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1991 Ford SkyRanger

7 Limited-Edition Trucks You Probably Forgot About

Limited-edition trucks aren’t always valuable. Whatever the specific reason, consumers and the market just didn’t bite. But a truck’s popularity isn’t only determined by the used market. Sometimes, special editions just aren’t special enough to sell. Or whatever they celebrated faded from popular culture. And just like the trends that inspired them, the trucks went …

Limited-edition trucks aren’t always valuable. Whatever the specific reason, consumers and the market just didn’t bite. But a truck’s popularity isn’t only determined by the used market. Sometimes, special editions just aren’t special enough to sell. Or whatever they celebrated faded from popular culture. And just like the trends that inspired them, the trucks went away. Here are just 7 limited-trucks that many have forgotten.

Dodge Jean Machine

Many automakers—as in the late 90s and early 00s—tried to cash in on the apparel craze of the 70s: jeans. Some jean-themed vehicles, like the AMC Levi Gremlin, enjoy an ironic popularity.

Others, like the 1978 Dodge Jean Machine, are limited-edition trucks that were forgotten. Based on the Dodge D Series pickups, the only ‘jean’ thing was the blue and orange-striped exterior. This truck didn’t even get denim seats, only cloth ones with orange piping on the sides.

Dodge Ram Rod Hall Special Edition

The late Rod Hall was an amazingly accomplished racer. He raced in the very first Baja 1000 and took part in the next 50. He’s also the only racer to win the Baja 1000 in a factory-chassis four-wheel drive vehicle. Baja racing, though still popular today, was even more popular in the 80s and early 90s. To make the most of it, Hall worked with Dodge to create a custom truck.

In 1987, Hall fitted several Ram trucks with taller and firmer suspension. But the NHTSA found the mods didn’t comply with safety regulations. Dodge built only 14 trucks, and every single one was recalled. According to AutoWise, only 9 were retrofitted with proper suspension.

Then, in 1990, Hall tried again, teaming up with Carroll Shelby. The two made 33 more limited-edition trucks. These came with more off-road-ready front and rear bumpers, a bed-mounted lightbar, and Rod Hall driving lights. According to Popular Mechanics, the trucks only came with a 170-hp V8, but at least they also came with an interesting story.

Toyota Tundra Terminator 3 Edition

2003 Toyota Tundra T3 Edition
2003 Toyota Tundra T3 Edition | TundraT3.com

Before the Nissan Rogue went Rogue One, Toyota attempted to terminate its competition. In 2003, the Toyota Tundra Terminator 3 Edition was released.

2003 Toyota Tundra T3 Edition
2003 Toyota Tundra T3 Edition | TundraT3.com

Cosmetically, the T3 Tundra received a few upgrades. Besides the T3 badges and graphics, the truck came with a custom grille, fog lamps, and 17” magnesium-toned alloy wheels. Inside were Dark Charcoal leather seats and metallic-looking interior trim.

But as Motor Trend reported at the time, the T3 also received some performance mods. There was a TRD dual-exit exhaust, a limited-slip differential, and a heavy-duty stabilizer bar. The shocks were even upgraded with Tokico units. And in keeping with the movie, Toyota only made 850.

GMC Sierra California Sundancer

1987 GMC Sierra California Sundancer
1987 GMC Sierra California Sundancer | AutoWise

Oftentimes, limited-edition trucks are limited by where they’re sold. In the case of the 1987 GMC Sierra California Sundancer, that area was Southern California.

All Sierra Sundancers were painted Bright Yellow and featured two-tone blue pinstripes with Gunmetal Gray on the lower parts of the truck. All of them also had four-wheel drive, tubular steel bumpers, a sunroof, and Bilstein shocks. Few have survived, making this very much a forgotten limited-edition truck.

Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator SS

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NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt passed away in 2001. To honor his memory, Chevrolet released a series of special-edition cars. The last of these was the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator SS.

Based on the standard 6.0-liter V8 Silverado SS, the Intimidator (Earnhardt’s nickname) offered several performance upgrades over the standard truck. The ride was lowered, the front stabilizer bar was stiffened, and a different locking rear differential was fitted. The suspension was also modified, with two-state multi-leaf springs in the back and Tenneco shocks all around.

The truck only came in black. The exterior was broken up with a silver grille insert, a tailgate spoiler, and ‘Intimidator’ badges on the front doors and tailgate. Inside, the seats had unique embroidered headrests.

Sources differ on exactly how many GM planned to make. Truck Trend says 1,333 while GM Authority claims 1,033. Either way, only 933 ended up actually sold as ‘Intimidators’—the rest were sold as 2007 Silverado SS “Classic Style” trucks.

Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi GTX

Although the Viper-engined Dodge Ram SRT-10 gets a lot of press, that wasn’t the only high-performance pickup Dodge offered at the time. To honor Mopar and the 426-cubic inch ‘Elephant’ V8, in 2004 and 2005 Dodge also offered the Dodge Ram Hemi GTX.

Built by Indiana-based LA West, the trucks came in one of several early 70s Mopar colors. Also, the trucks had a few other visual mods. On the outside was a blacked-out cowl hood, black side stripes, and 20″ chrome wheels. Inside was a two-tone leather interior. And under the hood was a 5.7-liter Hemi V8.

Approximately 433 were commissioned for each year, according to HotCars. However, these trucks also demonstrate that rarity alone won’t necessarily improve limited-edition truck value. Although the Ram 1500 Hemi GTX commands a premium over other 04-05 Ram 1500s, prices are still low compared to the SRT-10. Best enjoy a relatively affordable limited-edition truck while it’s still forgotten.

Ford SkyRanger

Convertible trucks didn’t start with the Chevrolet SSR. One of the first was the 1989-1991 Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible. But there was another truck built between these two. That was the 1991 Ford SkyRanger.

The American Sunroof Company took a normal, extended-cab Ranger and installed a targa removable top. Unfortunately, even with a 4.0-liter V6 and all-wheel drive, the truck saw little success.

Ford actually discontinued the project after less than 20 were made. Exact count varies between 17 and 19. Little wonder it became a forgotten limited-edition truck.