Vehicle Description
Open the dictionary to the word 'reliable', and they'll be a
picture of a Toyota pickup under the definition. Or at least there
certainly should be. Utilitarian pickups like this 1986 Toyota 4x4
would survive a nuclear holocaust, showing up to work each day
right on time, plugging away thanks to the help of the venerable
22R motor under the hood. This particular Yota features 170K
original miles (which if you're familiar with these trucks, you
know this one is just getting started), an original 2.4L and
5-speed manual drivetrain, and still wears factory colors and an
original interior. And if you think the diamond-plate utility bed
might a bit too hardcore for your purposes, don't sweat it because
the original short-bed is available with the sale and can be
switched out, back to stock.
If you're familiar with the 4th generation Toyota pickups (called
the Hilux pretty much everywhere but the States), then you know how
difficult it is to find a really clean one like this. Let alone one
with verifiable mileage under 500K, and low, traceable ownership.
These trucks were so cheap when new, and then so incredibly durable
to the point that you could drop them from the tops of exploding
buildings (see the Top Gear experiments on), that their owners
really put most of them through the grinder. Finding one virtually
unmolested and in great shape is almost impossible, especially a
lifelong, warm weather Texas truck like this that has escaped the
rust worm. The seller of this '86 4x4 purchased it from the
original owner, and he's had it going on 20+ years now, where it
was always gently used and properly stored inside a dry garage. And
don't let the custom utility bed out back scare you, this truck
hasn't just been abused at the work site all its life. Rather than
beat up the original bed (as they're known for rusting very easily
and acquiring dents rapidly), the owner had this custom diamond
plate flat bed, toolbox, and headache bar built to mount on the
back of the frame, and the original bed (which is still in great
shape) was stored out of the way. I happen to own one of these
Toyota trucks myself, and finding a clean original bed is darn near
impossible on a 4th generation Yota, so that extra part is worth
its weight in gold. The Code 033 White paint is either an older,
faithful respray or an impeccably preserved survivor (it can be
difficult to discern on the quick-spray Japanese paint jobs from
the '80s), regardless it shows incredibly well as a solid
driver-grade finish on the original sheetmetal. That very
sheetmetal is about as laser-straight as you'll ever find on a
35-year-old truck, with tight lines and precise gaps that only
comes from factory precision that hasn't been interrupted from any
accidents through the years. A black brush guard up front looks
very tough, matching the front bumper, grille, and rear bed set-up
in both color and utility, finishing off the truck's blue-collar
theme.
Inside the originality continues, highlighted with the comfortable
bench seat wrapped in original, perforated tan vinyl that's still
in solid condition, showing only minor signs of use and age.
Original door panels at the flanks match the seat, both in
appearance and condition, while the brown vinyl mat covering the
floors is durable and cleans up very easily. The original dash is
quite a marvel, remarkably without a crack or sun-faded area to
report, and all the original gauges are still in place ahead of the
driver, just beyond the stock steering wheel that's been wrapped in
perforated vinyl. Custom wooden cup holders are the lone changes
from stock, while options include an original HVAC system with cold
A/C, seatbelts, tilt wheel, an original electric clock, and an
original Toyota AM/FM/Cassette player - a find so rare and cool I'm
drooling as I type this because I'd kill to have one in my personal
Yota 4x4.
In America, we used to say that "there's no replacement for
displacement", but modern technology (including our own) has all
but rendered that idiom moot. So, before you bemoan the 2.4L
4-cylinder engine in this pickup, know that it's one of the
greatest motors to ever be designed for a production vehicle. The
Toyota '22R' series engines simply go on forever with limited
maintenance, producing great low-end torque and a respectable
amount of horsepower for this lightweight pickup. Sure, it's not
going to win you any races, but I can all but guarantee that it
will run long enough that your grandkids can enjoy it. So, if you
really want a wheezy V6 with its every 60k-mile timing belt change,
then you'll have to look elsewhere. As you might expect, this one
is all-stock and running great, and the engine bay is about as
close to factory presentation as I've ever seen in a Yota. The
undercarriage is just as solid with no signs of rust or any other
worries for that matter, and the stock exhaust system features a
newer muffler and is even still fitted with a catalytic convertor
for any potential emissions tests down the road. A 5-speed manual
transmission is perfect for a truck that wants to work, and the
clutch and gear selections are still crisp and easy, much like they
were in the '80s. The 4x4 system works great too, power steering
and power front disc brakes improve the ride experience, and a
grippy set of 235/75/15 Goodyear radials wrapped around
paint-matched steelies that fit the truck perfectly.
Offered with its original owner's manual and stock keys, this
hard-working Japanese bruiser is in incredible shape compared to
its siblings. If we continue to preserve these trucks, they'll be
around for our grandkids, and clean examples like this '86 4x4
model will lead the way.
