All Cars, All the Time

Tundra Headed to Chicago


Toyota is going to take of the wraps on the 2007 Tundra at the Chicago Auto Show on February 9. This could be the other shoe that drops for the domestics. Up until now, no Japanese manufacturer has gotten the secret sauce quite right, but, with this new “Made in Texas” model things could get nasty for the Tres Amigos and their comfy lock on the full size pickup truck market. Each generation of trucks that Toyota has brought to the market has been closer and closer to the mark. The question that lingers in my mind is will Toyota get the styling right? The proper look for a full size truck has seemingly eluded many would be competitors so it will be very interesting to see what they’ve cooked up. I have to admit the concepts that Toyota has shown us haven’t been all that appealing to me. Of course GM is about to unload its new full size trucks on the market which can’t be good news for Ford who will now have the “long in tooth” model lineup. On the plus side for Ford is that fact that the F-150 is one fine pickup and it has aged well. Pickup truck shoppers will be the ultimate winners here. We’ve come a long way from my uncle’s 1979 Ford F-250 Ranger (this was before the Ranger name became the small truck in the lineup). I remember when he brought it home and as we were driving around the plastic appliqué on the glove box fell off. Next, the built in toolbox refused to open (it never did work properly). Electrical gremlins and overheating haunted the pickup for the next 5 years until he unloaded it for a base 1983 F-250 model which arguably became the best pickup he has ever owned. Read about the origin of this photo by clicking here.