Most people grew up with the idea that a bakkie is a workhorse aimed at farmers and businesses.
That was indeed the case until the 1970's , when features which were considered luxuries became available, first as optional extras and later standard equipment. At that stage safety standards were not important either, and although the fitment of seat belts became compulsary for passenger car in South Africa in 1965, it was not the case with bakkies. This meant that it was possible to seat three people on a bench seat, even with a floor-mounted gear lever. Moreover, bakkies were less expensive than passenger cars and as a result, many familis bought them as alternatives to cars. A mattress was often thrown into the load area and two or three children could sit at the back especially if a canopy was fitted. The idea of a bakkie as an alternative to a family car had caught on with some families at that stage.
The introduction of half-ton bakkies like the Mazda F 1000, the Mitsubishi Colt 1100 and the Datsun 1000 especally meant that people bought bakkies as second vehicles and for hyoung men who had just started working or studying they were an attractive alternative. For instances, they could help people carry loads or move house and that could earn them an additional income. The Utes (the abbreviation for Untility Vehicles) developed by the Australian manufacturers were used for caravan towing. The Holden HD was the first to be introduced here, followed by the later HR, HK, HT and HG versions. The latter model was the forerunner of the original Chevrolet El Camino. Ford introduced the Ranchero to South Africa for the first time in 1969. It was an American model name because the Australian model was known as the Falcon Ute. Chrysler waited until 1973 to introduce the Valiant Rustler , based on the VH Fastbody, to South Africa. The Holden HQ-based Chevrolet El Camino was a winner,and one of the most popular models in the entire General Motors range, especially when powered by the five-litre V8 engine. The larger American pick-ups,like the Ford F 100 and F 250, the Chevrolet C 10 and C 20 and the Dodge D 100 and D 200, were not only popular among farmers, the South African Police used them all. The Dodge was the first of these to offer automatic transmission as an option, but the Ford F 100 was available as automatic later on as well. Car Magazine tested a Ford F 100 for the July 1974 issue and the test vehilcle was fitted with an automatic transmission., air conditioning and a radio. The editorial staff said that these three features made the cabin a very confortable place for those who spend long hours behind the wheel. The Ford F 250 4x4 was extremely popular, not only among farmers but also among adventure travellers.This was the first four-wheel-drive bakkie after the Land Rover that became widely popular.
The development of one-ton bakkies gained momentum in the late 1970's and 1980's. In 1974, an automatic version of the Toyota Hilux de Luxe was introduced, but nobody took it seriously. Another novelty that was initially considered to be a gimmick was a double cab bodywork. The VW Transporter was the first, but it had two doors one one side and one on the other. The double cab as we know it today, originated with the introduction of the Daihatsu F 118 BW in 1972. Leyland was responsible for the Daitatsu franchise in South Africa and the Daihatsu bakkies could not really compete with Datsun, Toyota or Mazda. In the early 1970's, Toyota had two competitors in the bakkie segment. Besides the work-orientated Hilux the company introduced the Corona Mark 2 bakkie in 1970. It was a bakkie version of the Corona 1900 Mark 2, but with a smaller engine. The engine capacity was initially 1,5 litres but it was soon increased to 1,6 litres. This was not a real workhorse but an alternative to a car, as the tail lamps mounted either side of the tailgate and the central latch for the tailgate proved. When the Corona 2000 Mark 2 was introduced in 1973, the bakkie was discontinued without being replaced. Instead, the Hilux range was extended with the addition of the De Luxe. Towards the end of 1971, Ford sprang a massive surprise by introducing a locally-developed bakkie version of the Cortina Mark 3 in South Africa. Although its payload was only 750 kg, it was suitable for use as a workhorse. The 2,5 litre V6 was added later, and when the Cortina Mark 4 was introduced, the bakkie version known as the 1 Tonner soon followed.. The 1 Tonner offered the option of a 1,6 litre engine or the popular three-litre V6 engine. Three manufacturers introduced revolutionary bakkies to South Africa in 1979. The Toyota Hilux and the Isuzu KB were introduced with four wheel drive and the Isuzu even offered a diesel option. Moreover, Toyota and Ford introduced bakkies for the leisure market; namely the Hilux 2000 5 Speed (later SR 5) and the 1 Tonner 3000 Leisure. Both had radial-ply tyres; the Toyota had side stripes whereas two-tone paintwork was standard equipment on the Ford. Cloth upholsdstery was standard on the Ford and optional on the Toyota. They made people realise that bakkies need not only be workhorses.
It would be impossible to discuss every manufacturer's bakkie ranges but the one bakkie that had the biggest influence was the Toyota Hilux 4x4 double cab, introduced in 1984. For some reason Toyota was the only contender in this segment for over five years and their competitors only woke up after that. From then on, nothing could stop them from being popular, and many people traded in their cars on double cab bakkies. In 1981 Datsun/Nissan introduced the King Cab version of the 720. However, the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu KB were still dominating the market and the idea only caught on when the Mitsubishi Colt Clubcab was introduced in the early 2000's. After that, most manufacturers added similar versions to their model ranges, with rear-hinged rear doors which meant that the front and rear doors could be opened without a pillar. They also had lockable compartments for tools, laptops or other small items. Some people even used these cab-and-a half-bakkies to transport passengers and even had seats fitted because value added tax could be claimed back, which is not the case with a double cab. The safe space to store tools and other small items made up for the smaller load area.
In 2007, Chinese manufacturers hit South Africa with a bang, but only GWM survived. Gonow, Meiya, Soyat were three other manufacturers who introduced similar bakkies, all powered by the Toyota 4Y-based 2,2 litre engine or the Isuzu 2,8 litre turbodiesel engine but there was nothing that distinguished one from the other. GWM expanded and improved its product range. JMC also achieved some success with a similar bakkie but later introduced a new model range. Foton did the same and collaborated with Cummins for diesel engines but withdrew from the market. The manufacturer recently re-entered the market and intends to manufacture the Tunland bakkie range in South Africa. Mahindra is from Indian rather than Chinese descent ; the Pik-Up range is assembled in Durban and offers a good alternative for those who need a workhorse and who cannot afford Japanese bakkies.
The established manufacturers have continued to market bakkies as workhorses in recent years. When the Nissan Navara was introduced, the NP 300 Hardbody was retained as a workhorse but it has since been discontinued. The Isuzu D-Max Gen 6 lives on as a workhorse amid the availabilty of the seventh-generation model, and even the 2,5 litre diesel engine that develops only 58 kW is still available. The GWM Steed 5 is also still marketed as a workhorse whereas the P Series iss aimed at the leisure market. That said, the load area of the P Series single cab models is long and deep, which is highly suitable for work purposes.
Lately, bakkies have become more advanced and sophisticated , and that makes them excessively expensive. The Ford Ranger Raptor is the best example of this. Besides luxury and safety features that can be compared to those of cars, the Raptor has specialised suspension which makes it possible to drive off road at excessive speeds. The current Raptor is powered by a petrol engine and that makes it extremely heavy on fuel. This is only example of a bakkie that happens to be able to carry a load instead of being a workhorse. Bakkkie manufacturers are acting like children trying to outdo each other , and that means that prices are getting excessively high. Even a Toyota Land Cruiser costs just about a million Rand. On the other hand, there is nothing better for adventure trips and anybody who uses anything else for this purpose must think twice.
It seems as if the manufacturers have gone crazy and are too eager to meet the demands of a demanding buying public. The time has come for bakkies to be used for their intended purpose again.
Daantjie Badenhorst
proudly CHANGECARS
