Some classics are more obvious candidates for restoration projects, and while the 1980 Toyota 4×4 Pickup is an extremely versatile vehicle, it would probably struggle to make many “Top 10” lists. That hasn’t deterred this Toyota’s owner in their quest for perfection, and the results appear worthy of the time and expense. After creating the Pickup of their dreams, they have elected to send it to a new home. Located in San Mateo, California, you will find the Toyota listed for sale here on eBay. Spirited bidding has pushed the price to $15,200, although this remains short of the reserve.

If you plan on tackling a restoration project, there’s nothing wrong with commencing the process with a vehicle that is already in respectable condition. That’s what the owner of this Pickup did, but their eye for detail is commendable. Once they found the Toyota parked in their workshop, they treated it to a media blast that revealed no rust or hidden Bondo. With the panels clean and laser straight, they applied a fresh coat of the Pickup’s original Code 4A8 Beige paint. They added reproduction stripes to provide a striking contrast, along with new wheels and tires. The underside shots reveal the extent of their work, with everything rust-free and freshly painted after receiving a similar level of preparation to the panels. With trim and glass as immaculate as the rest of the exterior, this Toyota makes a positive first impression.

Powering this Pickup is its original 2,189cc 20R four-cylinder engine producing 90hp and 122 ft/lbs of torque. Neither figure sounds impressive, but with the power feeding to Planet Earth via a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case, the Pickup should cruise all day on the open road at 60mph while still being capable of climbing every mountain and fording every stream. As with the exterior, the Pickup’s drivetrain came in for close scrutiny. Everything was thoroughly inspected, with any suspect components rebuilt or replaced. The Toyota runs and drives perfectly, and with the Pickup’s legendary bulletproof nature, it should do so for many decades to come.

One aspect of an older 4×4 that can suffer is the interior. The nature of these classics means that carpet and trim can become damaged and stained as mud and other “icky” substances are inevitably tracked inside. It looks like this owner has replaced the seatcover and carpet, but the remaining upholstery and plastic is original. The dash pad has cracked in several places, which isn’t unusual. Locating a replacement could prove challenging, but a glue-on cap in the correct color retails for around $170. I have also seen an owner cut away the damaged plastic and foam and affect a repair utilizing that expanding foam you can buy in a can, followed by a layer of fiberglass. That might sound strange, but with the fiberglass sanded, followed by a coat of texture finish and the correct paint color, the pad looked as good as new. A couple of plastic pieces show some stains and wear, but if the buyer can’t locate replacements, they could paint these when repairing the dash pad. There are no aftermarket additions, with the factory AM radio remaining intact.

Several factors combine to make the classic scene fascinating. The sheer variety of vehicles that can wear the “classic” label is one, as are enthusiasts’ varying tastes and opinions. Some will question whether a 1980 Toyota 4×4 Pickup is eligible to wear the badge, but I believe it is. Any vehicle capable of surviving more than four decades and still attracting forty-two bids demands a level of respect. They don’t appeal to everyone, but the reality is that there is no vehicle in the classic world capable of achieving that feat. I won’t be surprised if the bidding passes $20,000 before the hammer falls, and $25,000 is a genuine possibility. Its condition would justify that figure, and it will be interesting to see if any of our readers are willing to pursue it further.