While vintage Toyota pickups are still commanding top dollar – upwards of $30,000 for one with 4WD and low miles – you can get into a survivor Isuzu Spacecab pickup like this one for just $5,500. The Isuzu pickup was a conventional Japanese workhorse that somehow has escaped the rapid rise in values that Toyota enjoys, much like the Nissan Hardbody that can fetch a fair number but still trails the Hilux/Tacoma rigs. With a dependable 2.6L four-cylinder engine under the hood and the preferred 5-speed manual, this Isuzu listed here on craigslist for $5,500 looks like a winner.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip. If you were around in the 1990s, you may recall that Isuzu used a terrific front man named Joe Isuzu. These were the glory years for automotive advertisements, in my opinion, with straight talk and self-deprecating humor the norm in large front print media. Joe often talked down the Isuzu brand while also highlighting its many attributes in doing so. Isuzu was known for building affordable but durable vehicles with excellent off-road abilities and decent driving dynamics. Its Spacecab design incorporated a large passenger window that dipped down into the beltline; it’s still an interesting design today.

Isuzu interiors weren’t all that different from Mitsubishi, Toyota, or Nissan interiors; they were functional but hardly luxurious. The seller’s truck looks like it’s held up pretty well, but the driver’s seat bolstering is certainly a bit worn out. The passenger front buckets and rear jump seats appear to be in mint condition, however. The five-speed manual is a nice bonus, in addition to the truck ticking all of the other boxes like four-wheel drive, the torquey and powerful (for a 4-cylinder) 2.6L gas engine, and a nice assortment of features including power windows and locks courtesy of the LS trim. The seller notes the cruise control is inoperative.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I have a 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS with the same engine seen here, and it’s really a treat to drive. It moves out well and makes the most of its power and torque, which was rated at 120 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s fairly closet to some other trucks’ V6 output at the time, and it will still feel downright sprightly with the stick-shift. The seller notes that the Isuzu has just under 140,000 miles so it’s hardly broken in, but you’ll still want to prioritize a timing belt replacement as these are interference designs. I doubt this well-priced Isuzu survivor will last very long!