As a real serious contender for the Barn Finds “Best-Photos-of-2019” award – if there was such a thing – this 1981 Toyota SR5 pickup looks like a real deal survivor in outstanding condition. It can be found here on eBay in Centralia, Washington with an unmet opening bid price of $7,999. Thanks to Ikey H. for sending in another winning tip!
I love the opening photo, but the first thing I thought of is, “Kids, don’t try this at home.” Parking your vehicle diagonally on a road is certainly eye-catching and I’m sure they had someone watching out for traffic. Very, very nice work on the photos, seller! As someone who makes a decent living as an architectural photographer, I can’t say enough how great photos can help to sell an architectural project, or a vehicle. The angles, the lighting, the distance and exposure and everything else work here. Nice job. Ok, onto this SR5 pickup.
This truck has 73,608 miles on it but it looks like it has a fraction of that. They really took care of this one. They say that it has had a “canopy” on it for most of its life and I’m assuming that is what some other parts of the country, or world, would call a “topper” or “cap”? I hear the word canopy and I think of a lightweight frame structure like a tent or a covering over a bed. Whatever it’s called, it helped to preserve the bed. Or, as some of us call, the “box”… ok, enough of the regional language differences. Although, that would make an interesting post (or, story), wouldn’t it?
My 1980 Dodge (Mitsubishi) D-50 Sport pickup is in similar condition to this Toyota, but I’d guess that this one-year-newer Toyota SR5 is much more pickup than my “Dodge” is. The Toyota looks like it would be more substantial for pickup duties. Although I like the seats in mine better, the seats and the whole interior of this SR5 pickup look almost like brand new. The paint is all original and although they don’t show us any underside photos, they do say that there is no rust on this truck and they show the bottoms of the doors which look rock-solid.
The seller has included a YouTube video walk-around of this truck and it looks even better there. The super clean engine is Toyota’s 22R, a 2.4L inline-four which would have had just under 100 hp. My Dodge’ibishi D-50 Sport has a 2.6L engine with a little over 100 hp, but I still can’t shake the feeling that this Toyota SR5 would be a sturdier, nicer truck. The carb on this Toyota was just rebuilt for $600 and a new muffler was installed. This looks like a great example, whether it’s $8,000 great, only the potential buyers will know that.
Seems a little pricey to me. It was only $6,288 nice when it was brand new according to CarGurus. 38 years later, a base, non-optioned truck they made hundreds of thousands of isn’t worth MORE than it;s MSRP new.
Using that logic, a ’65 GTO with tri-power and a 4 speed that stickered at $3700 shouldn’t sell for more than that now.
Toyota trucks have a strong following, especially on the west coast. They obviously didn’t encounter the same rust issues as they did in the Midwest and eastern US this they have a very good reputation for reliability. I’d be surprised if this doesn’t get multiple bids. Original sticker price is irrelevant, it’s about what someone is willing to pay.
Steve R
Depends on what West coast you’re referring to. I drove one of these in the Aleutian Islands for 7 years. Super dependable, just rusted away. Went outside one day and it was gone.
Indeed. Fascinating logic.
$6288.00 in 1981 dollars is the equivalent of $17,792.34 in 2020 dollars.
SO, at $7999.00 the Seller is only asking for 45% of the original base MSRP.
True story. I’ve got a mint 1982 of my own from my grandfather. Salvage title due to a tree landing on the roof, but fully repaired and repainted. I have it insured with Hagerty for $5,000.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f81/elmers-82-a-307697/
I’d say the right price for a clean title survivor 2WD model is in the $6-7 range, but you need the right buyer. These aren’t as widely “collectible” as the 4WD trucks. If they ever are, then maybe they will rise in price. Anyone looking for a simple, honest truck will just find a beat up one with a little rust for $2500 and move on.
Mark K, how many 68-72 Chevelle’s, that they made hundreds of thousands of can you buy for under their original sticker price? Yea, I know it’s a different animal, but I can guarantee you there’s a lot more chevelle’s running around than these, as most of them were run to the ground. Like myself, I’m sure there’s a big fan base for this, AWESOME TRUCK! GLTS/B!
Pizza Planet! Love it
Excellent runner to be sure. They sold well here in Ohio. They would run to infinity, but the frames/bodies never lasted. Excellent mechanically, good craftsmanship, but poor metals. Would not want to own it, but i would enjoy looking at it more than many late ’60s muscle cars of the day at a car show.
Nice example of something not seen often !
I bought a ’77 SR5 Longbed (Yellow) just North of Centralia
about 15 years ago.It was identicle to the one I bought new in 1977,
in Medford,Oregon.When I compared the paperwork from the two
trucks,I noticed that the serial numbers were just one digit different!
These were great trucks back then,but the newer ones are so
much more comfortable (& powerful).I sold the second one,& bought
a ’94 Dodge Dakota Club Cab (V6/5 speed) for $300 more.It was ten
times better than the Toyota.
That said,this is still a cool truck.
$600 to rebuild a carb ?? Must be organic. (I’ll do it for $575)
Nice truck will probably get the money. At least they took it to a shop where the first thing they did was remove the factory carb and install a Weber. First thing I would do if I bought it would be to change all the fluids. Brake and clutch fluid looks nasty but they would probably fail with fresh fluid.
Funny. When the last flipper/owner sold it in 2018. This little truck had a claimed two previous owner history. Now this new flipper is claiming one owner.
Caveat emptor when buying trucks out of the PacNW from unlicensed dealers. Plenty of Odo tampering and shenanigans with Titles.
Tires are wet. Avoid taking out even when the roads are damp/air is foggy from early morning high humidity. I wouldn’t even wash a vehicle from this era with a garden hose!
While this is an exceptional example, it’s not unusual. In my little town, there has to be half a dozen that look just like this( mostly 4×4’s tho) I had one of these, was my ex-brother in laws truck, had 240K on the speedo, and never opened up. Tinny, gutless, uncomfortable thing, and sorely needed an extra cab, but for what it was, couldn’t be beat. Rust killed 90% of these and were driven until they broke in half. I’d say it’s worth it, just for the condition, but don’t expect modern Silverado comfort, these were as basic as they come. Great find.
Kudos to the Seller for including pictures of the door bottoms!
(WHY doesn’t everyone do that??)
My only complaint would be the lack of photos of the undercarriage & drivetrain.
Nice looking truck.
Exceptional condition.
Yes, you can buy Yota trucks of this/similar vintage for $2K to $3K, but they aren’t as clean as this one is. Rust along the bed-skirt seam is a common issue for these. & yes, they are VERY basic. No frills, just truck.
Given the price of new pickups these days the asking/starting price of $7999 is quite reasonable.
Agree, BAT would be the better venue for getting top $$ for this truck.
We had one of these as the extra family vehicle- looked the exact same except ours was white, and a DIESEL – the slowest vehicle I have ever driven. But it would get 40MPG – and it would ‘roll coal’ at it flew along at a top speed of 65, not against the wind of course.
I bet the seller gets his price. I see many later toyotas but it seems the early ones are hard to find- even in AZ.
My diesel ’81 had no probs keeping up and drove like a gas motor. It revved fast and never smoked. Shifted like butter and with only oil changes and valve adjustments was zero problems. I did have a crack in the whitewall on a tire at 20k something miles and the dealer put 4 new tires on it NC.
brettbucks
I have an ’82 Longbed diesel but it’s not a slug. A previous owner cured that problem by dropping a later 3L (2.6 liter non-turbo) engine into it. It won’t quite do 40mpg but it’s a hell of a lot more spunky!
I’d buy a Toyota truck if I could get it with a diesel engine, or even a turbo diesel engine. At the time, though, diesel engines weren’t big sellers. I don’t know why.
That sure as heck is not a 5 mph front bumper – guess that did not apply to trucks, yet (or ever?).
Good thing it’s not an ’83 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_R_engine#22R
’81 could be last year for circular sealed beam headlites for most vehicles.
This may be a lot cheaper than a new “small” truck,
but does 1 really want to USE this like a new truck would be used?
Or just drive it to car shows & on occasional weekends?
Certainly not in bad weather.
It’s just too nice & rare as presented – perhaps should even be in a museum.
I am going to assume the wrinkling in the factory rubber floor mat is normal, especially after many years, even tho when i see wrinkling elsewhere, such as in a door panel or headliner or seat, i doubt they are factory original.
Sweet looking truck. It’s nice to see a low mileage (less than 100k mileage) original survivor, with no rust holes or any tears in the upholstery. I hope this goes to a good owner.
That truck is in amazing condition. There are not many left here in the northeast, at least I don’t see them anymore. Very popular though in its time, it will sell and I think for more then many people would imagine.
Sticker schmiker…..Anyone looked up price tag off the lot on a split window bug? Original sale price has nothing to do with what someone will pay years and years later😁
I don’t think this is an SR5.SR5’s had tachs,& carpeting,
ans stripes on the sides.
This is just a longbed with a 5 speed.It says “5 SPEED”
on the bottom right side of the tailgate.
Angliagt, I think you and Jasper (and anyone else who caught that) may be right!
Yeah. I think this is a Deluxe. My ‘81 SR5 had styled wheels with center caps and trim rings, buckets and extra gauges. Mine was even better as it had the blue and white two tone paint. I sold it 10 or so years ago in about this condition with similar miles to a guy who just ran it into the ground. Really was a shame.