Bike Ride 24

David: One sunny afternoon, I went for a small bike ride into Providence. As the weather started warming up with the conclusion of winter, I figured this would be a good chance for me to find some old classics out cruising for the beginning of spring. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case, but nonetheless, I found some good street parked gems on the streets of Providence.

Above: 1990 Volvo 240 DL Sedan 5MT Revisited

Up first, we start today's small haul of finds with a Volvo 240 sedan. This car also had a five speed manual transmission, making this 240 a bit more unique from the others I've found. But, there's something a bit more special to this old Swedish brick that you may not have picked up on. We've spotted this car before, however, its changed locations. If you recall from last spring's Bike Ride 14 entry, I found a gray Volvo 240 sedan on the East Side of Providence with Connecticut antique vehicle plates. This is the same car. However, in that entry, we only got to see the rear end of the car since it was parked in a driveway. Therefore, I wasn't able to determine that the car had a manual transmission at the time. I'm definitely glad to see this Volvo again, as it lets me know that the owner is still driving it around. Although, it looks like they have a surprise parking ticket waiting for them. 

Above: The Volvo: Front and Rear

Much like any old 240 I've found, this one was in the usual survivor condition. The headlights were foggy and there was a piece of trim hanging off the driver's side door. I think what helps makes the 240 a great car is that it aged well, even if it looks like it's been driven around the world more than once. The Volvo 240 has a very simple design, as I discussed in the Late Winter Finds '23 entry featuring an older 240 from 1982. I talked about the 240's design being simple, even for its time, however, I didn't discuss how it aged. 

I think the 240 aged very well. I know it's very easy for me to say this because I love these cars, but even before I became a Volvo enthusiast, I thought so. The 240 looks old, as it was a car designed in the 1970s that was produced until the early 1990s with minimal cosmetic changes. The changes were mostly to the headlights and tail lights. However, some cars, when they get old, don't look good. Because the Volvo 240 remained unchanged for so long and the fact that over 2 million were produced, its presence became cemented into the subconscious mind with other everyday surroundings. Its simple, unchanged design, coupled with its reliability helped it age well into the 21st century. 

Above: 1988 Ford F-150 XL

Thus begins this early spring's run of OBS (Old Body Style) trucks. Starting off with this, 1988 Ford F-150, I was fortunate enough to meet the owner of this truck. I didn't get its full story, but I did learn that it was a 1988 model year. This truck has been pretty well kept for an old Ford and especially a New England vehicle. I like the standard steel front wheels and the after market rear wheels. I think it gives the truck a very DIY and slightly old school customized mojo. I don't see these eighth generation F-Series as much anymore, which made seeing this one a nice sight. I used to see these, along with the seventh generation trucks pretty frequently as a kid, but like most old work trucks, they were driven until they either rusted into the ground or until they gave out. Some, like this one have stood the rigors of New England weather, and live to tell the tale. 

The eighth generation Ford F-Series was the beginning of a new era of Ford pickups, while simultaneously the beginning of the end for the old school Ford pickups. The eighth generation was introduced in 1987, as a redesign of the previous generation. While not much changed cosmetically, there were some important changes that would pave the way for future F-Series into the 1990s to the present day. With the new Ford truck in 1987, a new trim level became available - the Super Duty. This wasn't the same Super Duty that would become a series of heavy duty versions of the F-150 today, but it would help inspire the line of trucks. The new 1980s application of the Super Duty trim level meant that the truck could handle chassis-cab work loads, such as hauling trailers. It was fitted with dual gas tanks and attachments for a dump truck bed or other pieces of equipment. The eighth generation also was the first F-Series to feature fuel injected engines, meaning the days of carburetors were over. The three speed manual transmission was also discontinued in favor of a more efficient five speed manual. A four speed was also available for special orders. Along with new standard transmissions came a new automatic four speed with an overdrive. While the old body style Fords still had one more generation to go until their complete redesign in 1997, the future of the Ford F-Series could be seen with introduction of the 1987 update.  

Above: 1994 Toyota Hilux Pickup

We have another west coast visitor in New England! Here's a truck that needs no introduction, the one and only Toyota Pickup! Long before the days of the Tacoma and the Tundra, there was what was simply known as the "Pickup." Toyota didn't bother giving their North American import trucks, but over in Japan, it was known as the Hilux. I'm sure if you're reading this, you know of the lore that the Pickup holds. But, if you need a hint, watch the infamous Top Gear episode where Jeremy Clarkson does his best to try and kill a Toyota pickup similar to this one. 

This is a fifth generation truck, the last of the true Toyota Pickup that the US came to know and love in the US. The Tacoma would phase it out in 1996, and the rest is history. There's something simplistic and honest about this truck, in a very "Volvo 240" kind of way. To be quite Frank, there's nothing exciting about this truck. It's not huge or intimidating where most trucks are expected to be. It's not powerful where other trucks have large big block engines. If you think that's what a truck should be, then you've effectively missed the point of the Pickup. 

It's a small, efficient pickup designed to do honest work. It has a torquey engine that will last you a lifetime. It will be dependable and it will never fail you, just like a reliable friend. But then again, isn't the Volvo 240 the same in that regard? I'd argue that the Toyota Pickup is the Volvo 240 of the truck world. Certainly, it's not as "macho truck" compared to others, but its loved because it doesn't fail you. 

Above: 1988 Isuzu "Pup" Pickup 

Here we have something a bit more obscure than the other two trucks. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw one of these, or if I've ever seen one for that matter. This is the Isuzu Pickup, more commonly known as the "Pup." Like Toyota, the US market trucks were never given an official name, however in Japan, they were known as the Faster. However, that name was more wishful thinking than a reality. This Isuzu Pup is a second generation model, and also the final year of the generation. It's been maintained very well,  which is surprising for a forgotten truck. I wish I met the owner, because I'd love to know more about this truck and why it's been preserved so well.

The Isuzu Pup shared a long term relationship with Chevy. As the Big Three did in the 1970s, they partnered with a Japanese brand to help keep themselves in business from the rise of import vehicle sales dominating domestic sales, and also the infamous Oil Crisis of '73. Like the Ford Courier and the Mazda B-Series badge engineered project of the 1970s, Chevy partnered with Isuzu to rebadge the Faster as the Chevy LUV in North America. The LUV and Faster/Pup were introduced for the 1972 model year, and would be sold as a badge engineered relatives of each other over the course of three generations. The S-10 would replace the LUV as Chevy's new compact truck offering in 1982, however the Isuzu version continued to be sold alongside it. By the third generation, the Pup was replaced in the US market by the Isuzu Hombre in 1996. This was another badge engineering effort, with Hombre being an S-10 at heart. The Pup would officially end production in 2002, being replaced by the Isuzu D-Max pickup, which would not be available in the US.