Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #231  
The biggest problem with my 5 year old F350 is the 'mode' selector on the column shift makes zero difference between 'Normal' and 'Eco' with the 10 speed. But I sure feel better seeing that little green leaf illuminate on the dash. I'm doing my part to save the planet!
Every little bit helps!!! ;)

they just don't die
Up here they just fade into rust.
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #232  
True Ford did offer for sale in 1917 a Model TT without a truck bed that the purchaser had to add his on bed too.


History of Ford Trucks 1917-1947 - Blue Oval Trucks

“Ford sold its first truck, the Model TT, on July 27, 1917. This heavy-duty chassis, based on the Model T, was designed to carry a one-ton payload and was available for customers to add their own cargo beds, marking the beginning of Ford's successful truck line.


Key Details
  • Model Name: Model TT

  • Date: July 27, 1917

  • Payload: One ton

  • Features: Combined the Model T's cab and engine with a heavier-duty frame.

  • Significance: The Model TT introduced a modular chassis that could be customized with various third-party beds and cargo areas, a formula for success for utility vehicles. “
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #233  
Like Mitsubishi and others, the contracts for licensed Jeep's goes back to WWII. First Ford made the GPW to support the war effort; Willys simply couldn't build enough. Post war, Mahindra, Mitsubishi and others licensed with Willys to make their own Jeeps. Mitsubishi made a lot of "Willys Wagons" and CJ3B's.

After decades though, Mahindra decided to try and sell in the US, something none of other companies did. That's when they started getting all of FCA Jeeps attention...

Wiki has a long list of companies that have made licensed Jeeps, and a few unlicensed at the bottom of the page
Bantam made the first and delivered photo type on schedule to War Department.

Came in overweight but War Department fully impressed…

Bantam a small auto maker could not deliver in quantity…

Quite a story for those interested…

Bantam also made a version with 4 wheel steering.

 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #234  
True Ford did offer for sale in 1917 a Model TT without a truck bed that the purchaser had to add his on bed too.


View attachment 4018027
“Ford sold its first truck, the Model TT, on July 27, 1917. This heavy-duty chassis, based on the Model T, was designed to carry a one-ton payload and was available for customers to add their own cargo beds, marking the beginning of Ford's successful truck line.


Key Details
  • Model Name: Model TT

  • Date: July 27, 1917

  • Payload: One ton

  • Features: Combined the Model T's cab and engine with a heavier-duty frame.

  • Significance: The Model TT introduced a modular chassis that could be customized with various third-party beds and cargo areas, a formula for success for utility vehicles. “
I want the TTSD with the more powerful diesel engine that rolls coal at every light when you give it fuel.
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #235  
I want the TTSD with the more powerful diesel engine that rolls coal at every light when you give it fuel.
Don’t think Ford made one of those.

“The first diesel truck sold by Ford was released in the
1983 model year, featuring a 6.9-liter V8 engine built in a partnership with International Harvester (now Navistar).
This engine was first offered as an option for the Ford F-250HD and F-350 trucks and other medium-duty models.
Key details of the first Ford diesel:
  • Engine: 6.9L International Harvester indirect injection (IDI) V8.
  • Power: 170 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque.
  • Significance: It was Ford's first diesel engine designed specifically for its light-duty trucks and vans, and it began Ford's history in the diesel truck market.“
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #236  
Ford Granada diesel was produced as a version of the European Mk2 Ford Granada, which was manufactured from 1972 to 1994 and was known for its fuel economy. Ford purchased 2.1-liter diesel engines from Peugeot for these models, which were often used by taxi companies due to their high fuel efficiency, though they weren't as popular with average buyers.
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #237  
Actually, ive seen a video about ordering chassis, with seat and gages/functional, but no cab. Used in Latin America like we use "yard dogs" moving trailers out of ship yards.
Here in Europe that was how trucks were delivered, well into the 50s. The body builder not just made you a reefer, they also made a cab. When Scania opened a production facility in Zwolle 10km from where i live, BeGe opened a cab facility in Meppel, 25km north, to supply both Scania here, and Volvo in Belgium with cabs. In 1966 BeGe sold their truck cab branch to Scania.

Our national brand Daf always made its own cabs since the early 50s
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #238  
Ford Granada diesel was produced as a version of the European Mk2 Ford Granada, which was manufactured from 1972 to 1994 and was known for its fuel economy.
I must admit that i have never seen a Granada diesel... only Cologne V6 and as a cheap rwd platform, it dominated the destruction derby in my youth (along with the Volvo 240 which was quite a bit sturdier, but at age, more popular as a daily driver than the Granada, so the Volvos were preferred)

From 1985 onwards, it was called Scorpio in mainland Europe (still Granada in the UK) and a 2.5 liter VM Motori diesel was used.

In the 70s there were only four serious Euro diesels: The Mercedes OM 615/616/617, the VW 1.6 diesel in the Golf/Rabbit, the various Peugeot diesels, and the 1.5, 1.9 and 2.1 Renault diesels.
In the 80s Ford made their own 1.8 diesel which has always been a lazy dog. Nowadays they share diesels with PSA/Stellantis nowadays.

I think Opel Rekord also used the Peugeot 2.1 diesel, same as the Granada.
Hanomag vans used the Mercedes diesel so Merc ended up buying the light commercial vehicles division, when the Hanomag conglomerate was dismantled: Komatsu bought the wheel loader branch, Mercedes the vans, Renault the tractors only for the German dealer network, but closed the works.
 
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   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #239  
I had a Granada with I think a straight 6 in it. We burned up the transmission in it towing a 14' Sears Gamefisher. My dad had some heavy duty transmission with a shift kit put in it. That thing was bulletproof after that. You could feel it shift. Ugly ass car, but it got sort of decent mpg and had really cold a/c. I traded it in on a truck a few years later. A 21 year old doesn't drive a grandma looking 4 door ugly sedan.
 
   / Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days! #240  
Not apples to apples; but while scrolling a larger, no haggle, dealer, I found multiple, New, 2024 Mitsubishi Lancer, base types cars, at $14.4k. I dont know much about them, other than they do appear to have CVTs;

I dont know if that vehicle is specifically crap, or had massive recalls; just new, and $14.4k. That's cheaper than a name brand SxS, road legal, and "should" even if crap, provide reliable transport for at least 120,000 miles.


Edit; Mirage, not Lancer
 

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