What's not to love about a pickup truck? It lets you haul and tow heavy loads, allows you to go off-road and looks macho. One of the first popular pickup trucks was built in 1913. Since the early 1900s numerous pickups entered the market, as manufacturers strived to release a better model than its predecessor to remain competitive. The pickup was originally built to serve as a work tool, but consumers bought pickups in the early 1950s to improve their lifestyles. Whether you use the pickup to deliver cement bags to a construction site, go off-roading on weekends or transport the family to a camping site, it has numerous uses.

Updated February 2022: If you're looking to buy a cool truck, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article. You can't go wrong with any of these models, as they all just ooze coolness.

Although many pickups entered the market, many also left. The most significant reasons for its departure is that the manufacturers did not evolve with the times and offered a subpar product. While none of the trucks on this list are in production today, they remain in our hearts forever. Those pickups served their purpose during its time and brought us unaccountable joy. Other pickups on our list are still in production, and its manufacturers have done a stellar job to serve the buyer's needs. Whatever the purpose is of your pickup or style preference, we have featured it on the list. Our list is compiled of the greatest pickups to have graced the roads. Fasten your bootstraps, as we get behind the wheels of the coolest pickups of all time.

20 1990 Rod Hall Signature Edition Dodge

via Barn Finds

When you are a famed race driver, it makes sense that you would have a signature car. Rod Hall partnered with Carroll Shelby to manufacturer signature series trucks based on the Dodge Ram 150.

If you were fortunate to own one of the 33 vehicles ever built, you would have owned a pickup that had pre-runner front and rear bumpers, Rod Hall driving lights, as well as a bed-mounted light bar. Considering Hall was a race driver, one would think he would build a fast car. Unfortunately, no. The Signature Edition Dodge had a V-8 engine that spurted out only 170 horsepower.

Related: 10 Greatest Pickup Trucks Ever Made...That No One Bought

19 1972-1979 Datsun 620

via Youtube

Datsun was the first car manufacturer to introduce the compact truck to the American market in 1959. More than a decade later, the manufacturer launched the 4th generation 620. Back in the day, pickup drivers considered the 620 to be a sight for sore eyes. Besides looking good, the 620 had innovative features such as the long bed.

In 1977, the manufacturer introduced a model that had more room called the King Cab. Southern Californians loved the truck, and it became a surfer's delight. The 620 assisted in stimulating the sport-compact truck era. Although the 620 is old, several American drivers are proud owners to this day.

18 2004-2008 International CXT

via Wheelsage.org

In the early 2000s, the truck manufacturer International had its eye on the pickup truck market segment and wanted to be its giant, literally. The truck company wanted to make a statement when it entered the market by producing the biggest heavy-duty pickup truck. Its efforts resulted in the biggest pickup truck called the CXT.

The pickup was a 14500 pound medium-duty commercial 4 WD truck that had a Ford Super Duty pickup bed. The truck was nine-foot high and could handle a payload of 12000 pounds. Needless to say, it was more of a truck than a pickup.

17 1978-1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck

via Barrett Jackson

Back in the late 70s if you did not own the Lil'Red Express Truck, you probably did not have the fastest pickup on the road. According to Car and Driver in 1977, the Red Express was the fastest vehicle to reach a 100 mph. What was the Lil' Red Express' secret for being so fast? It was tuning.

Engineers designed it as a muscle truck and modified the V-8 engine, which pumped out 225 horsepower, making the truck faster than the most powerful Corvette during those years. In 1979, the manufacturer sold more than 5000 Red Express Trucks.

16 1981-1985 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler

via Barrett Jackson

The Jeep Wrangler Pickup is set to be released this year. Although the American manufacturer is known for its SUVs, 2018 is not the first year that Jeep will introduce a pickup. In the 80s Jeep wanted to compete in the small pickup market; therefore, it converted the CJ-7 into a comfortable pickup. The end product was called the CJ-8 or the Scrambler.

The Scrambler had a more pleasant drive than its predecessors because it had a longer wheelbase that helped to deliver a smoother ride. Jeep built around 30000 Scramblers, some are still around and have an appreciating value.

15 1974-1977 Mazda Rotary Pickup

via Bring a Trailer

When Mazda launched the B-series, the car was in production for 45 years. During the 4 and half decade tenure, the car improved but was never as exciting as it was between 74 and 77. What happened that made that model so special? Mazda decided to install a Wankel rotary engine.

The car was called the rotary-engined pickup (REPU) and was not economical, a capable towing unit, and more than two people could not fit in the cab. So, what were its strengths? The 1.3-liter Wankel engine was music to the driver's ears, the engine spurted out 110 horsepower, and the car redlined at 7000 rpm.

Related: 10 Pickup Trucks You'll Most Likely Regret Buying

14 1999-2007 Ford Super Duty

via Angel Motors

What do you get when one of the best pickup manufacturers decides to make a heavy-duty truck? The Ford Super Duty. When Ford rolled out the pickup truck, the work crowd and recreational users flocked to buy it. Buyers had a choice of a 6.8-liter V-10 engine or a 7.3-liter turbo diesel.

Another option that drivers who used the truck for towing had was the manual telescoping side mirrors. Drivers could slide these out when towing. When the Super Duty became popular, Ford decided to manufacturer the Super Duty F-450 and the F-550 cabin chassis model. No surprise that Ford dominates that market.

13 1946-1968 Dodge Power Wagon

via Hemmings Motor News

It lasted for more than two decades on the market and looked like a fire truck. The Dodge Power Wagon was a version of a military vehicle and was America's first civilian 4WD trucks. One would think that the Power Wagon had a massive engine considering it was a military vehicle. Instead, it had a 230-CID inline six-cylinder engine that pumped out only 94 horsepower.

The Power Wagon was equipped with ultra-low gearing for heavy loads. It also had huge tires that allowed the truck to have more than 10 inches of ground clearance under each axle and haul 3000 pounds in the bed.

12 1986-1997 Nissan Hardbody 4x4

via Youtube

It was originally called the D21 pickup, but truckers dubbed it the Hardbody for its strength and aesthetics. At the time, the Hardbody' design was unprecedented. Pickup drivers viewed the Hardbody as one of the best looking trucks at the time.

The Sports package 4x4 model had 31-inch tires, brush and light bars, and fender flairs. The four-cylinder and V-6 models proved to be reliable vehicles and are still available globally. Since the Hardbody was a financial success, Nissan used it as a basis to manufacturer the Pathfinder.

11 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota

via Car Throttle

The pickup truck segment had seen all kinds of vehicles enter the market by the end of the 80s. Buyers were fascinated with performance vehicles that could go at high speeds such as the Mustang GT and the Trans Am. The pickup market had vehicles for hauling heavy loads but did not have a performance vehicle. Dodge saw the gap in the market and decided to manufacture a pickup that could deliver performance.

Dodge partnered with Caroll Shelby, and the end product was the Dodge Shelby Dakota. The partners manufactured a pickup truck that had a 5.2-liter V-8 engine that pumped out 175 horsepower and 4-speed automatic transmission.

10 1975-1985 Toyota Hilux

via Classic Cars from UK

Although Datsun was the first Japanese truck manufacturer to enter the American market in the 50s, Toyota would reign the market a few decades later. The Japanese manufacturer was the first to offer a 4WD in a compact truck when it released the 1979 Hilux, according to Car and Driver.

Toyota received acclaim for manufacturing a pickup that was reliable and could handle all terrains. Pickup drivers regarded the rigs of the Hilux to be reliable, which made the vehicle the preferred choice for drivers of small pickups. The trucks had high suspension, enabling good ground clearance for off-roading.

9 1967-1969 Kaiser Jeep M175

via Curbside Classic

If you wanted to use a military vehicle to drive around town, then the obvious choice in the 60s would have been the Kaiser Jeep M175. It was built as a ton-a-quarter capacity military truck. Jeep used the Gladiator pickup as a basis for the design of the Kaiser.

To make the Kaiser different from the Gladiator, Jeep installed Dana 60 and 70 axles, a low-gear Warner T-98 four-speed manual and ultra-low gears. Although the Kaiser was a heavy military truck, you could reach 55 mph on the highway. That was not bad in the 60s.

Related: 15 Sick Pickup Trucks That Go 0-60 MPH In Under 6 Seconds

8 1953-1956 Ford F-100

via Hemmings Motor News

Ford has been making great pickups for a long time, and the 50s was no exception. The second generation Fords were the first vehicles from the manufacturer to have a modern nameplate, as well as the first to have a wraparound windshield.

Ford fitted the new generation with an overhead-valve design V-8 engine, which pumped out 180 horsepower. Considering it was the 50's, that was pretty good. In 1953, Ford released its first automatic transmission with the integrated torque converter in its pickups. The car was dubbed the Effie and was a must-have for any Ford enthusiast.

7 1991-1993 GMC Syclone

via Youtube

Pickups do not have to be all about the heavy load. Sometimes it is nice to load up a truck and get a fast performance on the highway. If that was what you needed in the early 90s, then the Syclone was the perfect pickup. GMC transformed the S-10 compact pickup into a lightning fast pickup.

The Syclone had a 4.3-liter V-6 engine that gushed out 280 horsepower. The Syclone used the Corvette's automatic transmission and shifter. This pickup went 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. The drawback of the truck was the limited carrying capacity and was not rated to tow.

6 1967-1972 Chevy C10

via Youtube

The second generation of the C/K of the full-size pickup truck debuted in 1967 and was dubbed the Action Line. Pickup drivers considered the second generation more advanced in terms of style and driveability than its predecessors.

The second generation was also lower, making it easier for drivers to get into the cabs. The trucks featured an optional coil-spring rear suspension years before other trucks. Custom Sports Truck (CST) was the top model that had a V-8 engine and was the epitome of a muscle truck. Chevy used the CST as the basis for the Chevy Blazer.

Related: Here's What The Best 80s Chevy Trucks Are Worth Today

5 1963-1987 Jeep Gladiator and J-series

via Wikipedia

Jeep replaced the Willy pickup and the Forward Control truck with the Gladiator. The earlier pickups were not as modern full-size pickups like the Gladiator. The pickup was of such a high standard when it debuted that Ford made minor changes to the Gladiator's styling and features during the 24 years it remained in production.

Jeep installed the early Gladiators with an advanced six-cylinder engine, but buyers had an optional V-8 throughout the production years. Buick and AMC supplied Jeep with the V-8 engine since the manufacturer did not produce its own. The largest engine was the AMC 401 V-8.

4 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10

via Tires and Rims

Another pickup that was fast, actually, incredibly fast. Since manufacturers recognized the people's need for a fast pickup, it produced the SRT-10. The engineers used the V-8 engine and the 6-speed manual from the Viper to fit it into a normal cab Ram 1500. The end product was a pickup that had 500 horsepower and could reach 60 mph in just over 5 seconds.

The Dodge Ram SRT-10 had a top speed of 155 mph. For a pickup that is impressive, or any car. The V-10 models had a manual transmission with a tall Hurst shifter. At the time, the Ram became the fastest pickup in the world.

3 2007 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Supercharged

via Motorwest Motorsport

Since 1999, Ford and Harley-Davidson partnered to produce pickup trucks. The 2007 model looked similar to its predecessors. The car had special paint, badging and big chrome wheels. Although the aesthetics remained the same on the F-150 Harley-Davidson Supercharged, the option for the 2007 model was the 5.4-liter V-8 engine that Saleen engineered, which pumped out 450 horsepower, even by today's standards that is a lot of power for a pickup.

With 450 horsepower, the 2007 model surpassed its predecessors by 110 horsepower. The Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Supercharges was heavy, but it was fast.

2 2005-2014 Dodge Power Wagon

via Northwest Motorsport

Some cars are timeless. If you were one of the fortunate ones to own a Dodge Power Wagon or still do, then you know it is a dream package for any pickup truck enthusiast. The car was specially built for the off-road. How did Dodge manufacturer its most deadly weapon?

The manufacturer used the chassis from the heavy-duty 2500 series and installed electric locking differentials to get more traction, lower gearing to turn the massive tires and an electrically disconnecting anti-roll bar. Drivers who got stuck while off-roading did not worry, as the vehicle was fitted with a 12000-pound capacity electric Warn winch on the front bumper.

1 2010-2014 Ford SVT Raptor

via marycath.info

Every pickup on the list has its strong features, but only one truck dominates all features - Ford SVT Raptor. The American manufacturer contemplated building an off-road F-150 since the 90s. Before production, Ford engineers stated the truck would handle slow-speed four-wheeling better than any truck, fly over jumps and smooth out the toughest terrain.

They were not joking. To make that happen, the engineers selected internal by-pass Fox Racing shocks and urethane bump stops, as well as incorporating advanced electronics to increase capability.

Sources: Car and Driver, Wikipedia, Jalopnik