Pickup trucks are purpose-built vehicles designed to do one job: Work. Not held up to high standards of beauty, trucks are utilitarian and judged on their ability to tow, haul and get dirty. These classic pickups we found in the GM archives, however, remind us that there is beauty in utility and being functional — these trucks can work hard and can look good while doing it.
1956 GMC Suburban
Before the Suburban was a kid hauler for, well, suburban families in North America, it was a pickup truck. First known as the Town and Country, the original Suburban was powered by a V8 engine pushing 180 horsepower through a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. The cargo box was made of steel and had a hidden spare tire compartment. GMC made this Suburban from 1955 to 1957 and close to 1,000 units were made. It sold for $1,923 (about $17,075 in today’s dollars).
1967 Chevrolet El Camino SS
Half muscle car and half pickup truck, the El Camino SS was fast, practical and pretty good-looking. Powered by a 6.5L V8 engine, the SS had 325 horsepower under its hood. It had an optional Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission and power front disc brakes. It sold for $2,694 in 1967 (about $18,842 in today’s dollars) and Chevy sold about 34,830 of them that year, 2,565 of which were equipped with the automatic transmission.
Honourable mention: 1945 GMC Model AFR523 Tank Truck
Not a pickup but still designed to haul, the tank on this truck has a 1,500 gallon capacity.
