When we think of “light duty” or “pickup trucks" today, the many offerings of the Big Three usually come to mind.

However, Studebaker was an early force behind the development of light-duty commercial vehicles, beginning with limited numbers of gasoline and electric-powered vehicles in 1904.

In fact, the Suburban of 1908 was perhaps the earliest forerunner of the modern pickup truck.

A dual-purpose vehicle, it was easily converted from an open passenger car to a cargo and luggage transporter by benefit of its innovative removable rear seat.

After the Studebaker-EMF merger of 1911, a series of panel and express delivery models were introduced.

Following the end of World War I, however, Studebaker ceased production of its light-duty commercial vehicles until 1927, when a wide range of new models appeared, based on the Dictator passenger car chassis and front sheetmetal.

Again, Studebaker largely abandoned this market from 1931 until 1937, when it released the Coupe-Express.

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