1st mass produced pickup

The world's first mass-produced pickup was designed and built by Ford Australia.

In 1932, a farmer's wife wrote to Ford and asked why the company didn't make a vehicle that could carry their supplies during the week, and still be comfortable and weatherproof for the trip to, and from, church on Sundays.

Normally, this type of letter would go straight into the 'round file'. However, one of the executives at Ford's Geelong, Victoria plant read it and thought the idea had merit. Especially as (at the time), the depression was biting hard and Australian banks were more inclined to approve loans for the purchase of new commercial vehicles than for new passenger cars.

The idea was passed to Ford Australia's design department, which comprised just one employee, 22-year old, Lewis Brandt.

Brandt took on the project with enthusiasm. He could see that a strong-bodied truck, with a cabin offering the comfort of a sedan could be extremely popular.

Within two years, Ford had the radical 1934 'Coupe Utility' on the dealers' lots. It was an immediate success, and Ford's competitors quickly put their own versions into production.

In his later years, Lewis Brandt restored a '34 and used it as a daily runabout. Sadly, in 1987, while driving the pickup, Lewis was involved in an accident with a large truck and was killed.