Toyota trucks are known as some of the toughest vehicles ever built by man. The British car show Top Gear famously attempted to destroy one by subjecting it to every conceivable attack. The hosts dropped it off an imploding apartment building and let high tide wash it out to sea. But the damn thing started right up again.
The vehicle involved in those shenanigans was the HiLux, the international name for the Toyota Truck. Top Gear stunts took place with HiLuxes from the 1980s, the same generation as this 1985 model recently for sale on eBay.
Go Anywhere
While far from museum grade, the truck on eBay is in superb condition for a 37-year-old workhorse. But there’s another reason why this four-decade-old truck has an $11,000 Buy-It-Now price. Toyota produced it in 1985, the last year for the much sought-after solid front axle.
In 1986, Toyota changed to an independent front suspension for better on-road handling and ride quality. However, a solid front axle helps you traverse rock-strewn terrain without the risk of the front end crashing down on a pointy boulder and puncturing your oil pan.
This truck is light and compact compared to modern behemoth trucks—making it an ideal, nimble four-wheeler. It comes with Toyota’s 2.4-liter inline-four engine, the revered 22R, known for its legendary durability. Although 5-speeds were available, this one is automatic, which some off-roaders prefer for low-speed rock crawling.
Needs Nothing But A Long Stretch of Road Ahead
The truck comes in standard commercial fleet white. Considering the paint’s shininess and the lack of decals—including the Helvetica “Toyota” across the tailgate—a previous owner probably repainted it at some point. The interior is even more impressive. It already has the bits that can be hard to find for a vintage Japanese car.
This 1985 Toyota truck has near-perfect door panels and seats. Surprisingly, even the vinyl sides of the bench seat are intact. Typically, they’re worn and ripped on the left side due to repeated climbs in and out of the cab.
The dash is also in good condition. We don’t see any cracks in the photos on the instrument shroud, a familiar spot for sun damage. The passenger side seems to wear a protective cover, so buyers should inquire if there’s an injury beneath.
At 95,000 miles, this truck is barely broken in. It’s not pristine enough to be a collector’s item but not beaten so much to look like the aftermath of Top Gear abuse. It will serve as an excellent driver for the right buyer.
