Paradise Blue, what a soothing color and color name. Just like the interior color name: Gray. Ok, that one needs a bit of work from Toyota’s marketing department, but it’s hard to argue with the cosmetic condition of this 1996 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 five-speed pickup with a matching topper, or cap. The familiar seller has it listed here on eBay in White Marsh, Maryland and the current bid price is $8,388.
The first-generation Tacoma was made from 1995 through 2004 and this was one of the last years for sealed beam headlights as they went away at the end of 1997. There was no eight-foot bed available, the single cab, such as this example, and the Xtracab received a 6.5-foot bed and the Double Cab got a five-foot bed length.
The seller knocks it out of the park with great photos and plenty of them, including one showing the window sticker. This Tacoma 4×4 was $16,906 brand new back in 1996, the equivalent of $36,000 today. That’s about what a new one will cost buyers today if they don’t go nuts on options or special edition packages. Not bad, maybe prices haven’t gone up that much after all? (Hello? Is this thing on?) The bed has a bedliner on it but we have to assume it’s in nice condition under that.
The gray interior looks great. To paraphrase Carnac the Magnificent, “As a child of four can plainly see, this interior has been hermetically sealed. It’s been kept in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnalls’ porch since noon today. NO ONE has seen a nicer interior on a 1996 Tacoma…” Enough of that. The nice part here, other than the general condition, is seeing a manual transmission. The seller has provided many photos, including underside shots, so please check them out.
The engine is Toyota’s 2.7-liter DOHC fuel-injected inline-four with 150 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says… well actually they don’t say anything about the running or operation condition at all but we have to believe it works as great as it looks inside and out. This is a lot of value for the current bid price: 4WD, a five-speed, and a perfect-looking exterior and interior. I don’t know what more a person could want in a small pickup. Any thoughts on this one?
Scotty… One phrase for you……Siss…… Boom…… Bah……. ( Hey you started the Carnac lines, not me, but that was one of my favorites.
About this Paradise Blue / plain old Grey interior Toyota, I would’ve given my eye teeth for this when it was new. Its amazing to see a truck that was very unfortunately typically used up and scrapped in such beautiful condition. At least right now the price seems reasonable but we’ll see when the bidding is done what happens. But wow, what a nice little truck. Great find Scotty.
May the fleas from a thousand camels… ha, just kidding. Thanks, Driveinstile! This is so much more truck than my 1980 Dodge’ubishi D-50 Sport it’s not even funny.
Scott……
DIPPITY DOO!!!!! AH HAH HAHHAH!!!!
SORRY, just remembered that. This is a lot of truck. And you’d be hard pressed to find one like this with no rust.
Perfection
I will be in the Baltimore area this weekend.I am going to keep an eye on this sale. The price is moving up.
This is beautiful. A shining example from when pickup trucks were purely utilitarian and of reasonable size. Love it!
That interior looks pristine.
Everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Awesome looking truck! I remember when the Tacoma looked like this. At the time I didn’t find it very attractive to look at, at least not compared to the 2wd version. But the more they changed the appearance over the years, the more I liked this version.
This series of Toyota trucks have a reputation in my area, Northern California mountains, with a real need for four wheel drive, as perhaps the best piece of equipment a person could ever own. One in this condition could command almost $20,000. Running beaters cost $10,000. I bought one new in 1995. Still drive it, with way over 200,000 miles. Nothing leaks, nothing has EVER broken or even worn out yet, (except for door handles, they seem to be kind of crappy), no weird noises, completely reliable, roll up windows, five speed shifter. The downside is it’s not very comfortable for anything longer than maybe a two hour drive. And if you are big and fat, like most Americans, you need a bigger truck.
Not surprised that yours is such good rig. Basic is best. You’re right about being too big for the truck. If you’re on the large side whether it’s height or weight these are probably not on your shopping list.
Just a few things come to mind:
1. Is the rust on the rear frame rails painted over to hide it or slow it down?
2. Is that oil that covers everything in the engine compartment? Surely it’s not ArmorAll?
3. “The bed has a bedliner on it but we have to assume it’s in nice condition under that.” My first guess is, since it’s been a commercial vehicle most of it’s life (per CarFax), the bed is in pretty bad shape, otherwise why the bed liner. Personally, I would take the bedliner out in the interest of full disclosure, take a pic of it and say “it comes with this bedliner.” Unless of course the bed doesn’t look as good as the rest of the vehicle which may indicate . . . a rough life?
#1. The potential for frame rust on this generation scared me so much that I now own a Nissan Frontier. I would advise any future owner to strip the lumpy coating off of the frame and coat it properly. I would also be cleaning out the inside of the frame rails and misting with OSPHO.
#2. That shiny coating in the engine bay is sprayed clearcoat. Lots of used car preparers will steam clean the engine bay and then spray with clear coat. This helps seal minor leaks and helps identify major leaks. It has its pros/cons.
#3. I agree regarding the bed liner. It is easy to take in & out, and would tell an honest story to see what is under it.
I had a near twin to this one that I bought new in 1996. Mine was gold with a beige interior and didn’t have the cassette stereo. A/C and the weather package were the only options. I added a fiberglass cap and it had a dealer-installed bedliner like the one shown here.
The 2.7 is a great engine and I remember the five-speed to but butter smooth. I want this truck because I regret selling the one I had.
I hope you bought it! 🙂