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Canary Yellow Survivor: 1980 Toyota Pickup 4×4

UPDATE 12/05/2021: Hope springs eternal, which seems to be the case with this 1980 Toyota Pickup. This is the third time that the owner has listed this classic. It has failed to reach the reserve on both occasions, so he’s taking another swing at it. Nothing has changed since the last auction, so you will find this Toyota located in Canoga Park, California, and listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has hit $12,976, and that elusive reserve is yet to be reached. It could be worth monitoring this auction, but will it be third time lucky, or three strikes, and you’re out?

There’s no denying that vintage vehicles from California that are looked after since new just survive in a whole ‘nother category compared to cars and trucks of the same era from different parts of the country. This 1980 Toyota Pickup is an excellent example, featuring a long bed with a vintage camper shell and original paint with factory decals still presenting exceptionally well for a vehicle this old. The Toyota is powered by a dead-nuts reliable 20R engine and features the preferred manual gearbox. Even better? It just passed California’s stringent smog test. Find it here on eBay.

Wow – that is a time warp interior right there, with near-perfect fabric, door panels, and a crack-free dash. You rarely find a combination of all three in a Toyota truck of this vintage, even the ones that have been cared for. Mileage is a tick under 99,000 which makes it even more remarkable to see such clean cosmetics inside. The interior sports the preferred (and somewhat rare) black three-spoke steering wheel, which you’ll also find in the Supra of the same vintage. The air conditioning still works, and the only real flaw I see are the door pockets are starting to sag a bit.

The engine is the venerable 20R four-cylinder, which is far from sexy but it will get you anywhere you need to go. In general, Toyota trucks with the four-cylinder engines are hard to kill, seemingly overbuilt from the factory. While this one likely doesn’t need much in terms of love and care, it’s encouraging to see the new plug wires in place and a fresh battery. The radiator appears to be original, and while the seller doesn’t report on any specific maintenance jobs or recent repairs, he does note that he considers the Toyota to be turn-key and ready to go anywhere you need it to.

I had a hard time deciding between this photo or the one of the truck bed, but you should check it out in the eBay gallery: it’s a full-on shag carpeting job, with wall-to-wall coverage and some custom wood paneling. There are also full curtains as well, so you really could live out of this Toyota while exploring the great outdoors, but one of these trucks with a “glamping”-style bed and camper shell would be the ultimate vintage off-roader. The market for clean Toyota pickups continues to stay hot, and one that wears great colors like this one does with new BFG KO2 tires on factory-painted wheels is just loaded with eyeball appeal. I suspect $15K or better will be needed to bring this one home. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Larry D. for the find.

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt Member

    It’s located in Canoga Park,California.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

    Lovely looking Toyota. I remember when Toyota produced trucks like this. They were more utilitarian than they are today, which I like. Given its condition and originality, I think it’s worth the asking price of $11,600. I’d be willing to pay close to $10,000. With money left over for inspection and maintenance.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Steve R

      I’d bet this gets bid closer to $15,000.

      The other Toyota truck he currently has listed is nicer, I’m going to follow both to see where they finish.

      It looks like this seller is specializing in early Toyota 4×4’s. If he keeps finding them in this condition I’m sure we’ll see him listings pop up on this site again.

      Steve R

      Like 2
  3. Avatar NW Iowa Kevin

    What a thrill to see the exact same pickup as the one I owned back in ’82 when I lived in Sioux Falls. I had a lightweight aluminum topper instead, though. Same color, striping, OEM wheels w/caps. Bulletproof Toyota quality.

    Like 2
    • Avatar chrlsful

      instead? I thought this wuz “a lght wght alu topper”? It is taller w/that funny lill cab over? Never saw that B4. May B that’s “the instead”. What good is that lill piece? Even too small for a tool box? Roof protection in hail? Thnx 4 ideas~

      Like 1
  4. Avatar suprarossa

    This is a fine example and a relatively rare SR5 package with the center gauges below the A/C vents and cluster tachometer. Most you see for sale in this condition are base models. The steering wheel is also unique to the SR5 package, but is in no way the same as the 1st generation Celica Supras of the era as stated. Those had 4 spoke steering wheels like this https://www.pinterest.com/pin/544935623634323050/. The only issue with this particular year of the factory 4×4 pickups was the overall gearing. 1980 was the only year to feature a 3.90 axle ratio and it was more of a dog than normal. My original 1979 on 30″ BFGs was so much faster than my 1980 on stock tires. I used to race my 1980 in Texas with the DFW 4×4 club in obstacle course events, but it was my ’79 or ’83 that I took to sand drags.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar angliagt Member

    I thought that looked familiar –
    featured here back in Feb.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Araknid78

    Ended: Aug 13, 2021 , 12:25PM
    Current bid:US $16,100.00
    [ 32 bids ]
    Reserve not met
    Located in:Canoga Park, California,

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Raymond

    Seen this before somewhere….

    Like 2
  8. Avatar angliagt Member

    Dej’a Vu – thrice.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Gomez

    I’d rather buy a new one with a warranty.

    Like 2
  10. Avatar JCA Member

    Seems like an unrealistic reserve. $16k seems very fair. Solid trucks but over-hyped. I had a similar one, only a few years younger with the 22R. I found it too under powered with 4×4 package and a cap on the bed. And the broken timing chain, despite the low miles, left me unimpressed. However, the 2wd versions with a 5spd were affordable and actually fun to drive

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Bick Banter

    If he can still get 16 for this he might consider letting it go this time. I have a gut that the market is going to take a bit of a turn in the not to distant future

    Like 2
  12. Avatar DRV

    I had the ’81 diesel long bed that was rusty in 3 years. This one is about to break out in rust everywhere. Those rusty bed seams are indicative of things to come. I’d save my money for one with zero rust.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar David

    Nice survivor. That camper shell is actually the bomb. From the looks of it, it’s a bel-air shell available in garden grove calif. these shells are still custom made in many configurations.

    Like 0

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