Though a Brit, John Stuart Mill contributed a lot to American political and social theory. His book on utilitarianism may not necessarily refer to the useful efficiency with which a vehicle can perform a job, but the useful application of a vehicle certainly can lead to happiness, which should be “the sole end of human action.”
Getting too deep here? Alright, I’ll allow you to leave on your own accord and inspect the four AutoHunter utilities I have curated as my AutoHunter Picks. Enjoy!
1974 Ford F-100 Custom Pickup
While “muscle truck” seems to be an oxymoron of sorts, this Blue Oval smacks of muscle truck-ness. But then I noticed the wheels aren’t as large as I had expected. That’s because this truck is now a car—it’s built on a 1988 LTD Crown Victoria chassis.
With a modified 5.0 engine, a 1980s Ford interior, and a paint job that grabs me, this F-100 is what Arte Johnson would call “veeeery eeenteresting.”
1954 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery
In case you didn’t get the memo, Sedan Deliveries are always cool. Hot rodders grasped this early, but I’m not so sure everyone has grasped the patina thing. Nonetheless, here we have a nicely patina’d Sedan Delivery that sports REV mag wheels and a more modern (read: comfy) bench seat.
Kudos to the builder for putting the shifter on the floor – and it’s a five-speed to boot! But how does it match up with the 235 inline-six? I’d certainly like to find out.
1959 Chevrolet Apache with Custom Motorcycle and Trailer
Harley Earl style trickles down to trucks and it sure looks good. Add the period turquoise color and it’s just about perfect. The owner of this one added a Native American motif, a tribute to the tribe of this truck’s namesake.
That inspiration has been carried over to the custom interior. The custom 1984 Honda CM 250 motorcycle and trailer complete the scene, literally and figuratively.
1968 Opel Kadett Caravan
This car’s making a repeat appearance on AutoHunter after a year and it still has my attention. Opel sold a decent number of cars in the U.S., but finding a Kadett like this—especially a wagon—is a rarity. The 1.1-liter four may not have much suds, but what four from this era does?
Thankfully, there’s a four-speed shifter poking up from the floor. This is a nice, affordable collectible that has surprisingly strong enthusiast support, in case you need parts.
