Now here is something I can get excited about- a rare original 1983 Toyota 4×4 longbox pickup with only 94,932 miles! Still has the original blue stripes on the truck. Owning a truck like this would be like traveling back in time to 1980’s and picking one up from the showroom floor, or so I heard.  It is loaded with the SR5 package which does include: bucket seats, carpeted floors/lower door panels/and cab back, 3 spoke steering,  tinted glass, intermittent wipers, wood grain dash, tachometer and trip meter, oil/volt gauge pod, and SR5 exterior stripes.  How do I know it’s an SR5? Its right there in print: JT4RN48S0D0075339 with Vin code 48S means a long box 4×4 SR5. IN ADDITION to the SR5 model, it also has air conditioning (yup it does) tilt steering, window package, and chrome package. This truck is loaded with factory options missing only a possible moon roof and west coast style mirrors. The chrome wheels appear to be mint with the correct center caps and lug nuts at each wheel.

This truck in nearly immaculate with only 94,932 miles and it shows everywhere on the truck, especially on the driver’s seat which tend to crack near the side lever. The body looks straight and clean. The only bad points are an aftermarket stereo added, the center console was replaced with aftermarket, and the rear bumper is missing. The extra carpet and plywood may have saved the inside of the bed, or may have held in moisture- hard to tell from pictures. Still possibly one of the finest examples of an original Toyota you might find anywhere. The frame still sports a black finish, the stripes have not peeled, and the chrome looks like new. With the super low miles the truck is worth the opening bid. Be prepared though, as another website indicates that the dealer wants $7995 for this truck!

Here we go again. I swear - deja vu only in blue this time. I made it as far as the vin# again- jt4rn38d5b0013167  GRRRRR! 38d is a deluxe 4×4 shortbed, not an SR5. So again, how is it that this truck has two-tone paint since my understanding from the factory brochure was that this paint color was only available on SR5 models. But wait there’s more. It says SR5 on the tailgate. Things are not matching up again, so lets run down the list…

 RARE TOYOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE SR5 SPORT RALLY 5 SPEED TRUCK

Well now the seller knows what SR5 stands for, but its not, with the reported vin#. And by the way I’m not listing these trucks under rare, because they are not true representations.

 I am proud to offer a rare, original two-owner 1981 Toyota 4WD SR5 Truck

Again with the original two owner claim. Was this simply copied from the other truck ad?

super low miles, and in bone stock configuration

Ah, no in both cases. Later the milage was reported at over 200k.

original two tone blue/white paint retains much of its original shine and luster with very minor blemishes

Not. The stripes on this truck are not even close. Its obviously been repainted. Although the two-tone colors do match on the cab and inside of the door, the outside top frame should be all blue. But again how did two-tone paint and SR5 decals get onto a deluxe truck?

The truck has a deluxe or SR5 package, included was tilt steering wheel, chrome front and rear bumper, tach gauge, L50 5-spd transmission, and the 2.4L 22R motor.

Deluxe. Tilt steering has nothing to do with SR5 or deluxe. It is an option on both. So is the chrome package which included front bumper, grill, and wheels. Rear bumpers were dealer installed options. L52 5 speeds were standard on SR5 trucks, but since this is not it probably has a 4 speed. All 1981 non diesel trucks had 22R engines.

Also, the A/C system will need to be recharged.

What AC??????

Now comes the bad news. The seller added some carfax information to the listing:

Guarantee Coverage: 07/29/2009 - 07/29/2010

CARFAX Vehicle Description: 1981 TOYT STANDARD BED 1/2 TON

If I read that correctly this truck has been totalled and does not have actual miles. How can this be a rare and original SR5 then? Looking at the front end, it doesn’t look square. But I’m not sure if it was in an accident, or stolen and recovered, or - what does manufacturer buyback mean?

I sent a note to the seller to send a pic of the tag under the hood. This should make some things clearer. I hope to get a response. From the seller’s “discoveries” I get the sense that the title may not be in his or her name. I noticed that the carfax has 20 hits, but I’m not going to waste my time reviewing it. This falls into the not recommended category- again.

Please review the factory literature printed by Toyota Motor Corporation for a list of options that were available on SR5 or Deluxe model trucks.

Here is a built up 1985 Toyota monster truck for sale on Ebay with over 20″ of lift. The height to the bottom of the headlights is 58″ (probably not street legal???) powered by a 383 stroker motor sitting tall on 44″ super swampers. The seller claims it might have 1 ton axles, but that’s doubtful.