1970's
Believe it or not, the compact pickup wasn't born in the United States. Chevy developed the LUV in 1972, partnering with Isuzu to work on a modest 75 hp vehicle with a payload capacity of 1,100 in a six-foot bed. The simple truck would serve as inspiration for future a home-grown small truck, demanded by consumers as gas prices rose in the later years of the '70s.