Rare In US: 1986 Toyota Hilux Double-Cab Diesel
It’s impossible to be on almost any road in America for more than a few minutes without seeing a four-door pickup. That wasn’t the case when I was growing up, and even into the 1980s and early-90s, they weren’t everywhere as they are today. This 1986 Toyota Hilux Double-Cab diesel pickup is listed here on eBay in Altamonte Springs, Florida and they’re asking $15,950.
We rarely see vintage double-cab import pickups in the U.S. and this version was never officially imported, but some made their way across the ocean, or across the land, if they came from South America. This one is “European”, according to the seller, but we don’t know where it was before they brought it to Florida. It’s titled in Florida so that’s good news for the buyer so they don’t have to deal with gobs of paperwork at their local DMV.
I’d want to source a rear bumper, STAT! Otherwise, this truck appears to be in great condition. This is a rear-wheel-drive example, if it were a 4×4 that would surely add to the value and asking price. The fourth-generation Toyota Hilux was made from late 1983 for the 1984 model year up until the 1988 model year in most markets, South Africa had them until 1997. It’s unusual to see a Toyota pickup prior to the mid-2000s with four doors here in the U.S. The bed looks almost like new as does the entire exterior. The underside appears to be especially nice in the photos, and this truck has a bit over 99,000 miles on it so that’s amazing.
The bottom seat cover could use some stretching or something, and I’d kick it up a notch with a funky, colorful cloth pattern seat cover if this were my truck. The interior looks like 90% of suburban houses, as if it were dipped in tan or gray vinyl. For a work truck, though, it works; no pun intended, and it appears that the bottom vinyl cover may have been replaced at some point as it’s a different pattern. The rear seat area looks equally clean, and having room for six adults in a 1986 Toyota pickup is unusual. This truck has a five-speed manual transmission, which most of us would want in a truck like this.
The engine is another unusual feature of this truck, being a Toyota 2.4-liter inline-four diesel which would have had around 80 horsepower and 120 lb-ft of torque when new. As with everything else on this truck, top-to-bottom, the engine and engine compartment appears to have fewer miles than they really do. This would be an eye-catching vintage Japanese motorcycle hauler, have any of you seen a four-door Toyota pickup from the mid-1980s?
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Comments
I don’t think a couple of dirt bike would fit very well
inside that short bed.
When our kids were growing up,I wanted one of these,
but seems they sold them in every other country but the US.
I did see one in Redding,CA,in the ’90’s,but couldn’t find
the owner.
Tailgate down = 2 dirtbikes 🏍 🏍
angliagt: I was thinking about my size of oddball vintage Japanese motorcycle rather than an adult-sized dirt bike, but I think you’re right. Stan nails it with having the tailgate down, though.
I bought an ‘&6 1-Ton with the 5-speed and AC. Floors were without carpet which made cleaning it easy. The sales brochure mentioned a diesel but I never saw one in my town. MThe best dang truck I or YOU have ever known! I still miss it!
According to the numberplate, this Toyota was registered in Spain, in the Tenerife island from the spanish Canary Islands.
It was common there to see pick-ups like this one.
Hope this can helps.
The only detractor for me would be the diesel engine and since we don’t have a diesel providing gas station or truck stop nearby.. but still, awesome little truck I’d love to take a picture next to my 2007 GMC Canyon I have to say, Aggie, this is your mother who made crew cabs like you a thing!
I have to agree. I’ve nothing against the Diesel engine, except for when it comes to servicing. I don’t know of any service network that specialises in small displacement Diesel engines, which doesn’t seem right. However well made an engine and drivetrain may be, what good does it do you if you don’t have a means to keep it running like it should?
Awesome looking Toyota. I’ve seen plenty of Toyota trucks (pre-Tacoma), but never a 4 door Toyota truck, and never one with a Diesel engine. I’ve heard of people talking about all sorts of problems with the Toyota Diesel engine. I don’t think the problem is with the engine itself, but with the lack of a service network to maintain the drivetrain. I’d buy a Diesel powered Toyota if it was possible to service. Given its condition, I’d pay close to the asking price of $15,000.
The diesel package makes this one tough truck. Diesel’s are known to work well for 500K or more miles with only minor upkeep such as oil and fuel filter changes and minor upkeep on the igniters. Some one is going home with a beauty of a tough truck.
Not a bad flip buy it for $4500 bucks +/- ship it to the US for $1000 bucks then a few hundred bucks for license fees sell it for almost $16,000
I’d seen similar ones in Ireland. A pickup sometimes had to double as a family car.
The seller also has 3 other trucks listed. Here in CA it would be a tough time at the DMV.
As long as you have a clean title it shouldn’t be a huge problem. Diesels older than the 1997 model year don’t require a smog certificate. At least not yet.
This car has a Tenerife Island number plate, so its from the Spanish Canary Islands.
Those cars / trucks are common there, like some Toyota, Mitsubishi, Suzuki or Subaru models which in the Spanish península were not possible to see them.
Canary Islands had a special taxes rules, so, you could see more often other cars from other market places.
These were all over the place in the Caribbean back in the ’90s. Saw tons of them in St Lucia. Super practical idea, no idea why it was never sold in the US. This one looks to be in really fine condition for the year, and the engine will go forever.
10 deep at the tip & wrecks in the bush all over Australia , without 4×4 nobody wants them
“Room for six adults”? Really? Even a single cab Toyota pickup is tight with THREE adults in the cab. All those “Adults” have to be on the small, skinny side.
I have to agree. I would think four adults would fit comfortably. Six? Maybe two adults and two children, between 4 and 8 yrs. of age.
“This one is “European”, according to the seller, but we don’t know where it was before they brought it to Florida”
The license plate is the province of Tenerife, Spain – a group of islands off the coast of Africa
Fantastic, thanks, Suprarossa! I should have caught that.
What I don’t get is why Toyota never offered a 4 door truck until they intro’d the Tacoma. There were plenty of people who could’ve used a crew cab compact truck. Even if the competition didn’t offer one, Toyota could’ve beaten them to the punch. And why the hell weren’t anyone willing to offer a small displacement (2.2-3.0 litre) turbo diesel engine? I’ve never understood it. Why should only the GM, Ford and Dodge be the only ones to offer large displacement (6.5-6.7 litre) V8s and straight six diesel engines? And don’t tell me there was no market for diesel. I don’t buy it.
The seller has lowered the price to $14,995 with under two days to go!
And now it’s been RAISED to $16,995!
Now it says $16,500.
Ha! Follow the bouncing’a ball…
Glad to see a few commenters have used the phrase “crew cab”. I’ve never seen or heard the expression “double cab” except when discussing diesel railroad locomotives. Is that a Canary Island expression?
I agree. I’ve never heard *”Double-Cab”* used for 4 door pickup trucks. All 4 door pickup trucks I’ve heard of were called “Crew cab”. Perhaps the only time I’d seen “Double-Cab” used in regards to pickup truck is in brochures and literature for the truck.
Thanks, Car Nut Tacoma. That’s what they’re mostly referred to by Toyota for this era on this pickup, so I didn’t use “crew cab”.
Auction update: this one was a no-sale at the final $16,500 asking price.
Regarding the term “Double-Cab”: I think it depends on where the truck is sold. Here in the USA, a 4 door pickup truck is always called a “Crew Cab” truck. In another country it may have been called a “double-cab”.
I would’ve bought a Hilux or a Hilux Surf (4 Runner) if I could get it with a 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine.
I remember when the Toyota Truck looked like this. I would’ve bought one with a 2.4 litre Turbo Diesel engine if it was available in the USA. This would’ve been a perfect engine for the Toyota based motorhomes sold here in the USA. Emissions be damned. You’d think they’d figure out how to control pollution out the tailpipe.
Nice condition, that bed doesnt belong to that truck, its a newer model, next generation after that. I own the same truck and I have the same issue, I cant find its original bed in good shape.