A Mazda B-series by any other name, the Ford Courier was a very appropriate answer that landed just in time for the first gas crisis and rode out through 1982 in the U.S. market just fine. A small, light little pickup that looked like someone shrunk a full-size Ford truck in the wash a time or two, that was capable of handling it’s own just fine (1,400 pound payload), the Courier did well for itself. I grew up around a few of these little trucks, some in our fleet, one in the next-door neighbor’s driveway, usually full of iris plants that yours truly would wind up helping to put out each year. They’re neat, they just aren’t my personal cup of tea. Too small, too underpowered. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t spot cool when I see it, and this 1976 Courier is just that.
A little digging through Google turned up a couple of Couriers that sported a similar stepside bed, but for the life of me I can’t determine if this was a factory deal or an aftermarket unit that was sold. To get the Courier into the country without getting nailed with the Chicken Tax, Ford shipped them as cab-chassis trucks and added a bed once they got into the States. I’d say this is an aftermarket piece…it looks like a scaled down version of the square-body GM truck bed from just about every angle except the rear, where it is flat as a pancake. That wouldn’t stop us from enjoying it, however. With it’s 1.8L four-cylinder and stick shift (five speed, please?!) it won’t be fast, but it can be fun. Does it need some white wagon-wheel mags, though?
Pretty sure the bed is an aftermarket piece. I remember seeing similar ones on Toyota’s and other mini trucks back in the day.
You could put a modern day 4 banger in this truck & it would scoot. Turbo or non-turbo, I can think of a number of engines that would fit.