When we think of a valuable vehicle, we often consider it in terms of rarity, equipment, performance, and what its original intended use was. A classic Ferrari was exclusive when it was new; was built to be the top-performing sports car of its day; and tended to be achingly beautiful. That’s why it’s so amazing that vintage Toyota pickups command the following that they do, because it essentially checks none of those boxes. I’ll explain more, but take a gander this clean short-bed 4×4 Hilux here on eBay with bids to $18,400 and the reserve unmet.
First of all, the Toyota pickup is about as utilitarian as it gets, and was never intended to be an object of great desire. They made a ton of them, and even as rust and abuse have taken a good chunk of them out of circulation, there’s still plenty more to go around. They are not beautiful, though there is some attraction to them solely for being from a bygone era of simple, tough-as-nails trucks that don’t exist anymore. And let’s face it: short-bed 4x4s are considered by many to be the most attractive configuration.
The engineering behind the Toyota pickup of this era was pretty simple: be as bulletproof as possible. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no concern given for a wind-cheating design or advanced materials used in its construction. If anything, the sheetmetal was incredibly susceptible to rust, and while the structure could take plenty of abuse, the frames were not known for being particularly durable in a climate that used road salt. While the interior of this example is in excellent shape, it’s as bare-bones as it gets.
And don’t go looking for exotica under the hood: the 22R is glorified tractor engine and does nothing to elicit aural pleasure or rip-snorting performance. If a Ford Raptor has a few bucking broncos under the hood, the 22R is effectively a donkey with arthritis. But it will go forever, and therein lies the beauty of a vintage Toyota pickup: its beauty is more than skin deep, and its rarity lies in the fact that we will never see this kind of truck again. Not surprisingly, bidders will raise their paddles every time for one as clean as this.
Such nimble and capable little creatures…
Indeed. Jeff mentioned a classic Ferrari as being the top performer for its day; this right here is the top performer off-road in its day. Short wheelbase, small overhangs, put on a small lift and some big tires, which this one has, and you are able to go anywhere…and always come back, that right there is why Toyota was the top dog off-road. Some say they still are, and I won’t argue against them.
Well, it is a point of view…
A old friend has one in White. Replaced the bed long ago under Toyota warranty rust issues. These truck are easy to drive and will go anywhere. I remember being in my friends Toyota the trails where narrow to get to lake in the mountains for fishing. That 22R is a great engine it got us across streams and to the lake carrying a flat boat in the bed. This one here is beautiful . I wish I could get one like this.🇺🇸🐻
My bed was replaced as well
My bed was replaced as well. Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear, did a great show about the 4×4…. They left it in the ocean and it still started !
I worked at a ski area in the North Carolina mountains with a guy who owned a pickup like this in 1990. His truck was probably the same year, but it was beige. One morning he started his truck to warm up, and went back inside for a few minutes. When he came out to leave for work, his truck was gone. It’s stolen, is what he first thought – until he heard something. Left running in neutral to warm up, the Toyota had rolled, tumbled down an embankment, and ended up on its roof – still running. The truck was put back on its wheels, started right up with a little puff of smoke, and driven to work. The only damage was a mangled side-view mirror, and a bent rain gutter from where the guy’s ski carrier was mounted. I imagine the ski rack kept the roof panel from denting inward. These trucks were absolutely everywhere throughout the mountains in the 80s and 90s, and I gained a new respect and admiration for them after this – they are tough little nuts.
Indeed they are. I’ve had several variations of them through the years and they never let me down.
Had an ’84 version of this with the SR5 package. Definitely second the comments about the rust. I ended up welding up a flatbed for it. Ended up selling it in ’92 with 330,000 miles on it for $600.00. Going was pretty much bullet proof as Jeff said.
“its beauty is more than skin deep, and its rarity lies in the fact that we will never see this kind of truck again.”
Jeff, I’m afraid you may be right. Once upon a time the planets were aligned and we saw vehicles like this, briefly.
Got one right now same vehicle but lifted. Belongs to my wife whose had it nearly its entire life. Looks rough, runs like a top. Dog slow going up to the mountains, but hey, it gets you there and back. Fun to drive too.
I have an extended cab, same color and same year, in my line-up of future projects… I took it off the road to do a weekend change of the timing chain, and found hairline cracks in the head. From there it got sidelined. From the price these are getting lately, I think it’s time to get her back on the road…
I have a buddy who has an 84 4Runner and is trying to finish up a Lexus V8 swap. Had all conversion mounts from a guy out in WA state. He ran that 22R to death and they are pretty bullit proof. Even though he’s capable at electrical the harness and details have caused him a few headaches. Guys converting these to V8s has become a profitable business for those selling conversion kits.
Growing up in Guam, in the ’80s-’90s Japanese Vehicles were very popular some were
even from the ’70s. Some of them customized for show &
some for go but, one thing for sure they were great rides
Trucks and Cars of all types.