The seller says that when looking at this 1986 Toyota pickup, it takes you back to 1986 and for some of us, that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. That’s almost 40 years ago and a lot of Barn Finds readers weren’t born yet, but enough of them were that maybe we could take a little informal poll as to who wouldn’t mind going back to the era of this Toyota pickup again.
Toyota made the fourth-generation models for only five model years, from 1984 through 1988 and this truck looks like it’s in outstanding condition. Did I mention how many miles were on this gem? Are you sitting down? 281,237 miles! That’s almost impossible to believe given how great it looks in the photos – which the seller did a nice job on. That’s two in a row for me, I must be living right (cough).
The seller mentions the original “stock center caps” on the front wheels but not the back wheels, just as it would have been from the factory. They say that this was a one-owner vehicle until recently when it was bought by someone at the owner’s estate sale, cleaned it up a bit, and the current owner/seller bought it and is now selling it. He said that the original owner, who he calls “the original old man” who bought it new, (who probably wasn’t “old” when he bought it in 1986) used to sleep in the back when he took this truck out of town to car shows and swap meets. Here’s what the interior of the topper/shell/cap looks like. Very cool.
We don’t know what the seat looks like under that cover, but things look tidy as heck inside, too. Beautiful in fact, as with the exterior, I don’t see a flaw in this truck anywhere. Even underneath, other than normal surface rust from being on the planet for almost four decades.
The engine is Toyota’s 22R, a 2.4-liter SOHC inline-four with 109 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a proper five-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels, this truck is said to run great. They have it listed here on eBay in Cosby, Tennesee, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $5,900. Have any of you owned a Toyota pickup from this era? This looks like a winner to me.
It’s my “Little Red”. I have a confession to make, mine was not a ’78 like I boasted on the last one, I think it was an ’84, and looked just like this, cap and all. Mine was a 4 speed and briefly, my ex-BIL bought it new with no options. He had to go to 3 dealers before anyone would sell him one. He put an amazing 240,000 miles on it, and only did tires, brakes and oil changes. It was pretty rusty when I got it, but still drove it for a year. You can bet what his replacement was, yep, another Toyota, and why not? They were simply the best. Before the Jeep, I looked at a truck just like this, price was right, around $3grand, but he couldn’t wait for payment, ONE DAY, I said I don’t carry $1,000 bills around, and am much happier with the Jeep anyways. Great find, most of these “oxidized” before our very eyes,,,
I have lost a couple Toyota, Datsun, Chevy Luvs,to the ol tin worm
I would remove that topper/shell/cap faster than you can say “Craigslist”.
My grandparents had a blue 86 with a topper. They owned a clock shop near Philly and the topper was so he could move grandfather clocks in rain. They also use to sleep in it on long trips.
I had an ’84 and a ’93, both 4 cylinder 5 SPD 2WD, bench seat, standard cab. I bought the ’84 with 176,000 miles on it and drove it for 5½ years. It still ran great, but I knew I’d be towing a U-Haul over a thousand miles and didn’t want to push it. It was almost cut in half by a V plow, but the plow driver fixed it. I had to do some work to both, but the ’84 cost me $1250 and I might have put that much more into it. Living in upstate New York, I don’t think local Toyotas were this rust-free when they were new.
I bought an 88 4×4 in Sacramento for $2k and drove it across the country in 2000. My folks still have it, they use it on their property in W. Mass, and I usually take it out when I see them. It is garage kept and not driven in the winter, so rust is not an issue. It’s fun to beat around with in the Berkshires, at some point it may be handed back to me, although I am not sure what I will do with it as I already have a truck. We’ll see.
Nice truck, nice survivor. I had a 1986 SR5 XtraCab, 5speed, EFI. The carb might be fine, but the fuel injection was much better. Regarding rust, mine was rust proof by the dealer, and I had zero rust in the cab. I did get rust over the rear fender arches after about 8 years (120k miles) of Ohio/KY winters. I don’t know about the bench seat, but the separate bucket seats in mine held up very well.
In my opinion those were the best trucks and I wish they still made them well taken care of this one should go another 200k miles
I had a 1986 Toyota that when I got ride of it I had 325,000 on the odometer, that truck was still running like a new one. I traded it for a 1997 Nissan I have 200,000 on it now. That motor in that Toyota pickup 22R is the best little motor Toyota ever made.
I’m in the wish that they still made trucks like this camp. I drove a new 1984 regular cab/bed as a company provided vehicle. I really liked it. Sometimes my wife accuses me of still being stuck in the eighties. Guilty as charged. The eighties were a good decade for me. It was a good time for vehicles like this Toyota pickup. Those were a lot more practical and reasonably priced than the vehicles of today. Now if I can only find a wayback machine.
I agree with you the monster pickup truck today I do not think I could fit in my garage.
I currently have a 1995 Toyota T100. Best truck I’ve ever owned. Bought it from a friend that purchased it new here in West Texas. Never any rust but the hot Texas sun has sure taken a toll on the clear coat. Automatic, AC, bench seat. Single cab with a (rare) long bed. Great for hauling motorcycles. It has 202,000 miles on it and I’ve only had to replace front shocks, tires and oil changes. Wish they still made this one, although it was the last Toyota pickup made in Japan.
I’d be first on line at the local dealer to pay cash for one. They were the best truck at just the right size. I went through 2 different ones over many years before I could no longer could get one.
Sold for a high bid of $5,900.
Steve R
Thanks, Steve!
extended cab & 4 speed auto (over drive)?
Like the wolwo on today’s page these are ubiquitous round here.
Great for what designed to do.
Mileage does not matter, it’s how they were done.