At a time when modern trucks and SUVs increasingly resemble armored personnel carriers, it’s easy to forget that utility vehicles weren’t always built like rolling skyscrapers. Before the era of oversized grilles and curb-crushing curb weights, many of the most capable machines were remarkably modest in size, designed to work hard, travel anywhere, and still fit comfortably in a normal parking space.

The Range Rover Classic, for example, helped define the luxury SUV segment without needing the footprint of a city bus. And the first-generation Ford Ranger proved that a pickup could be practical, durable, and approachable, all without towering over sedans at stoplights. This slideshow revisits the era when “truck” and “SUV” meant simplicity, maneuverability, and honest engineering.

These vehicles may not match today’s giants in sheer mass, but they often outshine them in purpose and remind us that bigger isn’t always better.