Daihatsu Rocky

The Daihatsu Rocky kept that '80s design rollin' right up 'til around 2007, give or take. Although I did read on Wikipedia recently that they only made it 'til 2002 and it stuck around 'til 2007 as a whole different model exclusively in Indonesia. But I reckon I saw ads for it here in Norway 'til at least 2003-2004, maybe even 'til 2007. I'm thinkin' the Norwegian importer might've got their hands on some leftover stock or somethin' like that.

Back when I kicked off junior high in 2000, there was always a Daihatsu Rocky parked by the road near an elementary school I passed on my way home. Turned out, the owner was a contractor workin' on a water pipeline in the ground. The car had the plate KF ninety-nine thousand (Drammen plates), and since I'd just started learnin' about plates, I knew it had to be a 2000 model. Now, that contractor feller must've thought I was mighty peculiar since I stared at his car so much every time I walked by. And truth be told, I thought he was a bit peculiar too, or at least a bit silly for buyin' a brand-new car that looked so outdated.

'Cause I'd just started figurin' out that new cars that seemed outdated could turn real cool over the years. Only hitch was, even back then, I noticed the new price tag on a Daihatsu Rocky was mighty steep for bein' a somewhat old and outdated new car (especially compared to the Land Rover Defender, which was much more luxurious and exclusive).

By the early '90s, they even made a super cool version called the Bertone Freeclimber by the folks over at Bertone, known best for designin' the classic Volvo 240.


(Bertone Freeclimber)


The Daihatsu Rocky, if you can believe it, might've played the part of a cool beach ride in a bunch of movies and TV shows.

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