Here in the USA lots of people own pickup trucks or large SUVs, whether they have any real need for them or not. Most are used exclusively for commuting rather than off-roading, towing boats, or hauling giant pallets of pig iron.

For those who want to fit in on the highways of Texas without spending an arm and a leg on fuel, a kit could be made of lightweight materials such as styrofoam that would convert a small economy car into a facsimile of a huge pickup truck.

You wouldn't be able to haul anything heavier than a bicycle in the bed, but you'd be getting 30 mpg while everyone around you gets 12. Plus, the styrofoam bodywork would add extra cushion in the event of a crash, and could be used as a flotation device if you end up flying off a bridge.
-- discontinuuity, Jan 12 2019

A lightweight body made mostly of styrofoam ? Sounds like Pamela Anderson ...
-- 8th of 7, Jan 12 2019


The windscreen location would be a giveaway. Maybe there could be a lift kit or a remote vision system to compensate?
-- RayfordSteele, Jan 12 2019


How about a gonflable truck body? If you were feeling intimidated, you could just pump a bit more air in and - gadulka! - you're the biggest thing on the road.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 12 2019



random, halfbakery