The MB100 is an old Mercedes van sold in Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. The van has a long history behind, but despite being pretty popular on the emergent markets it went out of production in 2004.
The vehicle was built in Korea and shared the same design and technologies with the SsangYong Istana. Unfortunately the only Mercedes part found at the van was the badge, so don’t expect to the same level of reliability and refinement that is usually found at any Mercedes vehicle.
The van was a pretty rugged workhorse built with practicality in mind and was available in both commercial and passenger versions.
Power options included two engines namely a 2.3 liter diesel and a 2.2 liter petrol.
The SsangYong Musso is a double cab pickup based on the Musso SUV. The vehicle was commercialized between 2002 and 2005, and features Mercedes engines and transmissions. The Musso Pickup offered a good compromise between luxury, strength and refinement, but it never received the deserved attention.
Thanks to the use of Mercedes parts, the truck was pretty reliable delivering strong on road performances and being able to deal great with heavy loads too.
The SsangYong Musso Pickup was offered with either 4x2 or 4x4 drive modes and was able to tow a maximum weight of 3500 kg, while payload is rated at 854 kg.
The ChineseGreat Wall Wingle has entered the worldwide market in 2006. The vehicle was also known as the Steed in Europe and the V-Series in Australia.
The Steed was available in both single and double cab configurations and offered a good mix between comfort, price and practicality.
The exterior design looked like a combination between Isuzu’s D Series and the Volkswagen Magellan Concept.
The vehicle is available with two engines which come with 2.4 and 2.8 liter displacements and are mated on a five speed manual transmission. The Steed 3 can be ordered with either 2WD or 4WD configurations.
The Holden Rodeo was basically a rebadged version of the Isuzu Rodeo and was sold between 2003 and 2007.
Except for some minor exterior differences the Holden Rodeo looked identical with its Japanese twin. The same platform was also used to build the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado.
The Holden Rodeo was offered in a wide range of versions including single, double and extended cabs, and also two and four wheel drive models.
The truck was fairly practical and coped great with many arduous jobs. Though, the Holden Rodeo had to deal with a pretty strong competition which affected its sales charts.
The vehicle has a minimum payload of 1054 kg with a maximum towing capacity of 2000 kg or 3000 kg, depending on the engine.
The newest ute was launched by Holden in 2007 as a replacement for the old Commodore based VE model.
The new generation continues to keep the standards high and is considered by many the best ute ever built by the company. Continuing to be based on the high class Commodore passenger car, the new VU is more like a sedan with a tray at the back than a classical utility pickup.
The cabin offers s superior level of comfort while the road manners are also part of the first class.
The base model is named Omega and under its bonnet you’ll find a 3.6-litre V6 which can be mated on both manual and automatic transmissions.
The old Colorado was a pretty competitive vehicle, offering a good balance between comfort and utility. The new generation moves this heritage even further and is a completely new vehicle designed from the ground up to respect the contemporary requirements of pickup trucks.
The 2012 Holden Colorado shares the same platform and technology with the Isuzu D-Max, but it’s equipped with its own GM engines.
Similarly with the old model, the new Holden Colorado is offered with regular, extended and crew cabs. The vehicle is offered with a choice of two engines which come with 2,5 and 2,8 liter displacements.
The previous generation Holden Colorado arrived in 2008 and is available with a wide range of body styles and engines which make it well suited for a large number of buyers.
The pickup truck is available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and the engines lineup includes both diesel and petrol units. Three cab versions are available namely Single Cab, Space Cab and Crew Sab.
Despite the fact that is based on the same platform as the Rodeo, the Colorado is a totally different vehicle that puts accent on utility. The 2008 Holden Colorado was sold until 2012 when it was replaced by the new generation which is based on the Chevrolet Colorado. The old model vehicle had a starting price of $19,990 (excluding taxes).
The Holden VU Ute was introduced as a replacement for the old Holden VS utility. The new VU was the first utility vehicle launched since the old VG model was released back in 1990. The new model was based on the VX Comodore sedan and shared the same front and interior design with its donor.
The vehicle had a sleek exterior design combined with a long load bed and a spacious cab.
The VU ute was available in three versions namely the Base, S and SS. The entry level and S models were equipped with a 3.8 liter V6, while the SS received a 5.7 liter V8 unit. The base model has a payload capacity of 780kg, while the S and SS versions have a payload capacity of 735kg.
Tired of your old Kenworth truck? No reason to worry, as Kenworth has made available a series of glider kits for the T660, T800 and W900L models. The glider kits can be mated to customer-supplied EPA 2004 engines and matching transmissions.
Alan Fennimore, vocational marketing manager declared, “We’re offering the gliders as both rolling and non-rolling models (customer supplies driveline, axles, suspensions, wheels, tires and other ‘rolling’ equipment) and no FET tax is included from Kenworth. Depending upon the project’s final cost, and if the host parts came from a useable truck, the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET) on new trucks may not be applicable, which can be a real money saver for customers.”
FET will apply when a glider kit is used to repair a wrecked truck vehicle, or change its intended service or where the restoration cost exceeds 75% of the value.
Mr. Fennimore added: “There are several other engine-related components – such as electrical harnesses, power steering pumps, batteries and air cleaners – that customers need to supply themselves, or purchase from Paccar Parts through their local Kenworth dealerships, but for the truck itself, it’s a very complete package.”
Concluding the report, Fennimore said that the interest for gliders has started to grow in the latest years, hence their decision, “Gliders are a great alternative for fleets and owner operators with the tools and service technicians to bring a solid and existing powertrain back to life in a ‘brand new truck’. We’ve talked with several fleets that plan to purchase gliders and have their service technicians work on the conversions during slow or off periods. It can be an effective use of shop hours.”
The Juara was the first van produced by Proton and was introduce on the market in 2001. The vehicle was based on the Mitsubishi town box MPV and its name was derived from the Malay language and meant “chamption”.
The Proton Juara was powered by a 1094 cc engine which developed a maximum output of 71 PS. Its compact exterior dimensions helped it deal great with tight city roads, but also affected the interior space that was a bit cramped.
Unfortunately, since its launch, the Juara didn’t manage to catch the market’s interest, which led to its premature death in 2003.
Proton however, learned from the mistakes made with the Juara and after seven years has launched a new MPV, named the Exora which was a big improvement over its predecessor. Though, the Juara continues to remain an important milestone in Proton’s history, as it marked its first experience in the Van and MPV segment.
Proton is a Malaysian car manufacturer which sells its vehicles worldwide. The company designed both passenger and utility vehicles.
The Jumbuck was a compact pickup which had a pretty versatile character, aimed especially at small business owners or farmers.
The pickup’s suspension and body control was tweaked by Lotus Engineering. The Proton Jumbuck uses an innovative ’torquebox’ that connects the passenger car monocoque of the Proton Persona sedan to a ladder type rear chassis. This construction gives the Jumbuck a stronger frame which helps it deal with a maximum payload of 570 kg. The vehicle was offered only with front wheel drive configuration and had a starting price of $15.490.
The previous generation SsangYong pickup was launched in 2007 and was a surprisingly good product offering a high class interior comfort, capable engines and reasonable road manners. Price also worked in Actyon’s advantage, but the exterior design was anything but charming.
After five years, SsangYong decided to come up with a new generation which keeps all the good attributes of the previous model and also features a more attractive exterior design.
With a starting price of $26.990, the new Actyon Pick-up continues to be one of the most affordable double cab pickups from the market.
Under the hood, you’ll find an upgraded 2.0 liter turbo diesel engine which delivers a maximum output of 155 hp. The truck continues to be available with both 2WD and 4WD configurations.
The Dacia Logan Van completes the wide Logan lineup which consists of a MCV, a Sedan and even a Pick-up.
The Dacia Logan Van is a pretty practical compact van, designed especially for commercial applications. The vehicle is basically an MCV with the rear seats removed and the rear windows paneled off which give it a typical van look.
The van has a payload capacity of up to 800 kg and it’s offered with a choice of two diesels and one petrol unit.
With a starting price of only $8500 (exluding taxes), the Dacia Logan Van is one of the most affordable compact vans found on today’s market.
SsangYong find it hard to survive during these difficult economic conditions, but somehow it managed to remain in the competition and continues to sale its vehicles worldwide.
The manufacturer is especially known for its SUVs and pick-ups which come with an affordable price tag and are fitted with all modern common sense features.
The 2007 Actyon Sports pickup was sold until 2012 when it was replaced by the new generation. The old model was offered with both 2WD and 4WD configurations and was powered by either a petrol or a diesel engine. The vehicle features a ladder frame chassis and has a kerb weight of 1900 kg.
Great Wall is a less known Chinese automotive company, which recently has started to sell vehicles in Europe too. The Steed was the first Chinese vehicle launched on the UK market and it’s basically a four door double cab pick-up priced pretty competitively at $22.000.
Offered only in two wheel drive configuration, Great Wall Steed is equipped with a 2.0 liter engine which comes with a variable geometry turbocharger. The engine churns out 143 hp and it is married to a six speed manual gearbox.
The truck has a gross vehicle weight of 2,885kg with a maximum payload of 1,095kg. When properly equipped, the Great Wall Steed can tow up to 2,000kg.
Service intervals are set at 10,000 miles, and the vehicle is covered by a three-year/60,000 mile mechanical warranty.
After it was brought by Renault, Dacia’s destiny has finally started to have a bright future. The first model launched under Renault’s ownership was the Logan.
With a small price tag and cheap costs of ownership, Dacia’s new budget car is sold in good numbers on the emergent markets. After seeing how surprisingly successful was the Logan sedan, Renault decided to extended the range and also came with an MPV, a Van and even a Pick-up version of its model.
The Dacia Logan Pick-up was launched in 2008 and was basically a Logan sedan with the rear end chopped off. The Logan Pick-up has a maximum payload capacity of 800 kg and its engines lineup includes two diesels and one petrol unit.
The Jeep Comanche was based on the Cherokee model and was sold between 1985 and 1992. The pickup truck was legendary for its sharp off road skills and for its bullet proof reliability.
The Comanche was available with both two wheel drive and four wheel drive configurations and came with two bed lengths measuring six-feet and seven-feet. At its time, the Comanche was the cheapest Jeep in the company’s lineup.
The vehicle was launched with a choice of three engines including the AMC 150 2.5 L, 150 CID I4, General Motors’s LR2 2.8 L V6 and the Renault 2.1 L I4 turbo diesel.
The Mark LT is Lincoln’s second attempt to design a luxurious pickup after failing with the Blackwood model that was sold for only one year. Lincoln’s first luxury pickup was highly criticized for its lack of practicality and the not-so-luxurious cabin. However the company didn’t give up and decided to try it’s luck once more with the Mark LT.
The new luxury pickup was launched in 2006 and features a smarter style mixed with a longer load bed and a modern looking cab. The vehicle is based on the four door version of the Ford F-150 pickup and it’s powered by Ford’s 5.8 liter Triton V8.
Any usual pickup buyer is interested about tow ratings, cargo capacity or price/value ratio. Though, there are some people who don’t give a damn about these figures and are ready to pay a huge amount of money for something that doesn’t offer four-wheel drive, comes with a half long bed, and drinks oil like the Drunken Master.
This is exactly the case for Lincoln’s Blackwood luxury pickup launched on the market in 2002.
The Lincoln Blackwood is based on the Navigator SUV and has a double cab configuration. Under the hood there was a strong 300 hp V8 unit and the starting price was set at not less than $52.000.
The Lincoln Blackwood was sold in a pretty limited edition with only 10.000 units being built and its direct competitor was the Cadillac Escalade EXT.
The Mitsubishi Mighty Max was sold in the United States between 1986 and 1996, being one of the first models brought from Japan.
The vehicle had a pretty strong build quality and was especially appreciated for its reliability and the simple mechanics.
The Mitsubishi Mighty Max was available with either two wheel drive or four wheel drive configuration and was fitted with a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine which develops a maximum output of 116 hp.
The truck was discontinued in 1996, when it was replaced by the new Mitsubishi Raider that was based on the Chevrolet Dakota.
The last pickup developed entirely by Isuzu was sold on the US market back in the 90s, as all the following models were basically rebadged GM versions. The 1995 Isuzu Pickup was one of the most basic pickups that could’ve been found at that time on the market. The vehicle had a spartan interior and a stiff ride but it managed to deal well with arduous working conditions.
The Isuzu Pickup was offered in two configurations. The two-wheel-drive version is powered by a 2.3-liter, 100-horsepower engine, while the four-wheel-drive model comes with a 2.6-liter, 120-horsepower unit. There is only a single cab configuration available, but there were two bed lengths to choose from.
The Mitsubishi Raider was a small pickup truck sold on the US market. The vehicle was basically a rebadged Dodge Dakota with oversized fenders and a few other small modifications.
The Raider was among the first models sold by Mitsubishi on the US market, but it was never a best seller.
The vehicle was available in three configurations including Extended Cab 2WD, Double Cab 2WD and Double Cab 4WD. The five-passenger Extended Cab model has a 6.4-foot bed, and the Double Cab models come with a 5.3-foot bed.
Unlike the Dodge Dakota which comes with optional strong V8 engines, the Mitsubishi is available only with one 3.7 liter V6 engine which develops 210 Hp. At least Mitsubishi offers a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, compared to Dodge’s three-year/36,000-mile comprehensive coverage. Though, Dodge still continues to remain on top, as it provided a lifetime warranty for the powertrain.
The SSR (Super Sport Roadster) was a daring experiment made by Chevrolet in 2003. The main idea was to create a factory-built hot rod with a retro style and superior driving dynamics.
Though, the result was a bit south to the initial plan and the SSR proved to be a major fail from Chevrolet, as it went out of production only after three years.
The Chevrolet SSR offered an odd mix between a classical customized hot rod and a rear wheel drive sports car. One of the main mistakes made by Chevy was to build its sport pickup on GM’s midsize SUV platform, which made it too heavy.
At the launch, the vehicle was powered by General Motors’ Vortec 5300 V8 engine, while the 2005 generation received a stronger unit borrowed from the C6 Corvette.