America’s 13 Most Iconic Pickup Trucks

The pickup truck is firmly ingrained into the fabric of the United States. It is American as the stars and stripes and one of the most recognizable forms of vehicle worldwide.

As you would expect, many pickups have been produced over the years, with some becoming icons. The Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado are just two trucks that almost every American knows.

This list contains 13 American pickup truck icons. We’ve selected them based on their current status and, in some cases, how they were received when they launched.

Ford F-150

We start with America’s best-selling pickup truck, perhaps the best produced. The F-150 is part of the wider Ford F-Series that has been in production since 1948, with the F-150 name used for the first time in 1983.

Since then, the F-150 has evolved almost beyond recognition. Ford has recently introduced the first all-electric version of the F-150, the F-150 Lightning, and the truck, along with the other family members, has been America’s best-selling truck since the late 1970s.

Chevrolet Silverado

While it isn’t perhaps as iconic as its big Ford rival, the Chevrolet Silverado still earns a place on this list. Chevrolet introduced the Silverado in 1998 for the 1999 model year, and the Bow Tie offers it in an array of forms, including full-size pickup trucks, chassis cab trucks, and medium-duty trucks.

The Silverado has yet to use the F-150 as America’s best-selling pickup truck. However, it is still one of the best-selling in the USA, and since the late 1990s, Chevrolet has sold over 12 million examples of its flagship pickup. Few vehicles of any kind can claim to have that number of sales, and Chevrolet hasn’t been afraid to future-proof the range with electric and hybrid models.

GMC Syclone

Performance pickup trucks rose to fame in the 1990s, and one of the best remains the amazing GMC Syclone. Introduced in 1991, GMC produced the Syclone for just one year, making only 2,998 units in total, but it left a lasting impact after that single year of production.

The Syclone is packed in a 4.3-liter LB4 turbocharged V6 under the hood, producing 280-hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, making it as powerful as some sports cars and muscle cars of the era. In fact, at the time of its production, the Syclone was the most powerful production pickup truck on sale.

Ford F-150 SVT Lighting – First Generation

Ford has also dabbled in the performance pickup truck segment, debuting the F-150 SVT Lightning in the early 1990s. The SVT was developed by Ford’s Special Vehicles Team and intended to rival the Chevrolet 454 SS.

Powering the SVT Lightning was a unique version of the 351 ci 5.8-liter Ford V8, producing 240-hp and 340 lb-ft of torque, meaning the SVT Lightning could also rival the GMC Syclone. Ford even enlisted the help of three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart to improve the truck’s handling. The first generation of the SVT Lightning was produced from 1993 to 1995, but Ford wasn’t entirely done with its performance pickup.

Ford F-150 SVT Lightning – Second Generation

Ford reintroduced the F-150 SVT Lightning for the pickup’s tenth generation, utilizing the PN96 platform. After a three-year absence, Ford reintroduced the pickup with more power than ever, with a 330 ci 5.4-liter supercharged Triton V8. In 1999 and 2000, the new SVT Lightning produced 360-hp and 340 lb-ft of torque.

For 2001-2004, Ford upgraded the Triton V8 to produce 380-hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The SVT was lighter than the regular F-150 and, as such, had improved handling, making it feel more like a sports car in the corners.

Chevrolet 454 SS

Chevrolet is not afraid to produce a performance pickup truck. Produced from 1990 to 1993, the Chevrolet 454 SS stuck to the ethos of the lightest platform possible, combined with the brute force of a big-block V8 engine, much like the muscle car.

That formula paid off, with Chevrolet taking its 454 ci Mark IV big-bock V8, which produced 230-hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet produced around 17,000 454 SSs, meaning while they are rare, they are more affordable than its GMC rival on the used market.

Hummer H1

While its successor, the Hummer H2, was a mitigating disaster, the Hummer H1 was quite successful for AM General. Based on the Humvee developed for the US military, the H1 was not just an SUV but a fully-fledged pickup truck, albeit one with more luxury than its military counterpart.

The Hummer H1 was produced from 1992 to 2006, and power came from various V8 powertrains. These ranged from the 5.7-liter L05 V8 to the various Detroit Diesel V8s and the 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8. The only real downside of the H1 was its pitiful fuel economy figure of just 10 MPG.

Dodge Ram SRT10

When is a pickup truck, not a pickup truck? When it is a muscle car with a pickup truck body. That is precisely what the Dodge Ram SRT10 is, and it was far more than just a Ram 1500 with upgraded bodywork and a slightly bigger engine.

The SRT10 was created by DaimlerChrysler’s PVO (Performance Vehicle Operations) division, and under the hood, it packed the same 8.3-liter V10 Dodge used in the Viper. As a result, the SRT10 was a monster with 510-hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. Something few pickup trucks, even today, can match. Dodge produced the SRT10 for just two years, from 2004 to 2006.

Toyota Tacoma

Toyota is another manufacturer that knows how to produce a good pickup truck. The Tacoma, which entered a new generation for the 2024 model year, is the most well known that the Japanese brand sells in North America.

The Tacoma has been around for nearly 30 years, with Toyota first producing its flagship pickup in 1995. The new fourth generation is arguably the best yet, with it available with a turbocharged inline-four, with and without hybrid power, and standing out thanks to the revised, bold design that Toyota has given it.

1946 Dodge Power Wagon

You would be correct if you think the 1946 Dodge Power Wagon looks like a military truck for civilian use. The Power Wagon is the first 4×4 medium-duty truck produced by a significant manufacturer for public sale.

The Power Wagon is based on Dodge’s 3/4-ton WC series from the Second World War, with power coming from flathead inline-six engines and LA V8s. The Power Wagon was also a pioneer of all-wheel drive systems, and thanks to its impressive ground clearance, the truck could handle nearly any terrain.

Ram 1500 TRX

Ram sadly discontinued its incredible 1500 TRX in February 2024, ending the production of one of the finest performance trucks ever made. The 1500 TRX was a monster, packing a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 under the hood, producing 702-hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.

Despite its massive power and performance, the 1500 TRX retained all the practicality of a standard pickup truck. Unfortunately, the 1500 TRX came under fire for its poor economy and the potential damage it could cause to the environment, factors that contributed to production ceasing after just four years.

Ford F-150 Raptor

While Ram’s performance pickup truck might no longer exist, Ford’s certainly is. The Blue Oval introduced the first F-150 Raptor in 2010; since then, it has become one of the best performance trucks on the market.

Ford introduced the third-generation F-150 Raptor in 2021, initially with just the 3.5-liter EcoBoost D35 twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood. However, Ford would later produce the Raptor R, marking the return of a V8 engine to the truck. The chosen V8 was the 5.2-liter supercharged Carnivore V8, making 700-hp and 640 lb-ft of torque.

1978-1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express

One of the most famous pickups of the late 1970s was the Dodge Li’l Red Express, emerging during tightening emissions regulations and when muscle cars could barely manage 200-hp. As a result, when introduced in 1978, the Li’l Red Express was the fastest domestic vehicle on sale in the United States.

Dodge exploited a bizarre loophole in the emissions rules that stated pickups didn’t have to adhere to the same regulations as regular cars. As a result, the pickup had a 5.9-liter 390 ci V8 under the hood, producing 225-hp and 290 lb-ft of torque.