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88k Original Miles: 1985 Toyota Hilux 4×4 Pickup

This 1985 Toyota Hilux Pickup is no trailer queen, but it has still led a life characterized by careful ownership. This is a clean and tidy example of an iconic Japanese pickup, and with a mere 88,362 miles on its odometer, it should have plenty to give to its next owner. The Hilux is located in Spokane, Washington, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Toyota has reached $7,500, and if the condition isn’t enough to tempt you to take a serious look at this vehicle, then the fact that it is being offered in a No Reserve auction might be enough to tip the scales.

The Storong Blue Hilux was sold new in 1985 through a Toyota dealership in Spokane, Washington. Not only has it remained in Spokane ever since, but it has remained with the same family for its entire life. The owner states that all of the panels are original, but I believe that I can see some evidence that the vehicle may have received at least a partial repaint at some point in its life. Even so, the panels look as straight as an arrow, and it is hard to find anything to be critical of with regards to its presentation, or of its overall condition. The owner provides a really comprehensive collection of photos of every aspect of the Hilux, and there isn’t a spot of rust to be found anywhere. In addition, the owner states that the vehicle has never been off-road, and there are certainly no signs of the sorts of damage that can be part-and-parcel of such adventures. There are a few marks and dents in areas around the bed that would indicate that a few large objects have been carried in the past, but it looks like the bed has been treated to a coat of Line-X or a similar product, and it still presents very nicely.

The entry-level engine in the Hilux range for 1985 was the 2,366cc, 22R 4-cylinder petrol engine. This produced 103hp, which while it isn’t an enormous amount of power, was still enough to not only allow the Hilux to find its way into some pretty inaccessible locations but to also cruise on the highway all day at 70mph. In this Hilux, the engine’s power is fed to a 5-speed manual transmission, while the Pickup also features selectable 4-wheel-drive with both high and low range. Toyota transmissions are notoriously long-lived, and unless they have been subjected to some pretty extraordinary levels of abuse, they tend to last forever. The same is true of the 22R engine, and I have seen some pretty neglected examples continue to function very effectively when common sense says that they should be well and truly dead. The owner says that this Hilux runs and drives extremely well, and if he holds evidence to verify that the 88,000-mile claim is accurate, then I won’t be in the least bit surprised by that fact. As long as it remains properly maintained, there is no reason why that engine shouldn’t push close to 200,000 miles before it would require any serious attention.

When you compare the interior trim and appointments of a 1985 Hilux with those available today, they really are chalk and cheese. In this case, you get vinyl upholstery on the bench seat and the door trims, and a rubber mat on the floor. Having said that, the interior of this Hilux is in pretty impressive condition. It isn’t perfect, because I did note some staining on the door trims, but the lack of wear on the wheel rim and floor mat is in keeping with the claimed mileage. With the staining on the door trims, it isn’t severe, and it is possible that a professional auto detailer might even be able to remove this. The rest of the interior looks great, and the only aftermarket addition would appear to be a JVC CD player. One item to note with the Pickup is that even though it isn’t heavily loaded with optional extras, this family did choose to equip it with factory cruise control.

The Toyota Hilux really does two things very well. The first is that in 4×4 form, it will go places that you would never believe that it could go. The second is that it will survive some pretty amazing levels of abuse, and just keep on ticking. It appears that this particular one hasn’t been subjected to any abuse, which means that it should have plenty of years of life left in it, and should allow the next owner plenty of opportunities to find their way into those inaccessible locations.

Comments

  1. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    “Chalk and cheese”-Never heard that expression before, Adam, but it’s perfect for this truck. Other than the low mileage for a truck of this era, it’s an ordinary, everyday truck-and that’s the beauty of this machine. No female voice telling you what to do (unless you have one of this in the passenger seat 🤨), no beeping/flashing lights when you change lanes (you should be checking your mirrors and looking over your shoulder anyway!), no nannybot of any sorts, just a great, fairly clean little truck priced (currently) at a fairly decent price. What’s not to like if it proves out to be what it’s said to be??
    Good find, Adam!

    Like 7
  2. Avatar PDXBryan

    What a handsome little dude, and the last year for solid front axle, I believe. It makes me a little sad to see, however, since a lady friend of mine had one just like it, but got cheated out of it by an unscrupulous dealer :^(

    Like 7
  3. Avatar AndyinMA

    A nice simple truck but probably a death trap

    Like 3
    • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

      “Safe”, defined by my Webster’s Dictionary, reads “An absence of risk”. NOTHING has an absence of risk in the world of transportation-but this truck is a safer design than any of the older stuff we’ve seen here, with structural crush zones engineered in place and better materials. Regardless of whether this is a Toyota or a Taurus, safety engineering progresses continually-sometimes unfortunately as there are vastly more Driver Nannies than before, and again unfortunately you’ll not see a set of Thrush Sidewinders on any of the new stuff…

      Like 3
  4. Avatar Stangalang

    Not a deathtrap…just an honest to goodness real truck that you have to actually DRIVE..personally I would rather have this than any of these newer models with all the bells and whistles that usually end up on a recall list!! My wife’s grandfather has one like this only a king cab and its bout to turn 400000 miles..he’s uses it on the farm and plenty of hwy miles..his 2018 Ford f350 dually has been in the shop 4 times for different reasons he’s scared to haul cattle with it lol

    Like 10
  5. Avatar 70SuperSport

    “Never been off road” – except when taking pictures of it for eBay 🙃. Very nice truck.

    Like 9
  6. Avatar Kevin Ross

    Wow… that there are a LOT of photos!

    Like 1
  7. Avatar TCOPPS Member

    My father had one just like this in the early 90s. I remember it being really rusty despite it being less than 10 years old. Very reliable these were.

    Wonder if the seller could take a couple more pictures. Not sure he has enough.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Len

      I had an 86.even after springing 600.00 for rusty jones it rusted badly..then rusty jones went out of buisness..out of luck…but was a fun 4 wheller

      Like 0
  8. Avatar matthew B steele

    Nice

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Art

    I love the truck at first glance. It might be legit, I would have to see it in person to be sure. But I do have some reservations. Why was black spray paint used underneath? Look at the rear axle and some of the frame shots. If the exterior paint looks so good, why is there dirt on the seam of the door where it meets the outer door skin. There just seems to be dirt in odd places when looking carefully at the pictures. It does appear to be a super clean truck otherwise, but just some odd things jump out for all of the detailed cleaning of the rest of the truck.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

    Sweet looking truck! I remember when the Toyota (Hilux) Truck looked like this. I was too young to drive at the time, but I’ve known people who have owned and driven such trucks. It’s nice to see a 30+ yr old Toyota truck in such nice condition. I hope it goes to a good owner. I love the Ebay ad. The more pics of the show, the better.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Burger

    This was the last small Toyota truck worth owning. Simple and easy to work on, great parts support, terrific fuel economy, great in the snow. It is hard to beat a 84-88 HiLux pickup.

    I drive an 86. Bought it in 2007 at 112K. 300K later, it is the truck I will drive until I die. The anemic stock intake and smog junk is gone. Replaced with a Weber 3838, beefier head and cam. It goes like a striped ape and still delivers 25-30mpg. Some stiff rear springs helped cure it’s load limitations, but it still has
    some of the drawbacks of a small truck …. it is what it is, right ? I have a 95-year-old 1 ton flatbed for the big and heavy stuff when needed.

    While my employees wail about their modern full-size trucks eating half their paychecks, I fill the tank every Saturday for about $40 and drive the wheels off it all week.

    Just rebuilt the engine and have it running smoother than ever. Parts are easy to get (huge aftermarket) and cheap, no electronics BS to go sideways, and short of a catastrophic failure that any vehicle can have, it can be fixed with minor tools anywhere. That said, in all the time I have owned it, a roadside fix has never been required. Very reliable.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

      I agree. I’ve never been a fan of the Tacoma. Nor do I care for the current Tundra.

      Like 1
  12. Avatar Stevieg

    This is a great little truck. I keep finding vehicles on this website I want but I gave neither the room or the funds fir them. I need to unload that 1951 Pontiac convertible, then I will have both lol.
    Anyone need a topless vintage tin Indian?

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Jeffr

    I had an 84 I bought new, 4wd, 7 foot bed, 5 speed, it was a great truck except it rotted to death. In spite of my making every effort to prevent it. The frame got so bad I had to take if off the road in 2008, only 158,000 miles. Thanks Toyota.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    Is it as easy to check under the big rubber floor mat here(& on some old novas) for MOISTURE, compared to lifting up & checking under carpeting? I heard those rubber mat floors are heavy.
    Odd there’s rust only on the ends of just the REAR leaf springs.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar 68custom

    had an IFS equipped 86 that other than a rusty bed was a solid dependable fun to drive truck. Mine had A/C and power steering and that was about it other than a rocking stereo I installed. Sold it with about 140K and it was as good running as the day I bought it. It went off road much better than a friends lifted hopped up full size Blazer and I mean it would four wheel drive circles around his rig. Regret selling it every time I think about it!

    Like 0
  16. Avatar John

    I almost got scammed on Craigslist by this truck. They were asking 4,750. Thankfully I spotted the scam right away.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

      Good that you didn’t get sucked in, John. What happened?

      Like 0
  17. Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

    The last time Toyota used the “Hilux” name for its US market truck was in the early 1970s. Why Toyota discontinued the name is beyond me.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Ted Brennan

    I want to buy this truck.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

      So do I. :)

      Like 0

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