it as a gift for that person even though it isn’t “unique”).
This has nothing to do with cars, but what frustrates me to no end is that often the stuff you find in the store (especially department stores for some reason) is different than what is in the catalog itself. I often use the catalog as a “screening” tool to figure out what I’m interested in and where to find it, but I want to see it in person before buying it (to check fit, material, etc to make sure it is what I want). I don’t like having to return things (it just burns up time, and I don’t often have a reason to go to the store except to make the return). Often the stuff you find in the store never shows up in the catalog (I know catalogs get old but you would think they could sync up at some point).
Marketing reasons aside, I know they probably are counting on the fact that people making returns will go buy something else (maybe somethng unrelated to the item they returned), but I think they are alienating people like me who don’t like to browse in the store…If I can find the item and it suits my needs I like to buy it, but I don’t like to feel manipulated into buying something else when I’m in the store (even though I know that sometimes it triggers you to think of something you need but forgot you wanted to buy once you are in the store). I’d rather make a purchase and be done with it knowing that I’m unlikely to need to return it unless I messed up on some detail that ended up being important but I didn’t know about ahead of time..
I think that is a fake Limited; other than all the aftermarket crap it looks like an XLT to me. The lettering appears to be off the F-150 Lariat Limited, which really was a limited edition vehicle, under 5000 per year if I recall correctly. Here is a 2011 Limited (from eBay).
You are correct, almost. It is a Lariat, evidenced by the wheel lip flares and rims, but not a Platinum (under the Limited), due to lack of the stainless steel tailgate garnishing; also Platinum and Limited come standard with power retractable running boards.
Ford Salesman chiming in here: That would be a Lariat with the chrome package without the 20″ wheel option. 2013 or 2014 year model based off the style of the wheels.
It’s interesting how some people will lament the faux luxury on modern pickups, but appreciate it on say an older brougham sedan. Overstated faux luxury is the same IMO. Is the waterfall grille on an Imperial not attempting to make a similar statement as the big rig style grille on a Ram pickup? Power and prestige. I’m not defending either. Some modern pickups seem to fill that niche to a significant degree. I guess it’s because of this reversal of the pickup’s traditional spartan role, that it seems disappointing.
Even though they’re not my cup of tea exactly, I quite agree with you. They’re extravagant and flamboyant like the cars we cherish from the 50s and 60s.
I’m not defending them, so much as rationalizing them. No mainstream modern cars can carry the over-the-top grilles, and chrome accessories last seen in yesterday’s full sized luxury cars, quite the way these pickups can. This is the perfect outlet it seems.
I would say that trucks and SUV’s are the successor *of sorts* to the Brougham, i.e. Fleetwood to Escalade. However, the new generation of clientele is not looking for the same thing the buyers of the old Broughams were looking for. A blinged out Escalade or Navigator doesn’t even try to say “I’ve made it!” in the traditional way or even going for hints of truly wealthy style you can afford on a middle class wage. Nope, its the kind of nouveau riche styling that says I’ve got money, couldn’t tie a tie right to save my ass/no sense of style so I’ve got shiny paint and chrome all over my ride-I’m Jersey Shore-its really less along the lines of Brougham and more along the lines of Superfly Eldos softened up a bit in their garishness for suburbanites.
The old sedans were made to look intimidating in their styling but they still looked classy. Watch any number of old Cadillac or LIncoln commercials with a guy in a three piece suit and classical music tinkling in the background-that is certainly what they were going for and that’s what I see in them. They were made for a time when suits and ties were not just barely tolerated and people were expected to dress/play the part if they wanted to move up in the pecking order.
One thing that so many defenders of the olden days (not trying to say that you yourself might or might not be one of them) is this: What we might consider “dressed up” was given no more thought by the average Joe at the time than we give to putting on a t-shirt and jeans. Wearing classy clothes implies, but does not necessarily guarantee, a classy or even particularly upstanding personality underneath. (Christian Bale’s character in American Hustle drove an Eldorado.) A Lincoln dealer would just as soon sell a Mark IV to Vinnie the Shark from Atlantic City as to the county commissioner with the estate in the Poconos, so long as he had the dough.
…But with that said, if I had the money, I’d wear a suit and probably a tie every day, or at least mix and match jackets and pants. Even when I’m working–just find an old stained jacket from the Salvy Army or somewhere and wear it with Dickies.
Also, what do the “classy” rich people drive today? The richest guy I know is my uncle with a successful contracting business, and he drives a Yukon XL one step short of a Denali, which is both fancy enough to maintain congruity with his client’s Lexii and Acuras and pedestrian enough to stay true to his working-class salt-of-the-earth roots.
Of course a dealer will sell to anyone with the dough.
What I’m saying is the design-the design of the old Broughams was shooting for the style of the Country Club/Yacht Club/Blue Blood-old money set. Hell, maybe they started driving Mercedes by that time but the formal rooflines, all the design hat-tips to the traditional carriage styles, the fancy interiors, etc. were all at least attempts at being classy.
That’s not what these tarted up trucks and SUVs are going for today. Lots of tart says “Look at me!” but it doesn’t add on the end “I’ve made it!” On the much less in-your-face end, I had an Eddie Bauer edition Explorer and while I certainly liked the amenities it had, it was not classy or trying to be classy ala Fleetwood Brougham. I suppose one could relate that co-branding with the old Lincoln Marks in their Bill Blass, Cartier, Gevenchy, etc. editions, but the design concept was different.
pfsm
Posted May 21, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Along these lines, I saw this a few years ago: You know you’re a yuppie if the seat in your SUV is higher off the ground than the one in your plumber’s pickup.
Drzhivago138
Posted May 21, 2014 at 9:19 PM
For the record, I love how the current King Ranch Super Duty trucks actually have less chrome than a Lariat (body-color grille surround), I just don’t love the $50K starting price or the fact that those lovely-looking red-brown leather seats don’t come with a middle seat/flip-up console. IMO, any full-size pickup or SUV should have seating for three in the front. Anything less is wasted space.
I have never really thought of it this way but you have a really good point. But I also see them a phallic symbols for young males of “bigger is better.” The Canadian Prairies are awash with trucks jacket up past the rafters and getting increasingly weird suspension hardware in the process. Hee-yuckers rich on oil money spend fortunes on the things. Not long ago, I was offered a service writer job in northern Alberta that operated 24/7 and ran two 12 hour shifts a day, all for pick-ups. Their base was $70k PLUS commission, which would be humongous when you were flogging $5000 plus labour lift and suspension kits, and easy 20 in the book and a dozen on the clock and everybody makes loads.
The makers of course know this and will not rock the tremendously profitable tuck boat one iota, which is why Ford is using turbo engines and the next generation will be made mostly from light alloys such as aluminum. That’s because size really matters in the knuckledragger set.
There are lots of those tarted up trucks around here. There usually is a convoy of them lined up at the donut emporium drive through by drivers wearing baseball caps with sun glasses perched above the peaks all happy in their sameness.
These pickups are this decades equivalent of the Ford Explorer – Detroit’s lazy way to continue offering the same oversized product served up a different way. I don;t mind Sevnties broughmans when gas was cheap and imagined to be limitless, there’s no such excuse now.
The sane laziness means the best mileage a Chevy Impala can eke out is 25/35, yet the best Passat can get 31/43 and the best Accord 50/45!
Gas is still cheap enough in America that it doesn’t matter much. We are paying a good 40% more than across the border, so fuel efficiency is a big factor in most new car purchases.
Newer cars are waaaay better on fuel. I had an Accord rental recently with the CVT and in city traffic it still got 8.8 L /100 km. My TL has a hard time doing better than 12. The Accord drove extremely well but the interior was a bit cheap. Mind you, I find almost all new car interiors cheap these days. The TL is much better, as were earlier Accords.
“Over-Toasted”…is the nicest thing I could say. When a person has more disposable income than brains,this is what it looks like. God knows, he/she, is not alone. There’s no shortage of business’s waiting to take the money. People say we pay too much in taxes…this guy obviously doesn’t pay enough.
+1. Im sick and tired of the attitude some people take. “I know better than you. I don’t feel you need that, so how about we get the gub-mint to penalize you with highter registration fees/taxes/whatever else puts your money in a politicians pocket.”
We have a little thing called free market here. People can buy whatever they can afford to buy and drive…so long as they are one their own dime. There should be no artificial penalties whatsoever.
The first generation swoopy Dodge Ram pickups from the 1990s already look like classics to me. They got that one just right. Too bad the interior is all cheap and fragile plastic.
Count me in the vocal minority on this type of vehicle.
Despite the vast majority of these being sold to people who are aiming to be “unique” these are highly versatile vehicles. How many current vehicles can haul several hundred pounds of equipment in the back, safe from occupants as it is not in the same cavity, and carry four above average height people in comfort? This is one of the few vehicles that can do so.
I was a serious non-fan of these for a long time. Then a below wholesale crew-cab presented itself to me. Reluctantly, I bought it. I will have trouble going back to anything else and I have worked it since I bought it. It was used to haul furniture and household goods during my recent move while the cab allowed fragile items to be carried in greater safety while three people were still comfortable. It has towed trailers, carried umpteen tons of stuff, and its 4×4 capability has paid for itself.
Does it like fuel? Yes, the best I have obtained is 18 mpg. However, in the big scheme of things, it wasn’t intended for stellar fuel economy – that’s why diesel powered Jetta’s are built. It was meant for the heavier duties, duties I give it and it does them with ease.
Are they a bit over the top? In some trims, yes they are. However, one can get a crew cab pickup in anything from vinyl gutted fleet special to brougham wannabe.
Is it sad to see that 95% of the new pickups on the dealer lot are crew cabs? In a way. However, the beauty of these goes beyond the initial impression.
A modern crew cab/5.5′ bed pickup interests me only slightly less than a pre-1990 regular cab/8′ bed truck–that is to say, little more than a cursory glance. Now, show me a well-kept early SuperCab, Club Cab, or IH Travelette, and you’ve got my attention.
Also: The half-ton crew cab is actually better now than it was when it came out. At the F-150 SuperCrew’s introduction in 2001, it was only available at mid-range XLT or above. Same was true of Chevy and Toyota. But by now the Big Three and Toyota all offer crew cabs in base model 4×2 with V6s and/or small V8s.
Although I’m not likely to get one, I quite see the appeal. They’re a functional, practical vehicle that can carry passengers in great comfort as well as haul and tow; truly a multi-purpose vehicle.
And their efficiency is pretty decent, given their size. 30 years ago, we would have been amazed. And that’s only going to get better with new technology.
I sometimes get a bit miffed by the jacked-up F-350s with chipped diesels and open exhausts, but then I think that’s exactly what their young drivers are after; the modern equivalent of the noisy hot rods of yore. Except these trucks are a bit more intimidating.
We also have to remember: How many of those who, in their youth, drove hot rods, muscle cars, or even early “ricers”, continued to do so into adulthood and middle age? It’s a stage to be grown out of, either by choice or by circumstance, and the current bro-truck fad is little different.
As I mentioned earlier the problem is that like the Ford Explorer before them, you now see these things being used by soccer moms to ferry the kids around, not haul “several hundred pounds of equipment in the back”. Very few people need one on a regular basis vs the number of people who actually own one.
Drzhivago138
Posted May 20, 2014 at 9:44 PM
If we all had cars based on what we need, we’d be driving go-carts. We all get worked up over pickup trucks more because they more than anything else convey a get-it-done, working-class image.
Canucknucklehead
Posted May 20, 2014 at 11:00 PM
It is kind of a different thing for us in Vancouver, an urbanised place with lots of urban dwellers. A truck like this would be a nightmare to drive in Vancouver, so they are rare. But get out if the city and they are everywhere.
It has nothing to do with utility. It has zero to do with practicality. It’s cultural. It says “I’ve arrived” in working class life. It’s often a reward at retirement.
And it’s BIG.
Jason Shafer
Posted May 21, 2014 at 3:40 AM
I agree, the vast majority of them are used in lieu of a sedan. However, there are people in which anything besides one of these compromises how they are able to succeed in doing what they are aiming to do.
This is simply a physically larger case of want vs. need. Does a person really need a 42″ screen television? Or do they really need five extra shirts or dress slacks? Do they need season tickets for whatever sports team? Do they truly need that dessert? Isn’t it all the same concept?
Phil
Posted May 21, 2014 at 6:14 AM
If we all bought only what we needed, we’d all live in an apartment and take the bus and not own cars at all. But it’s pretty safe to say that nobody on this site really feels that way.
Contrary to popular belief, most people, even pickup owners, do not spend large amounts on vehicles that don’t offer them something practical they want. Like anything, there are exceptions, but these are highly flexible vehicles.
Canucknucklehead
Posted May 21, 2014 at 8:31 AM
Of course, Jason, you are correct, and it boils down to over consumption. It is absolutely amazing what I see in the trash here: cashmere sweaters, designer clothing, unread books, and a lot more. As a society, we have been indoctrinated on the need to consume far more than we need. It’s a great way of enslaving the masses and keeping their shoulders to the wheel.
However, I have found keeping my stuff level to a lower level keeps my stress level equally low. No payments, no fixing, lets me do what I want to do.
Compared to the old 70 C10 stripper, My 04 Titan “stripper” seems like a Lincoln Blackwood in comparison. The King Cab with 6’7 bed allows me to carry just as much as the 8 ft bed in the old Chevy, but it a pinch I can carry 6 passengers instead of three. And the taller bed sides combined with the tiny wheel housings, and the fold up rear seats allow me to load it up as full as the old Chevy. I need a truck for all the hauling and moving required for my rental’s and my own home upkeep. And it’s a reasonably smooth riding road trip vehicle, as well. Power everything and modern safety features, except for roll up windows and push button locks. My old truck would never approach the 19 MPG hwy at a relaxed 1600 RPM and 65 MPH. The same engine, trans, AC, cruise control, brakes and tilt wheel that comes in the 45+k loaded version is in my 18k after rebates and haggling version. All I added was hitch, spray in liner and take off alloys for about $700.00. And a couple of motorcycle straps for the times the load is a little too long to close the tailgate. It is amazing how fast all the trim and leather and electric everything add up. It’s 2wd, stock height (I do wish it was a little lower, but the wheel wells in the old Chevy were huge and used up a lot of carrying capacity. The add on’s to me are not worth the price, but I respect anybody’s decision to add as many goodies to their ride as they want or can afford. One tip for loading, I pull into the low spot where the driveway meet the street when I can, it really reduces the lift height for loading appliances, etc.
I’ll call this a Lariat based on the style of running board – its different than XLT, and the higher trucks mostly have power running boards.
I’m not a fan of all the aftermarket stuff, but this is just this guy’s fun – like Harleys or old cars for others.
I have a 2012 Lariat Crew Cab. Folks, it is the modern do it all full size car (largely thanks to government regulations). The worst mileage I get is around 14, a 75% improvement over the worst my ’72 Pontiac Grandville 455 would turn in, and the Grandville didn’t have 4 wheel drive or anywhere near the towing capacity. Yes, it is quite bulky to drive, much like my Grandville. That’s why we own another car that is more practical for grocery getting and the like.
The F-150 is also amazingly comfortable and isolated to drive and the 5.0 sounds pretty sweet when you step on it on an on-ramp. It is today’s Brougham.
For what it’s worth, I’d totally put an Escalade front end on a Chevy work truck, or a Navigator or Mark LT front on a base-model F-150, if only for the “lulz”.
Why not, if you like the look? People on this site should understand better than most that having a vehicle you like often doesn’t come from rational decision-making.
Personally I’d prefer a new Ranger 6 speed manual they drive ok and my brother got from Adelaide to Melbourne on less than a full tank with his so quite good on fuel.
Next door neighbour works at ford, and just got a Ranger last week, to go with their XR6 turbo ute. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out for him.
Adelaide to Melbourne on one tank? That must be one hell of a big tank! I would also take a diesel manual ranger over a new effy or any new full size American truck for that matter. Way too big and way too ugly.
I am of the school that any mods should improve functionality, not just add weight. I feel similarly about women and boob jobs. However, the owner of this vehicle clearly takes pride in his ownership, and along the way has generated profit for the automotive aftermarket industry. Owners like this one keep our hobby alive. Thank you, thank you to the owner of this heavily accessorized F150—your willingness to spend money on your truck helps us all.
PS: A hundred years ago, when I lived in Milwaukee and drove a wrecker, our crew had a special name for people driving cars with Illinois plates: “FIBs” (F___ing Illinois Bast__ds)
As others have alluded to, trucks are one of the last vehicles that allow people to have fun accessorizing with chrome. This is not to my taste because it sends a mixed message of “off-road tough” and “street queen”. The headache rack doesn’t look like it fits right, it’s too tall. But it can serve a safety purpose if cargo is being hauled around. Window vents can be nice to leave the windows cracked in hot weather without worrying about rain getting in. Really all the accessories except the Limited badging can serve a practical purpose. I doubt any of these except the tuneau cover really are, but they could be.
That’s what happens when one walks into Autozone and says “I’ll take one of those, and one of those, and throw in two of these, and one of those, and that’s real pretty so I’ll take that too, and…”
This is NOT to my taste, but trust me….Ive seen far worse. Chrome don’t get ya home…and it looks like ass. IMHO, of course. Some of the factory wheels on modern trucks are godawful. Anything over 17″ diameter is hideous and completely useless unless your tire diameter starts approaching 40″. That and the overall style of whats out there these days isn’t designed with any kind of aesthetic at all. Wheels like these MIGHT fly on a Lincoln town car or something but they don’t convey a sense of ruggeness or badassery like a deep dish set of slot mags or 5 hole Gamblers.
But the notion that modern trucks/SUVs are an evolution of what happened as sporty muscle cars got ‘broughammed’ is dead on, I think. Its a shame. Personally, Im all about the rugged and sporty ‘desert rat’ look that was popular in the ’70s and ’80s.
I love chrome…in moderation of course. Although I don’t mind the look, I hate that painted bumpers and accessories get all chipped up and look like crap after a few years.
In trucks we can both have our preference, just another reason they are so popular.
all y’all can blame the know it all, social engineering government for this kind of truck. this is what happens when you can’t buy big cars. and yes, the camaltaccord is bigger than it used to be…but it’s NOT a big car. and what is it with some people always wanting to ban what they don’t like…control freaks, I guess…
I wonder, if pickups get CAFE’d like the cars already have–might we maybe see some more compelling cars, as the folks who bought trucks move on when they shrink? Or would pickups get as bland, boring and bar-of-soaped as modern cars?
Modern trucks are god awful ugly.
Amen!
What’s more, the new Ranger has just been introduced here in Mexico, and the bed is only about 4 inches narrower and about 6 inches shorter on the Ranger big-cab-small-box version than on the version seen above.
This is what happens when the J. C. Whitney catalog comes in the mail the same day as the letter from Publishers Clearing House.
Daniel, I saw a 1971 Ford pickup truck in a field today. Though it had tons of “patina” it was still (and always will be) a handsome vehicle – much more so than anything built today.
Does anyone still order anything out of a physical catalog anymore? Even in my father’s time, the “Monkey Ward” catalog was more for looking at than actually ordering; they’d head over to Sioux Falls frequently enough that it was unnecessary as anything besides “reading material”.
“Does anyone still order anything out of a physical catalog anymore?” Answer: I doubt it. I was making a joke of course but I guess many people born in the Reagan era or later would have no concept of ordering from a printed catalog.
In the mid 1906’s my mother would get the Sears catalog out, get on the phone and order things by catalog number, then go to the local Sears store a few days later and pick up the items she ordered. Many, but not all, of the items in the catalog were available in the store but ordering ahead saved time.
I’m sure I could find chrome bed rails and a louvered “headache rack” on-line today but I really don’t know where I would start. There are local places in town that have this stuff in stock but only for Chevy/GMC, Dodge, and Ford trucks. If you have a 22 year old Jeep Comanche like mine it’s on-line or nothing.
I like the ideas of catalogs (doesn’t have to be physical, but sometimes it is good to write notes along side what I’m buying (especially parts) to remind myself of some detail I want to keep track of). Often the notes are useful if I’ve forgotten some of the info, or if I want to buy another one for somone else (if I like something and think someone else would too, I’m not beyond buying it as a gift for that person even though it isn’t “unique”).
This has nothing to do with cars, but what frustrates me to no end is that often the stuff you find in the store (especially department stores for some reason) is different than what is in the catalog itself. I often use the catalog as a “screening” tool to figure out what I’m interested in and where to find it, but I want to see it in person before buying it (to check fit, material, etc to make sure it is what I want). I don’t like having to return things (it just burns up time, and I don’t often have a reason to go to the store except to make the return). Often the stuff you find in the store never shows up in the catalog (I know catalogs get old but you would think they could sync up at some point).
Marketing reasons aside, I know they probably are counting on the fact that people making returns will go buy something else (maybe somethng unrelated to the item they returned), but I think they are alienating people like me who don’t like to browse in the store…If I can find the item and it suits my needs I like to buy it, but I don’t like to feel manipulated into buying something else when I’m in the store (even though I know that sometimes it triggers you to think of something you need but forgot you wanted to buy once you are in the store). I’d rather make a purchase and be done with it knowing that I’m unlikely to need to return it unless I messed up on some detail that ended up being important but I didn’t know about ahead of time..
Well, my mom’s parents ran the local Sears Roebuck catalog outlet until the …90’s?, so they saw firsthand the switchover.
The sad thing is that the lettering is very similar in style to that on the Silverado.
Limited…hopefully to only Illinois!
I think that is a fake Limited; other than all the aftermarket crap it looks like an XLT to me. The lettering appears to be off the F-150 Lariat Limited, which really was a limited edition vehicle, under 5000 per year if I recall correctly. Here is a 2011 Limited (from eBay).
You are correct, almost. It is a Lariat, evidenced by the wheel lip flares and rims, but not a Platinum (under the Limited), due to lack of the stainless steel tailgate garnishing; also Platinum and Limited come standard with power retractable running boards.
Oh. I see those wheels a lot on XLTs, I think they are optional on them and standard on the Lariat. My sister’s husband has a red ’13 XLT with them.
Ford Salesman chiming in here: That would be a Lariat with the chrome package without the 20″ wheel option. 2013 or 2014 year model based off the style of the wheels.
It’s interesting how some people will lament the faux luxury on modern pickups, but appreciate it on say an older brougham sedan. Overstated faux luxury is the same IMO. Is the waterfall grille on an Imperial not attempting to make a similar statement as the big rig style grille on a Ram pickup? Power and prestige. I’m not defending either. Some modern pickups seem to fill that niche to a significant degree. I guess it’s because of this reversal of the pickup’s traditional spartan role, that it seems disappointing.
Even though they’re not my cup of tea exactly, I quite agree with you. They’re extravagant and flamboyant like the cars we cherish from the 50s and 60s.
I’m not defending them, so much as rationalizing them. No mainstream modern cars can carry the over-the-top grilles, and chrome accessories last seen in yesterday’s full sized luxury cars, quite the way these pickups can. This is the perfect outlet it seems.
I would say that trucks and SUV’s are the successor *of sorts* to the Brougham, i.e. Fleetwood to Escalade. However, the new generation of clientele is not looking for the same thing the buyers of the old Broughams were looking for. A blinged out Escalade or Navigator doesn’t even try to say “I’ve made it!” in the traditional way or even going for hints of truly wealthy style you can afford on a middle class wage. Nope, its the kind of nouveau riche styling that says I’ve got money, couldn’t tie a tie right to save my ass/no sense of style so I’ve got shiny paint and chrome all over my ride-I’m Jersey Shore-its really less along the lines of Brougham and more along the lines of Superfly Eldos softened up a bit in their garishness for suburbanites.
The old sedans were made to look intimidating in their styling but they still looked classy. Watch any number of old Cadillac or LIncoln commercials with a guy in a three piece suit and classical music tinkling in the background-that is certainly what they were going for and that’s what I see in them. They were made for a time when suits and ties were not just barely tolerated and people were expected to dress/play the part if they wanted to move up in the pecking order.
One thing that so many defenders of the olden days (not trying to say that you yourself might or might not be one of them) is this: What we might consider “dressed up” was given no more thought by the average Joe at the time than we give to putting on a t-shirt and jeans. Wearing classy clothes implies, but does not necessarily guarantee, a classy or even particularly upstanding personality underneath. (Christian Bale’s character in American Hustle drove an Eldorado.) A Lincoln dealer would just as soon sell a Mark IV to Vinnie the Shark from Atlantic City as to the county commissioner with the estate in the Poconos, so long as he had the dough.
…But with that said, if I had the money, I’d wear a suit and probably a tie every day, or at least mix and match jackets and pants. Even when I’m working–just find an old stained jacket from the Salvy Army or somewhere and wear it with Dickies.
Also, what do the “classy” rich people drive today? The richest guy I know is my uncle with a successful contracting business, and he drives a Yukon XL one step short of a Denali, which is both fancy enough to maintain congruity with his client’s Lexii and Acuras and pedestrian enough to stay true to his working-class salt-of-the-earth roots.
Of course a dealer will sell to anyone with the dough.
What I’m saying is the design-the design of the old Broughams was shooting for the style of the Country Club/Yacht Club/Blue Blood-old money set. Hell, maybe they started driving Mercedes by that time but the formal rooflines, all the design hat-tips to the traditional carriage styles, the fancy interiors, etc. were all at least attempts at being classy.
That’s not what these tarted up trucks and SUVs are going for today. Lots of tart says “Look at me!” but it doesn’t add on the end “I’ve made it!” On the much less in-your-face end, I had an Eddie Bauer edition Explorer and while I certainly liked the amenities it had, it was not classy or trying to be classy ala Fleetwood Brougham. I suppose one could relate that co-branding with the old Lincoln Marks in their Bill Blass, Cartier, Gevenchy, etc. editions, but the design concept was different.
Along these lines, I saw this a few years ago: You know you’re a yuppie if the seat in your SUV is higher off the ground than the one in your plumber’s pickup.
For the record, I love how the current King Ranch Super Duty trucks actually have less chrome than a Lariat (body-color grille surround), I just don’t love the $50K starting price or the fact that those lovely-looking red-brown leather seats don’t come with a middle seat/flip-up console. IMO, any full-size pickup or SUV should have seating for three in the front. Anything less is wasted space.
I have never really thought of it this way but you have a really good point. But I also see them a phallic symbols for young males of “bigger is better.” The Canadian Prairies are awash with trucks jacket up past the rafters and getting increasingly weird suspension hardware in the process. Hee-yuckers rich on oil money spend fortunes on the things. Not long ago, I was offered a service writer job in northern Alberta that operated 24/7 and ran two 12 hour shifts a day, all for pick-ups. Their base was $70k PLUS commission, which would be humongous when you were flogging $5000 plus labour lift and suspension kits, and easy 20 in the book and a dozen on the clock and everybody makes loads.
The makers of course know this and will not rock the tremendously profitable tuck boat one iota, which is why Ford is using turbo engines and the next generation will be made mostly from light alloys such as aluminum. That’s because size really matters in the knuckledragger set.
There are lots of those tarted up trucks around here. There usually is a convoy of them lined up at the donut emporium drive through by drivers wearing baseball caps with sun glasses perched above the peaks all happy in their sameness.
These pickups are this decades equivalent of the Ford Explorer – Detroit’s lazy way to continue offering the same oversized product served up a different way. I don;t mind Sevnties broughmans when gas was cheap and imagined to be limitless, there’s no such excuse now.
The sane laziness means the best mileage a Chevy Impala can eke out is 25/35, yet the best Passat can get 31/43 and the best Accord 50/45!
Gas is still cheap enough in America that it doesn’t matter much. We are paying a good 40% more than across the border, so fuel efficiency is a big factor in most new car purchases.
Newer cars are waaaay better on fuel. I had an Accord rental recently with the CVT and in city traffic it still got 8.8 L /100 km. My TL has a hard time doing better than 12. The Accord drove extremely well but the interior was a bit cheap. Mind you, I find almost all new car interiors cheap these days. The TL is much better, as were earlier Accords.
“Over-Toasted”…is the nicest thing I could say. When a person has more disposable income than brains,this is what it looks like. God knows, he/she, is not alone. There’s no shortage of business’s waiting to take the money. People say we pay too much in taxes…this guy obviously doesn’t pay enough.
Really, people who spend money on stuff not to your taste ought to pay more taxes?
+1. Im sick and tired of the attitude some people take. “I know better than you. I don’t feel you need that, so how about we get the gub-mint to penalize you with highter registration fees/taxes/whatever else puts your money in a politicians pocket.”
We have a little thing called free market here. People can buy whatever they can afford to buy and drive…so long as they are one their own dime. There should be no artificial penalties whatsoever.
Reminds me of this tacky piece i saw the other day :
Gotta love what looks like the new Buick interpretation of ventiports on the damn A pillar…
Someone’s really stuck on the fifties mind-set.
Two words: Lincoln Blackwood.
The first generation swoopy Dodge Ram pickups from the 1990s already look like classics to me. They got that one just right. Too bad the interior is all cheap and fragile plastic.
This thing is seriously fouled up, however,
Count me in the vocal minority on this type of vehicle.
Despite the vast majority of these being sold to people who are aiming to be “unique” these are highly versatile vehicles. How many current vehicles can haul several hundred pounds of equipment in the back, safe from occupants as it is not in the same cavity, and carry four above average height people in comfort? This is one of the few vehicles that can do so.
I was a serious non-fan of these for a long time. Then a below wholesale crew-cab presented itself to me. Reluctantly, I bought it. I will have trouble going back to anything else and I have worked it since I bought it. It was used to haul furniture and household goods during my recent move while the cab allowed fragile items to be carried in greater safety while three people were still comfortable. It has towed trailers, carried umpteen tons of stuff, and its 4×4 capability has paid for itself.
Does it like fuel? Yes, the best I have obtained is 18 mpg. However, in the big scheme of things, it wasn’t intended for stellar fuel economy – that’s why diesel powered Jetta’s are built. It was meant for the heavier duties, duties I give it and it does them with ease.
Are they a bit over the top? In some trims, yes they are. However, one can get a crew cab pickup in anything from vinyl gutted fleet special to brougham wannabe.
Is it sad to see that 95% of the new pickups on the dealer lot are crew cabs? In a way. However, the beauty of these goes beyond the initial impression.
A modern crew cab/5.5′ bed pickup interests me only slightly less than a pre-1990 regular cab/8′ bed truck–that is to say, little more than a cursory glance. Now, show me a well-kept early SuperCab, Club Cab, or IH Travelette, and you’ve got my attention.
Also: The half-ton crew cab is actually better now than it was when it came out. At the F-150 SuperCrew’s introduction in 2001, it was only available at mid-range XLT or above. Same was true of Chevy and Toyota. But by now the Big Three and Toyota all offer crew cabs in base model 4×2 with V6s and/or small V8s.
Although I’m not likely to get one, I quite see the appeal. They’re a functional, practical vehicle that can carry passengers in great comfort as well as haul and tow; truly a multi-purpose vehicle.
And their efficiency is pretty decent, given their size. 30 years ago, we would have been amazed. And that’s only going to get better with new technology.
I sometimes get a bit miffed by the jacked-up F-350s with chipped diesels and open exhausts, but then I think that’s exactly what their young drivers are after; the modern equivalent of the noisy hot rods of yore. Except these trucks are a bit more intimidating.
We also have to remember: How many of those who, in their youth, drove hot rods, muscle cars, or even early “ricers”, continued to do so into adulthood and middle age? It’s a stage to be grown out of, either by choice or by circumstance, and the current bro-truck fad is little different.
As I mentioned earlier the problem is that like the Ford Explorer before them, you now see these things being used by soccer moms to ferry the kids around, not haul “several hundred pounds of equipment in the back”. Very few people need one on a regular basis vs the number of people who actually own one.
If we all had cars based on what we need, we’d be driving go-carts. We all get worked up over pickup trucks more because they more than anything else convey a get-it-done, working-class image.
It is kind of a different thing for us in Vancouver, an urbanised place with lots of urban dwellers. A truck like this would be a nightmare to drive in Vancouver, so they are rare. But get out if the city and they are everywhere.
It has nothing to do with utility. It has zero to do with practicality. It’s cultural. It says “I’ve arrived” in working class life. It’s often a reward at retirement.
And it’s BIG.
I agree, the vast majority of them are used in lieu of a sedan. However, there are people in which anything besides one of these compromises how they are able to succeed in doing what they are aiming to do.
This is simply a physically larger case of want vs. need. Does a person really need a 42″ screen television? Or do they really need five extra shirts or dress slacks? Do they need season tickets for whatever sports team? Do they truly need that dessert? Isn’t it all the same concept?
If we all bought only what we needed, we’d all live in an apartment and take the bus and not own cars at all. But it’s pretty safe to say that nobody on this site really feels that way.
Contrary to popular belief, most people, even pickup owners, do not spend large amounts on vehicles that don’t offer them something practical they want. Like anything, there are exceptions, but these are highly flexible vehicles.
Of course, Jason, you are correct, and it boils down to over consumption. It is absolutely amazing what I see in the trash here: cashmere sweaters, designer clothing, unread books, and a lot more. As a society, we have been indoctrinated on the need to consume far more than we need. It’s a great way of enslaving the masses and keeping their shoulders to the wheel.
However, I have found keeping my stuff level to a lower level keeps my stress level equally low. No payments, no fixing, lets me do what I want to do.
Is the truck “fad” really that different? The average age of a Corvette buyer is about 56 and that car serves no practical purpose.
Compared to the old 70 C10 stripper, My 04 Titan “stripper” seems like a Lincoln Blackwood in comparison. The King Cab with 6’7 bed allows me to carry just as much as the 8 ft bed in the old Chevy, but it a pinch I can carry 6 passengers instead of three. And the taller bed sides combined with the tiny wheel housings, and the fold up rear seats allow me to load it up as full as the old Chevy. I need a truck for all the hauling and moving required for my rental’s and my own home upkeep. And it’s a reasonably smooth riding road trip vehicle, as well. Power everything and modern safety features, except for roll up windows and push button locks. My old truck would never approach the 19 MPG hwy at a relaxed 1600 RPM and 65 MPH. The same engine, trans, AC, cruise control, brakes and tilt wheel that comes in the 45+k loaded version is in my 18k after rebates and haggling version. All I added was hitch, spray in liner and take off alloys for about $700.00. And a couple of motorcycle straps for the times the load is a little too long to close the tailgate. It is amazing how fast all the trim and leather and electric everything add up. It’s 2wd, stock height (I do wish it was a little lower, but the wheel wells in the old Chevy were huge and used up a lot of carrying capacity. The add on’s to me are not worth the price, but I respect anybody’s decision to add as many goodies to their ride as they want or can afford. One tip for loading, I pull into the low spot where the driveway meet the street when I can, it really reduces the lift height for loading appliances, etc.
I’ll call this a Lariat based on the style of running board – its different than XLT, and the higher trucks mostly have power running boards.
I’m not a fan of all the aftermarket stuff, but this is just this guy’s fun – like Harleys or old cars for others.
I have a 2012 Lariat Crew Cab. Folks, it is the modern do it all full size car (largely thanks to government regulations). The worst mileage I get is around 14, a 75% improvement over the worst my ’72 Pontiac Grandville 455 would turn in, and the Grandville didn’t have 4 wheel drive or anywhere near the towing capacity. Yes, it is quite bulky to drive, much like my Grandville. That’s why we own another car that is more practical for grocery getting and the like.
The F-150 is also amazingly comfortable and isolated to drive and the 5.0 sounds pretty sweet when you step on it on an on-ramp. It is today’s Brougham.
(Paul just beat me to 90% of my post).
For what it’s worth, I’d totally put an Escalade front end on a Chevy work truck, or a Navigator or Mark LT front on a base-model F-150, if only for the “lulz”.
Why not, if you like the look? People on this site should understand better than most that having a vehicle you like often doesn’t come from rational decision-making.
Personally I’d prefer a new Ranger 6 speed manual they drive ok and my brother got from Adelaide to Melbourne on less than a full tank with his so quite good on fuel.
Next door neighbour works at ford, and just got a Ranger last week, to go with their XR6 turbo ute. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out for him.
Adelaide to Melbourne on one tank? That must be one hell of a big tank! I would also take a diesel manual ranger over a new effy or any new full size American truck for that matter. Way too big and way too ugly.
I am of the school that any mods should improve functionality, not just add weight. I feel similarly about women and boob jobs. However, the owner of this vehicle clearly takes pride in his ownership, and along the way has generated profit for the automotive aftermarket industry. Owners like this one keep our hobby alive. Thank you, thank you to the owner of this heavily accessorized F150—your willingness to spend money on your truck helps us all.
PS: A hundred years ago, when I lived in Milwaukee and drove a wrecker, our crew had a special name for people driving cars with Illinois plates: “FIBs” (F___ing Illinois Bast__ds)
re: boobs. “Any more than a mouthful is wasted.”
As others have alluded to, trucks are one of the last vehicles that allow people to have fun accessorizing with chrome. This is not to my taste because it sends a mixed message of “off-road tough” and “street queen”. The headache rack doesn’t look like it fits right, it’s too tall. But it can serve a safety purpose if cargo is being hauled around. Window vents can be nice to leave the windows cracked in hot weather without worrying about rain getting in. Really all the accessories except the Limited badging can serve a practical purpose. I doubt any of these except the tuneau cover really are, but they could be.
That’s what happens when one walks into Autozone and says “I’ll take one of those, and one of those, and throw in two of these, and one of those, and that’s real pretty so I’ll take that too, and…”
This is NOT to my taste, but trust me….Ive seen far worse. Chrome don’t get ya home…and it looks like ass. IMHO, of course. Some of the factory wheels on modern trucks are godawful. Anything over 17″ diameter is hideous and completely useless unless your tire diameter starts approaching 40″. That and the overall style of whats out there these days isn’t designed with any kind of aesthetic at all. Wheels like these MIGHT fly on a Lincoln town car or something but they don’t convey a sense of ruggeness or badassery like a deep dish set of slot mags or 5 hole Gamblers.
But the notion that modern trucks/SUVs are an evolution of what happened as sporty muscle cars got ‘broughammed’ is dead on, I think. Its a shame. Personally, Im all about the rugged and sporty ‘desert rat’ look that was popular in the ’70s and ’80s.
In short: NO.
I love chrome…in moderation of course. Although I don’t mind the look, I hate that painted bumpers and accessories get all chipped up and look like crap after a few years.
In trucks we can both have our preference, just another reason they are so popular.
…NO!
YES.
absofuckinglutely YES!!!!
That’s a nice Ramcharger!
all y’all can blame the know it all, social engineering government for this kind of truck. this is what happens when you can’t buy big cars. and yes, the camaltaccord is bigger than it used to be…but it’s NOT a big car. and what is it with some people always wanting to ban what they don’t like…control freaks, I guess…
I wonder, if pickups get CAFE’d like the cars already have–might we maybe see some more compelling cars, as the folks who bought trucks move on when they shrink? Or would pickups get as bland, boring and bar-of-soaped as modern cars?