Frankly, back in 1948 I didn't know what the word "pickup" meant. I was so naive at the age of 17 that I understood little or nothing of pickup trucks and had no idea what those ladies on the corners of Toronto's Jarvis Street were selling. Eventually I got to drive a borrowed pickup and discovered that when empty the power-to-weight ratio resulted in remarkably quick off-the-mark acceleration. By the same token the handling was worse than awful. In recent years as an automobile journalist charged with test driving and reviewing new vehicles, I generally avoided pickups as I couldn't understand why a work vehicle should be as luxurious as a Lincoln Town Car. Looking at recent sales figures, more than a few prospective buyers have been asking the same question.

So now I rather like pickups, as long as they're old. Simple, functional machines with few frills and a "look" that is rather haughty, as if to say "we're the dirty-shirt aristocrats." Right on, gentlemen... and for Christmas you've been rewarded with an authentic, die-cast replica model of the original 1948 Ford F-1 Pickup for only $10.00 and $5.95 shipping and handling. Features include:

• Opening Hood, Doors and Tailgate
• Dual Headlights
• Genuine Rubber Whitewall Tires
• Hardwood Stamped Cargo Bed
• Spare Tire Under Bed
• Baked Enamel Finish
• Official Ford Logos

As if that isn't enough you'll also receive, to quote the sellers, "a replica 1956 Ford F-100. Just pay an additional $5.95 to cover shipping and handling." Note: I haven't personally checked the quality of these models, which seem remarkably inexpensive, and the site smacks of hard-sell. But if the models are short on "flash" remember that pickup trucks were never meant to be flashy. My thanks to old pal Leonard Vis for this lead. A transplanted Dutchman (to Toronto) I'd bet that Len has never driven a pickup in his life. Do they even have these things in Holland?