Pickup trucks from the past were purpose-built for hard work and rough use.
They were not built for people who wore expensive clothes and wanted to climb up the ladder of social success in places like Manhattan or Beverley Hills.
Models did not drive pickup trucks–cowgirls did drive them.
Jim Sutherland
Today’s pickup trucks are a world apart from yesterday’s pickup trucks because the new trucks ride like a Rolls Royce and see plenty of duty in an urban environment not currently under construction. In fact, 21st century pickups can be used as a people-in-formal-attire hauler because many are sold to buyers who bought them for purposes other than blue-collar work.
Some of our MyStarCollectorCar readers would correctly argue that today’s pickups are still used for hard work, and we would agree with them because construction sites, farms and ranches still require them. But new trucks have considerably more creature comforts than their older counterparts, a fact not lost on people who still use them as work trucks.
However, there is serious magic found in old pickups that has yet to be replicated in new trucks, so we at MyStarCollectorCar decided to list five good reasons why you need to own an old pickup wearing its history in dents and rust.
The first reason is an unrestored pickup truck with multiple indications of abuse blended with time’s ravages will give its owner a generous helping of coolness-a kind of Steve McQueen vibe well out of the reach of most Harley owners on a desperate mission to find the cool mojo in their lives. A beat-up old pickup truck gives a sense of real style to its owner.
The second reason is somewhat related to the first, namely rugged individualism. A guy behind the wheel of an old truck in 2025 is blazing his own path in life and not part of a pack of Harley riders who pretend they are outlaw bikers on any weekend where no rain is in the forecast. Nope, these cats are marching to the beat of their own drum whenever they jump behind the wheel of an old truck.
The third reason is an old unrestored pickup truck that got its butt kicked by rust, age and the wounds of hard work has earned its stripes and already proved its worth simply by surviving until 2025. Their current owners can bask in their trucks’ glory even if most owners were not involved in the tough stuff from their trucks’ past. Nevertheless, a battered old truck is an excellent prop that will help make an owner seem like Rocky Balboa.
The fourth reason is an old truck wearing all its battle scars has a practical side because you can still use it for hard work and not worry about scratches and dents. You can throw tools, engines, lawn movers (or any other items that don’t fit into a wildly expensive electric truck), with no fear of consequences because it’s a light workout for an old pickup. It’s just that simple.
The fifth and final reason is also pretty simple because a battered old truck has nothing to lose in the eyes of other motorists, consequently the other drivers may be intimidated enough to resist the urge to cut off the old war pony in traffic. The truck gives off a Mad Max vibe because of its battle-scarred appearance and will scare other drivers into submission.
We at MyStarCollectorCar feel this last reason may be the best reason to buy a beaten-up old pickup.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
- CLICK HERE to Sign Up for the Newsletter
- CLICK HERE to Like us on Facebook
- CLICK HERE to Follow us on Twitter
- CLICK HERE to Follow us on Pinterest
