Originally Posted by
KD5NRH
I'd really like to find a good deal on something like one of the local dirt bike crowd used to have; a 1979 Brat in excellent shape with a custom made camper shell that stepped up high enough to allow decent head room over the jump seats. The bed is a little on the short side, but I think with some creativity in mounting a QR-type carrier, I could manage it even with front rack and fender in place.
The early Brats were not turbo charged so they were a bit down on power. They weren't great on the open road either. But a good fiber glass place should be able to lay up a shell for one that could be rounded enough to slice through the air better than the flat front some came with. It would be a conversation piece at the trail head as well. Good luck finding one.
They also made a Dodge Rampage sport truck and a VW Rabbit Sport Truck in the mid 80s. None of them gets the fuel mileage of a newer compact or small crossover like a Kia Soul.