What was the 1st fwd small truck?

[DaveCactusGrayXLTH]

Was reading an old Motor Trend from June, 1978, about the Rabbit pickup coincidentally the same time as the old Beetle was sunsetting.
These used to be somewhat common around SoCal in the ‘80s.

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[XL Hybrid Cactus Gray]

1925 Ford Model T Runabout.

Ford Motor Company introduced its light-duty Model T runabout pickup in April 1925. It came with a factory-installed steel pickup bed measuring 56 inches long by 40-3/4 inches wide and 13 inches tall. The bed also included an adjustable tailgate and four pockets for stakes. Ford's pickup was priced at $281, and the company sold nearly 33,800 units in that first year.
The one-ton Ford Model TT pickup, which was originally introduced in 1918, offered an 8-foot long Express Body for those who needed a longer bed.

The Runabout was the earliest, smallest truck I could find, but was RWD, not FWD.
Inflation adjusted $281 in 1925 is approx $5,202 in 2025.

 

[DaveCactusGrayXLTH]

That’s awesome how they got started and evolved. I was lucky to visit the Ford Museum in Detroit a couple years ago, just amazing.

 

[DaveCactusGrayXLTH]

Ford Courier anyone, Bueller?
In the same issue lol this was rwd of course.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

As the OP mentioned above #1
The Volkswagen rabbit seems a likely candidate, for first FWD small "pickup' here in the U.S.
Followed by the Dodge rampage from 82-84.

 

[JasonDroninAround]

Maybe the Dodge Rampage

https://www.motortrend.com/news/tru...ge-rampage-the-first-front-wheel-drive-pickup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Rampage

 

[ThisWas]

I don't know if it was sold in the U.S., but the Austin Mini pick-up was built from 1960 to 1983.

 

[REDRUM]

Subaru Brat, but it was AWD

 

[MidMoBob]

I think some of y'all missed the "fwd" in the thread title. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

 

[Waterick]

I remember, I got to spend extended time with my father's '81(?) VW Rabbit Diesel pickup one time when I borrowed it. Mileage similar to my hybrid, but on diesel. Interior looked plush (leathery) but was cramped and noisy. Did drive nicely, once you got over the slow pace. Light-years behind my Maverick!

 

[Backin15]

I don't know if it was sold in the U.S., but the Austin Mini pick-up was built from 1960 to 1983.

I saw one of these at a car show this summer. It makes the Maverick look huge!

 

[Kenv24]

I think some of y'all missed the "fwd" in the thread title. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

YEP....it's like he asked who was the first female singer to eclipse 1,000,000 records sold. First 3 answers are Elvis, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

In the US domestic market it was the Rabbit Pickup manufactured in Westmoreland, PA in 1980. No special imports. With a little time and money you can get respectable driving out of a Rabbit diesel. There's also the Jetta Turbo diesel. I've owned three Rabbit diesels and one Jetta TDI. A couple of Beetles too. I grew too large to be comfortable in a Rabbit Pickup, old VW's in general actually.

 

[MarvilusRicki]

Subaru Brat, but it was AWD

Actually the original Brat was FWD with a transfer case that would allow you to switch to 4WD.

 

[Waterick]

Actually the original Brat was FWD with a transfer case that would allow you to switch to 4WD.

Back then, the standard Subaru was just FWD.

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