Let’s revisit trucks and their people with this vintage image gallery. While the images are rather varied, it’s clear they come from an age when all trucks served as workhorses. Still, they were part of the family, and many folk stood proudly next to them. Yet, on a few shots, one can start to feel their future as not only workhorses, but also as lifestyle vehicles.
Exactly, as I remember them. Pickup people were consistently outdoorspeople, ranchers, farmers, blue collar workers/owners, tradespeople, miners, forestry workers, etc. I had a lot of respect for them, as a little kid.
Gentleman on the far right in the lead pic, is attired as I remember many local duck hunters in the 1970s. Add a fluorescent vest and cap, and he’d be all set.
Great gallery. The man in the coveralls in front of the Ford reminded me instantly of Mr. Yoder, at whose farm I spent several weeks every summer. But he drove a tired old Studebaker like in the second picture.
Nice 4WD Suburban in the woods. Those were not a common sight.
Someone left a comment here a couple of days ago about how most farm trucks were big 3/4 or 1 ton units with long beds. That’s not what I remember, and this little gallery tends to support that.
I will suggest that in the era when trucks were mostly used as tools, folks bought the least expensive tool that would get their job (whatever it was) done. And sometimes folks would buy less truck than they actually needed, and just overload it occasionally.
Except for bed length. Most pickups I remember seeing had 8′ beds. They weren’t significantly more expensive than short beds and you could fit ~25% more “stuff” in them. And in rural and working-class areas, folks weren’t concerned with things like turning radius and parking garages.
That’s all changed in modern times. The half-ton class of today seems to be more oriented towards family duties, not work. Most of the fleet white contractor trucks I see these days start in the 3/4-ton class.
350(0) series trucks as the go-to farm truck is a relatively recent development after they went heavily to diesel with far greater towing ability that lets them replace the really big Class 6 and up farm trucks with what’s basically an open-topped box body, which at least in northern New England are rarely seen anymore except for 1980s and older models that might still be kept around.
The first photo is of particular interest to me, in regards to a discussion I was having with coworkers recently.
At least 2 of the men are wearing baseball caps (or perhaps they’re “trucker’s caps”, I’m not quite clear on the difference). And we can probably assume that the photo is from 1957 to sometime in the early 60s.
But I was recalling that in my youth of the late 60s through the 70s, no one wore a baseball cap unless they were actively playing, or at least spectating at, the game of baseball. I don’t remember seeing men wearing baseball caps as daily attire until sometime in the 1980s. Maybe it was a cultural thing in certain parts of the country. Who has any input on this?
Now that you’ve mentioned it, I don’t recall seeing baseball caps back then all that much either.
Many farmers in Southern Ontario, circa 1973-1975, wore ball caps. Often promoting farm equipment manufacturers, or seed companies. That’s when I first started spending time in the country, before moving there with my parents. Hunters wore baseball style caps. Many local farmers, wore the same brand cap every day. IE.: Ford Tractors or Pickseed seed company.
Evan, working men have been wearing billed caps for well over a 150, 200 years? Look at any old images of men working, in factories, mines, and on farms. You needed to keep the dirt out of your hair, as well as offering some protection.
The farmers all wore caps in the early ’60s, except for straw hats in the summer for the old timers and the Mennonites and Amish.
Billed caps have evolved over time, along with baseball caps, which were once fairly different from modern ones.
Do you remember the caps worn by Civil War soldiers? Just an earlier version. Styles constantly evolve. And caps have always been extremely common; practically universal once upon a time. men either wore caps or hats; very rarely nothing on their heads.
Great photos depicting a bygone era when men were men, women were women, children had fun, and trucks were TRUCKS.
I long for a simple straightforward single cab, longbed truck with inline 6 cyl engine and 4-speed manual like the one my Dad used to own.
Because I’m over 70, I remember those days as well. But were they really better? I think we oldtimers tend to view the past through rose-tinted glasses.
Regarding your second paragraph, I may not own your dad’s truck, but I have a simple machine that’s been with me since new, a 1998 Nissan Frontier 2wd 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual, single cab with 6.5-foot bed. It still drives almost as if it’s still brand new, and it’s big enough for all of my needs.
I grew up at my Dad’s feed and farm supply store in a small Kansas town. The customer base was all farmers. I started working there at age 10 in 1960. Surprisingly, most of the customers arrived in their car, sometimes pulling a 2 wheel trailer. One was even still using a mule team and wagon! Some had bigger trucks – 1 and 2 tonners – that were multi purpose on the farm. In about 1965 the tide turned and many had those heavy duty 3/4 ton, 6 cylinder, 4 speed Chevys, Fords and IHs. Dodge and GMC were rare.
The fella leaning against the Studebaker has somewhat wide cuffs on his Levi’s reminiscent of the early to mid ’50’s
On the comment/question about ball caps: they used to be called “gimme caps” in Texas and the South, because they were usually advertising something and were given out to promote the product. For working people here, this was a good hat for informal wear. It rains a lot in Houston, Texas, and as a long time glasses wearer, a visored hat/cap is good to keep raindrops off your lenses. I’ve also heard them called “trucker caps” and have often seen drivers wearing them at truck stops and so forth.
They’ve also come into prominence in work uniforms. The company I work for is in foodservice and we have ones embroidered with the company logo as part of our uniform. I’ve noticed many police and other first responders using them for informal uniforms.
Now about the trucks…. totally agree on the rarity of the 4×4 Suburban. And trucks in general were usually purchased by farmers or tradesmen…up through the late 60s. If you look at the advertising of the time, the manufacturers were beginning to tout the sporty and luxury sides of their trucks, and also beginning to target the female buyers.
Even in Texas, where the Suburban is still considered “the national car of Texas” by many, Burbs didn’t really get popular until the square body (73-91) series. People who towed a trailer or needed to move crews or teams(or had large families) realized the capabilities of the platform. Remember, this was before every make had a medium/large SUV in their lines; there was the Burb and the IH Travelall. And the crew cab pickups were not near as common as now either, and mainly found commercial buyers.
This pattern continued into the 90s, and then when GM came out with the Tahoe/Yukon (that could do a lot of what their larger siblings could…BUT could fit in the average garage! Ford and Chrysler had to have their versions,and of course the imports did too. Then when the “luxury SUV” became a thing….that(and the crew cab short bed pickups) pretty much spelled the end of the family sedan.
I have a GMT400(OBS) Suburban and crew cab long bed pickup. If I want to see more of my pickup’s siblings I still find more of them in rural areas or hauling lawn trailers or at jobsites. These older trucks are so much simpler to work on than the newer ones, and price of obtaining one is much less too! Burbs and Tahoes/Yukons are fairly common in half ton from, but lots of people who tow have the 2500 series Burbs.
But the modern “crew shorty” pickup with 4 doors and a 5 foot bed…you can’t throw a rock without hitting one. These are the modern family sedan….. Suffice to say, trucks ain’t what they used to be, and for the most part, neither are the people who buy them.
Also, another point: as RVs have gotten bigger, so have the trucks used to haul them. Not every Cummins, powerstroke, or Duramax dually out there is some cowboy’s toy…..
Great photos. I found one in my collection to offer. The truck is from the 1950’s but it obviously has been restored. As is the wont of so many proud owners, you’ve got to have a hot lassie in the picture.
I think I know her. Her buns were the best. Since she quit working at the bakery their buns aren’t nearly as good.
Not to take away from the beauty in this image, but the young woman standing in front of the Advance Design Chevrolet 5-window in the second image of the post (wearing the head scarf) immediately impressed me as attractive. She seems to be the “girl next door” who one would be proud to introduce to one’s friends and family as “my girlfriend.” Apparent too is her willingness to work on the farm. Gotta love that. 🙂
Here’s another one. Two adorable children in Utah with Dad’s truck.
Now, tell me that this man is not proud of his restored 1950’s “B” Model Mack!
Check out the plastic windshield defrosters on the L Series Corn binder ! .
The knee waders in the first picture were often used by ranchers/farmers who worked in the brush where you’d get poked through you pants otherwise .
Notice too the side mount spare tires ~ city folks used the under bed spare mount and derided us country boys who had to have the side mounts due to muddy roads….
I have always loved and preferred the side mount spare, even after I moved into town .
Military “Jeep Caps” were the thing on New England farms, I can’t find them anymore and so use woolen watch caps, I don’t much like baseball/truckers caps .
Pops bought a Chevy Suburban in 1949, I don’t remember when it was center punched by a stop sign runner, pops freaked right the hell out .
-Nate
I was wondering what those things were on that truck’s windshield. Thanks for the explanation.
I’ve only owned four pickup trucks lifetime, but they have all been single cab half ton trucks. Three short bed and one long bed. I realize their utility for current day use, but I’ve always considered anything but a single cab a visual abomination. The bloated dimensions, ride heights and Kenilworth grills also seem out of place on late model half ton trucks.
All of the farmers that I have known or was related to, had an HD truck of perhaps 2 ton capacity. IH, GMC, Dodge, etc. One purchase early on in the 1940’s to 1960’s and they kept it for life. Those old trucks were often seen out of service and parked under cover in later years. Most seem to have disappeared in the past 5 to 10 years from purchase offers.
Now I am going to have to go out and take a picture of me next to my truck. Of all the cars I have owned, or driven as a company car, there is only two pictures of car involved. My first and my first with a the Mustang disassembled.
Ahem…
The 3rd photo shows that girls liked trucks as well.
I learned to drive in a 66 GMC, V6, 3 speed with overdrive, heavy duty clutch, 17 inch drop center wheels, 3/4 ton, over length bed at 8′ 8″, heavy duty leafs + coils on the rear.
No power. No air.
There was nothing we couldn’t haul.
My dad only wore a cap when he drove his big rig at work or played on the church softball team.
We lived in the city but he was raised by farmers. Never got trucks out of his blood. Always a GMC man.
Picture three was mistaken for my aunt Shannan Marie and her new truck…..it was blue. Move to Picture six she had dark green Chevrolet 4X4 panel truck. She worked for Ma Bell in the purchasing depth. That should explain the color and four wheel drive. My uncle Jim’s was the same green but a year older.They had many many Gold Claims in the Sierra Navada’s. They made enough extra cash that paid for all their gear and trucks. The truck in Picture three became my cousin Jimmy’s truck. Jimmy worked the claims as late as he could. They had a rule about getting out before snow came. They had four emergency cabins that were 100% fully stocked in case they had to hold up.