Pickups have grown monstrous over the last ten years, while at the same time limiting bed size and guzzling gas like it’s going out of style… (wait, is it?). It’s enough to make a person yearn for an El Camino six-cylinder. But here’s another option – this listing on eBay is a 1977 Toyota Hilux pickup, bid to $11,300 in a no-reserve auction. And it must be Hilux week because our own Adam Clarke just covered another of these here. The Hilux model derives from the Briska pickup made by Hino starting in the 1960s, which in turn borrowed mechanicals from Renault’s 4CV. Toyota linked up with Hino to improve the Briska, eventually taking over its manufacture. Developing a distinct truck line – particularly one from an outside maker – allowed Toyota to reserve its Crown and Corona nameplates for autos only, ending their pickup body offerings. This segregation left Toyota free to move its autos upscale – something it was eager to accomplish.
Hilux production has marched through eight generations. It has been sold in dozens of countries. A war was named after it: the “Toyota War” of 1987 pitted Chad against Libya and was marked by heavy use of Toyota pickups throughout – by both sides. This truck belongs to the second generation, and it has the largest engine option available – the 97 hp 20R 2.2 liter in-line four-cylinder. By now the five-speed manual found in this truck was offered as an option. While not speedy, the Hilux is a gas miser and profoundly reliable. This truck has over 150,000 miles and it needs tie rod ends and stabilizer bushings but is said to be driveable as is. The seller does mention that the gearshift pops out of fourth occasionally.
The interior is fairly clean judging from the few photos we are given. The bench seat wears a cover, but the glass is good, and other than fading, the rest of the cabin looks acceptable. Although the name “Hilux” is derived from “high luxury”, there isn’t anything luxe about the accommodations here!
Shown in the truck’s bed are just a few of the parts that accompany the sale. The paint is said to be original, and the body has a scattering of scratches and dents. More ominously, the driver’s side lower front quarter panel is rusted through. The underside shows no more than regular wear, and the trim is in decent condition except for a cracked tail light lens and the rear bumper’s crunched passenger’s side corner. With TLC, this little truck could serve up many more hauling miles left before it finally bites the dust – and even then, I could see a restoration in its future.
I had a similar tin can Toyota pickup in the late 70s, and the one thing I learned (the hard way) is never to buy a car or truck where you can bend the front bumper with your hand.
Modern “bumpers” are worse.
I drove one of these same color but older it had blinker mounted on top of the fenders it was the company truck for delivering pizza until the body completely dissolved from NJ winter road salt. At the end even with the heater cranked you would freeze driving it because so much cold in through the Swiss cheese floors and around the windshield could not kill it though and we had pizza cases that plugged into keep the pies warm just not the driver
I reckon yours would have been a 1st-gen Hilux pickup (also offered in this same mustard yellow color), prior to this 2nd-gen model, as my dad also had a 1st-gen just like the one here with the turn signals mounted atop the front fender, and I’ve never seen or heard of any 2nd-gens with those.
I gather the original JDM signal lenses couldn’t satisfy US-DOT regs — not big or bright enough, or couldn’t handle dual-filament bulbs for combined parking and signal light functions — so just sticking the bigger ones from the Land Cruiser on top of the fenders was the cheap and easy solution.
I had one of these with the 20R engines and iit had an automatic.
I bought used with the engine needing AA due to addiction to oil consumption. I rebuilt the engine and it ran great. Then shade tree mechanics fixed the body . Lets just say it was part corvette with all the fiberglass in the lower cab and beneath the doors. It was my second vehicle and after putting metal rivets (was 22 and no money for a welder to fix it right…) with metal sections and much mud .. it was sanded and primed with Walmart under a buck rattle cans. Then red rattle cans and rubbed out a lil. Then drove it two years and passed it on to a person wanting a auto truck.
The drive train was great… body well no so good..if not washed properly..
Good luck with sale…
Are you still painting cars? I have a respray coming up on one of my projects…
Even here in the south, these rusted away in a few years. I remember a teacher of mine had one, and it was badly rusted in 1982 or so.
These trucks were the hearts desire of short Californian guys.
drive train last 4ever.
Doin an ’85 camper right now. Over heats as lady duz not know how to drive. Has auto w/OD (same 22R). Put in new Thermost. Adjusted timing, ran her out – she keeps @ 3, 3,500 RPMs too much. After 1 driving lession, not sure she’s got it. We’ll see ina wk or so.
I like this one as has this gen’s single thickness bed. Trucks this small need to eventually come 4WD for these narrow passages back East. Hada ’81 Mikkado w/135 ci diesel 4WD back then fora yard bird. Real worker even by the time I got it. Same co madea 3.2 then 3.3 diesel for the last of the IH scouts. Ford courrier and chevettes also had the smaller. Took 40 yrs to come out w/better/best.
https://www.hotcars.com/european-diesel-powered-cars-we-want-in-the-states/
https://www.hotcars.com/european-diesel-powered-beasts-we-wish-were-available-in-the-states/
too late 4 merica. Let’s see if we can win at EV (I think w/got it at attonomous. Only conutry krazy enuff to allow the co.s to run trials among the citizenry).
Que Pasa?
I bought a brand new 78 model leftover in Jan 79. Decent little truck, had dealer rebuild engine just before warranty ran out due to bad rings. Put over 100,000 more miles on it, turned a rod bearing. I built it myself after having the crank turned, put another 50,000 on it before the transmission lost 5th and reverse. Sourced a 231 Buick V6 and 4 speed from a wrecked Chevy Monza and put it in there, what a difference! Twice the power and torque! Kept it 10 years, traded it for a CJ5 Jeep. Wouldn’t mind buying it back, but figure it’s destroyed by now.