I would buy one of these new today.

Me too. As well as a biodiesel still.

What does the 45 est. hwy mean? Their own mpg estimate, which is different than the EPA's?

You can look up the mpg on the EPAs site. I believe it's adjusted for current calculations.

As for estimates... Even today they're allowed to estimate.

80hp and 125ft/pds? It had better weigh nothing, and I can't imagine hauling anything with it!

My work truck is an 01 f350. It's heavy because it can haul literally a ton of material. 5.4l V8 originally made 260hp/350ft/pds, probably 3/4 of that these days, and it accelerates like a turtle fully loaded. If I could only load a quarter of that and struggle just as much I just don't really see the purpose besides offroading. I love small trucks, but those kei trucks make way more power to weight, and can't really hold much cargo because the bed is pretty small, so you would need stone to overload one. Pretty sure I could overload that ram with some potted plants! It'd be perfect if it had a slightly bigger engine, or at least higher compression to squeeze more out of what's there. Maybe 80's gas crunch thinking? Idk

No, it means it legitimately got very good fuel economy. The way EPA fuel economy is calculated has changed since then, but (as the owner of both a similar small truck and of a car with a similar diesel engine) it sounds about like what I'd expect.

If they made it today, emissions requirements would force them to design the engine in such a way that trying to run B100 in it would break it. It's ironic, too, because if they designed it for B100 instead it would have better emissions to begin with...

Try an 81 Dasher Diesel wagon. Something like 48 HP. It was a great little car though, wish I had one.

I had an 85 300D, it was only 123 HP, weight probably nearly 2 tons, and it would cruise at 90 all day long and all night, too. I miss that car.