Can You Identify These Trucks from the '70s?

AUTO

By: Monica Lee

7 Min Quiz

Image: Greg Gjerdingen via Wiki Commons/Outdoorsmen_DIY via Youtube/Aumann Vintage Power via Youtube/Classic Corner Garage via Youtube

About This Quiz

Trucks can travel to places that cars only dream about. And those destinations, as well as the look and styling of '70s trucks, excited the senses back them. That feeling was kicked up a notch when the government standards imposed on cars didn't apply to trucks. To spark your memory, in the 1970s, the government instituted safety, emissions, and fuel-economy standards for automakers. However, many of the government standards either didn't apply to trucks or weren't as strict, (or as M.C. Hammer would say, "you can't touch this") so trucks ruled the road. For that reason and others, car enthusiasts in the 1970s turned to trucks, and some never came back. 

The West Coast crowd was particularly inspired by the small, compact trucks that offered good gas mileage and went anywhere in style. During the gas crisis of 1973, many Americans were lucky to be cruising the streets in Datsun 521s and getting better gas mileage than a '69 Camaro. It's not surprising that starting as early as 1959, many Americans had started picking up small compact trucks to do daily chores and use as workhorses. 

Whether you were simply on trend during the '70s, a truck enthusiast or simply enjoy driving the best vehicles out there, you're sure to be able to identify these trucks. Find out now by taking a test drive with this quiz.


This '70s truck should be easy to recognize. What's its name?

When it was introduced in 1978, Subaru probably didn’t realize it had an instant classic on its hands. The BRAT stood for Bi-drive Recreational All-Terrain. In other words, a fun vehicle. It was unique in that it had a T-top, a spare tire under the hood (resting above the air intake), and little spring loaded side steps.

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What was the name of this '70s classic?

Jeep’s longest-running pickup, the J-series, hit the road in 1963 and kept driving until 1987. The Jeep name stood the test of time as it passed from Kaiser to AMC and, 17 years later, to Chrysler.

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Another recognizable one. What's the name of this vehicle?

This short-bed mini truck was introduced for the 1972 model year, and continued with different versions until 1979. Along the way, an extended cab model was added and engines grew in size.

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Trucks, trucks and more trucks. Can you name this one?

The LUV was cheap, dependable, easy to work on and had a good run of model years. Its good looks were​ only surpassed by the simple maintenance manual it had. You were lucky if you grabbed one of these for your off-the-road travels.

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Were you driving this truck in the '70s? Either way, what's its make and model?

Fitting snugly into the camping scene, the Longhorn offered a rare, 8-1/2-foot bed pickup and a wooden bed floor. It had character and durability, but unfortunately, was made only until 1972.

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Wearing bell bottoms during the '70s? Then you'll know the name of this truck. What make and model is it?

The Ranchero was one of the coolest things Ford made in the '70s, especially since the Ford Ranchero could be ordered in the same performance trim as the Torino of the day, a Cobra Jet, a four-speed, body graphics, scooped hood, and those great Magnum 500 wheels. Gotta love it!

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Unless you were a truck enthusiast in the '70s, it might be hard to name this one. What's the make and model?

To compete in the camping craze that had hit America, the International Harvester Travelall had a bed designed to pull a camper. The Travelall was known for its cargo capacity and ability to go just about anywhere, while carrying the entire family, a picnic, bicycles, and whatever else you could fit!

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Did this truck enchant you in the '70s? What's its name?

The Dodge Warlock, a factory custom pickup influenced by the boogie van craze, was easily recognized by its gold pin-striping inside and out, custom wheels and factory-custom bucket seat interior. Far out man!

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What's the name of this truck?

Toyota didn’t sell a “compact” truck to compete directly against the Datsun until the Hilux arrived. The '75 Toyota Hilux Pickup was a rugged little truck that came standard with a four-speed transmission.

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Keep on truckin'. What's the make and model of this one?

This compact pickup truck made by Nissan in Japan was a bare-bones truck that featured a shorter bed when compared to the regular cab. Although a strong seller in the '70's, 1982 was its last year in production.

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Take a ride with this truck back to the '70s. What's its name?

The Toyota Stout 1900 was the first “mid-size” truck. The Stout was built as a rugged truck. It was known for being simple, solid and well made, similar to the Toyota Hilux Pickup.

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Did you head out in this truck to watch "Saturday Night Fever"? Either way, what's the make and model?

The Bronco has long been valued by enthusiasts as a rugged off-roader. The Bronco was more maneuverable, smoother-riding, and could carry a heavier load compared to the competition.

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It's the simplest name here - what is the make and model of this truck?

Toyota and Nissan pickups were on the market in the '70s but they had no names at all. In car magazines and buying guides, they were called the Toyota truck or the Nissan truck -- lower case included. The new Toyota Truck at the time (1975-1978) sported a new design. It was also larger than its predecessor, and had a slightly bigger engine.

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Some of you were listening to Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" in this '70s truck - What's the make and model?

Mazda’s B-Series came to the U.S. in the early ’70s. In 1986, it hit its stride, and the fourth-generation truck was praised for its good handling, comfortable interior, and was considered to be one of the most refined small trucks on the market.

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This one may be tough to recognize. What's the name of this truck?

You know your truck model was popular when over a half-million were produced between the 1960s and the 1970s. The International Harvester Scout was one of the favorites on the road in the four-wheel-drive category.

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Only truck enthusiasts will know this one. What's the make and model?

You were at the peak of coolness if you drove the limited edition Baja Broncos. This powerful truck with a myriad of enhancements fueled the rise of the off-road scene in the '70s. Not unexpectedly, they still are hot today.

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What's the make and model of this truck?

This "everyman​" pickup truck was leaps and bounds ahead of prior models in terms of style and drivability. The Chevy C-10 Pick Up Truck had easier accessibility because it was closer to the ground (so you didn't have to haul yourself up to get in!). It also featured an optional coil-spring rear suspension decades before anyone else.

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This one is a rare breed. Which one is the correct make and model?

If you're a truck enthusiast, you would want this added to your collection. The Top Hand is a four-wheel-drive Dodge truck that came with numerous bolt-on goodies from Hickey's catalog, including the brush guard and roll bar. Why so rare? Fewer than 500 were made, and only a handful remain in good condition.

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There weren't that many around, but you may recognize it. What's the name of this '70s truck?

This rare truck was introduced in 1974 with only 15,000 produced. The Mazda Rotary had a very distinct look, including a special front grille and tailgate. These trucks actually didn't sell too well and were redesigned in 1977.

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The Bee Gees were all over the radio when this truck was popular. What's the make and model of this truck?

This is one of the toughest-looking Ford trucks of all time. It had an ultra-rugged drive train that sat a few inches taller than the 3/4-ton trucks from GM, Dodge, and Jeep. This heavy-duty pickup truck has started to "pick up" ​interest among truck collectors.

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If you want unique, here it is. What's the name of this truck?

A rare breed, this Lil' Red Express Truck released by Dodge in 1978 was not only a real looker but a real performer. In 1978, the Dodge Lil' Red Express was the fastest American-made vehicle from 0 to 100 MPH as tested by Car and Driver magazine.

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Lookin' recognizable? What's the name of this truck?

From 1971 to 1987, there were fewer than 75,000 GMC Sprint/Caballeros produced (total of just over 1 million vehicles sold). GMC had only 7 percent of total production, which is why the GMC Sprint/Caballero is a really rare find.

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Easy to park, easy to drive. What's the name of this truck?

Tapping their partnership with Ford, Mazda in Japan built the Courier to compete with the rising popularity of mini trucks in the ’70s. The car was well-built and designed and was a common sight on the roads until the mid-’90s​.

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What's the name of this award-winning truck?

The 1979 model changes for the Toyota truck included four wheel drive which divided the Toyota truck into two separate product lines, one for the 4 X 2 and one for the 4 X 4. The brand new four-wheel-drive model was a huge hit, winning the “4WD of the Year” award by Pickup, Van and 4WD as well as other awards.

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Get your fun on with this one. What's its name?

In 1969, the Sport models had aluminum door panel trim, pleated parchment interior, a rear floor mat when the rear seat was ordered, plus the steering stabilizer became a standard feature. By 1970, this package was so popular, the Bronco Sport became a model rather than an option package.

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If you saw this truck in your rearview mirror, what would you call it?

Many consider this vehicle the first modern heavy-duty, pick-up truck. Aerodynamic, with the ability to seat six, it was one popular truck in the '70s. Not only was this the first Chevy truck to use curved side glass, it also came equipped with a radio antennae integrated into the windshield glass. Very innovative!

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This one may be hard to recall. What's its name?

OK, maybe it was a little more than a rebadged Dodge Ramcharger, but the Trail Duster was a favorite for those who remember them. Although the Ramcharger won out, both were introduced by Chevrolet to compete with the off-road convertible-SUV segments that were hot and getting hotter in the '70s.

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This model has been around for a while. What's its name?

For those who loved the wind in their hair, the Blazer, essentially a shorted pickup truck (to increase interior space) was available with a “full convertible” top that was removable. The Chevrolet Blazer was on the road for a long time, from 1969 to 1994.

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Can you name this truck?

Do you remember the advertising for this baby? "Honcho means boss... and Honcho is macho. And that means brawny, powerful and tough." Jeep produced fewer than 1,500 Honcho Sportsides, so owning one is a collector's dream. The Honcho was based on the J-10, Jeep's J-series.

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There were some rare and rowdy trucks in the '70s. What is the name of this one?

In the 1970s, Dodge launched a Macho version of the Power Wagon that drew rave reviews from 4X4 fans. The fan base grew even more due to the long-running hit TV series, "Simon and Simon," and the starring role of the long-bed model.

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Truck aficionados might be able to get this one. What's the name of this truck?

Another rare one for you. In 1977 GMC was the official truck of the Indy 500. To commemorate the occasion, GMC made special edition pickups that caught your attention and kept it. How could you look away? A sharp black and white paint job, deep front spoilers, big wide raised white letter tires with red pin-striping.

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What's the name of this one?

From 1960 until 1984, the FJ40 impressed buyers with its​ reliability, sturdiness and off-road capabilities. One of the key features that made it so popular was the folding seats behind the front seats, making it easier to carry passengers or cargo.

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This truck may look familiar to you. What's its make and model?

General Motors completely revamped its full-size pickups for 1973. A four-door (Crew Cab) model was now available, built on a long 164.5-inch wheelbase. The redesigned interior featured a dash angled slightly toward the driver with full-time four-wheel-drive available.

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Which rugged truck is this?

One of the last special factory variations for the classic Bronco was the ’76-’77 Special Decor Group option for the Base or Sport Bronco. It added an exterior stripe in white, black, or yellow, and was color-keyed to the body color. The grille was blacked out, the top was painted body color, and the package included Sport Wheel covers.

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What is this fun-times truck called?

Ford saw a need in the market, and decided to fill it with the 1973 F350 SRW (single rear wheel) pickup. If you ordered the Camper Special package on an F350 SRW it became a Super Camper Special which was designed for the much heavier slide-in campers coming on the market at that time.

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Groove to Abba and try to remember the make and model of this vehicle. What is it?

The fifth generation of the Ford F-Series contained a line of pickup trucks with a choice of trim levels. The photo above shows the Ford Custom with the round headlight design and an all-business look.

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Name this one if you can. What's the make and model?

Sometimes competition sharpens our focus. And when it came to Ford needing to respond to Dodge's pioneering 1973 extended-cab pickup, the SuperCab was born. It joined the F-Series roster in June 1974. The 22-inch-long extension was large enough to accommodate an optional forward-facing bench or side-facing jump seats.

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You can guess the name of this one blindfolded, right? Go on, what's the make and model?

The 1970 Ford Ranchero pickup truck was restyled to include pointed front-fender tips, a sharp full-length mid body crease, and an egg crate grille. The Squire model was decked out in simulated wood trim as well.

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We're nearing the end of the quiz. What's the name of this truck?

The Chevrolet Suburban didn't get four real passenger doors until the boxy 1973 model arrived, but that square-fendered Suburban stayed on the market for almost 20 years! Suburbans could be optioned with big-block 454 V-8s and tow 10,000 pounds—perfect for ranchers. Plus the C-10 & C-20 panel truck models were available for commercial purposes.

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Here's your last question. What's the name of this truck?

If you're looking for flashy graphics and lots of accessory choices, the Ford F-100 "Shorty Flareside" was THE truck to drive in the '70s. This four-wheel-drive was aimed at younger buyers who wanted to personalize their truck.

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