Daihatsu had a very short run in the U.S., having sold vehicles here for only six years in the late-1980s and early-1990s. They’re rare to see today, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they were bad vehicles, they just didn’t sell a lot of them here. This 1990 Daihatsu Rocky SE 4×4 is one rugged little beast and the seller has it listed here on eBay in Apopka, Florida. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $1,233.
I looked at a similar but light blue Daihatsu Rocky 4×4 a couple of years ago and it was in outstanding condition, other than having lived in Minnesota for several years so the underside had heavy, flaking rust on it. I passed at $4,000, which looking back now, I somewhat regret, but I’ve owned rusty vehicles my entire life and couldn’t mentally get past that underside. At just over 12-feet in length, five feet in width, five-and-a-half-feet in height, and 2,800 pounds, they’re like the Hershey’s Fun Size candy bar of offroad vehicles.
This example appears to be rock solid and the seller has included a lot of nice photos showing it inside and out. They don’t show the underside but they do show one wheelwell and it appears to have some sort of undercoating or bedliner-like spray on it. The seller doesn’t mention the R-word at all (rust), but they do say that they rate the exterior a seven out of ten, and they say that it has new two-tone paint. This one is also wearing new tires.
Daihatsu only offered the Charade and the Rocky to the U.S. market and they were only sold here between 1987 and 1992, so they’re rare to see on the street today. The Rocky is one rugged little 4×4, not to mention being fun to drive as they’re so small and can sneak down trails and off-road areas that would hold back a bigger SUV. The interior looks nice in this one, I don’t see any glaring flaws, even though the seller only rates it as an eight out of ten. The little rear cargo area is probably big enough for most people, unless they have a giant family to haul groceries for. The seller shows an unusual photo of the interior stripped of its seats and carpet. A five-speed manual puts power to all four wheels.
The engine is cleaner than most that we see here on Barn Finds, and it’s been rebuilt, according to the seller. It should be Daihatsu’s 1.6-liter SOHC inline-four with just over 100 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. The seller has done a great job of presenting this little 4×4 and after having driven one a couple of years ago, they sure are fun. Have any of you owned or driven a Daihatsu Rocky?
4x4s are like the cereal aisle, there’s all kinds, but they all do just about the same thing. The author knows how I feel about Asian vehicles and I think made peace with it. Generally, the mechanicals are top notch, but I just don’t care for their designs. Take the interior, for example, generic gray, drab offerings, plastic everywhere, and I haven’t met an Asian seat that fits my boney azz yet. Completely capable, I’m sure, it’s just,,,,Daihatsu who? These are okay new, but are throw away vehicles, like Geo Trackers, and such. And the tire cover? Daihatsu Es Mucha Marca? Daihatsu The Many Makes? I don’t get it,,,
most comfy import ever drove n have had a bunch, its only one still have except for my MB SD
This is what most SUV driving housewives ACTUALLY need.
I get your point, and the size of modern SUV’s is obnoxious, but I’d like to see 2-3 kids stuffed in the back of this thing with all the sports gear and stuff that goes with them. We put two kids in a new 4Runner and some days I can make the argument (or hear my wife’s) for the move to the larger Sequoia.
Sounds like Toyota got ya’. We got all that in the old mans Dodge station wagon. This truck wasn’t intended for a growing family, more like the Amigo, Rav4, Tracker folks. Dinks, mostly. In that regard, it’s a spiffy looking unit, an Asian specialty, but a nightmare underneath. There’s a reason why they never caught on.
we (2 ele – hi skol kids) got driven around in the mommie bus on same or less: Renault Dolphin, 10; Simca 1000; Fiat 128; and similar. No biggie.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Renault+Dolphine&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#imgrc=m9JSUejzkQmxeM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simca_1000#/media/File:1973_Simca_1000_GL.JPG
https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/fiat/128/128/1974/305346
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-58Yyyhl1c
Lub mea tiny 4WD. Everything back east is so tight (evolved from Indigenous trails which were deer trails, to settler paths, to bike (motor), to 4WD). Call em ‘personal’ travel rather then ‘crew’. Sometimes a lill jack’n bigger tire for our famous mud season (left on yr round)…
Tall and narrow, with a short wheelbase, this is not a vehicle for someone who isn’t devoting all his/her attention to driving.
It didn’t take much as this video shows. I don’t think they were any worse than most.They all were dangerous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiM0r74DxoA
One of the funniest sights was in the 80’s on I-405 (S Turns for Renton Washington folks ) inwas heading Northbound in the snow. No traffic. I look towards the Southbound lanes and there were two ( yes 2 ) Suzuki Samurai’s upside down on their roof’s spinning down the freeway.
they handle quite well, I was in a new one zipping in an out of traffic in Dallas new back in early 90s, he bought new n drove like a race car, blew the engine at 100k, I have it in my bone yard now, its tranny is in my driver.
Yep. Bronco II, Samurai, Montero… all of them are more susceptible to rollover than a cushy new crossover. Dip a wheel onto the berm, correct too quickly, and you’re going over, exactly the sort of thing an inattentive driver would do.
Great LHD, small, 4WD, etc~
I’d try an automatic if found (daily in traffic…with
coffee or lunch in hand 8^ 0
We just turboed a Zuki or similar, er, ah Geo (tracker). A lill
more fun as the grey on the rocky? is a vert (sorta hard targa roof over driver, back window/rear passenger’n side window, roof cloth/roll-able plastic).
Ahoi,
do anybody know the Bertone Freeclimber? Most people think about Alfa Romeo when they read Carrozzeria Bertone, but ….
Well, the more or less coachbuilder Bertone took this Daihatsu body, made the interior more comfortable and assembeled a BMW- engine into it.
You can find them in Italy, but not everywhere in Europe…
Best regards,
Till J.
My dad owned one in two tone blue about 10 years ago and I had the pleasure of putting a new motor in it for him, easier putting a motor in than just putting a new head on it. Start to finish was about 10 hrs. The only thing we had an issue with was finding parts to fix the 4wd. Couldn’t source the front locking hubs anywhere so in the end he ended up selling it to some guy locally and it ended up getting stolen when he left the keys in the ignition switch one night and was found a couple days later up on top of a mountain burnt to a crisp.
Daihatsus were very well-regarded in car mag reviews when they were new, described as having excellent build and materials quality, the sort of thing a Mercedes family might consider getting as a secondary car.
They only stopped selling here as the currency exchange rate turned unfavorable, and as a condition of Toyota negotiating to acquire a controlling stake in the company at the time.
Had one and loved it. Used it as a daily commuter from Washougal, WA. to Hillsborough, Or. I am 6 foot and was plenty comfy for me. Saw an opportunity and traded it in on a Chrysler Crossfire. The dealer had the Rocky sold before we closed the deal. Great little car with the heart of a lion!
What happened to the Crossfire?
I love it! The east and west coasters swear by these things! We, out here in God’s country, never heard of a Daihatsu Rocky! Was there a Bullwinkle option?
Could not resist:
https://youtu.be/H_soUM9Oxoc
My mom had one just like this – same color. She wanted a Wrangler, but my parents couldn’t afford one. It was down to the Rocky or the Amigo and they went with the Rocky…fun little car!
Nice vehicle, but I’d be afraid of having to look for parts for it.
Retired and reliantly sold the Crossfire. May get another one someday… but the supercharged version this time. Great little car!!