Nostalgia for all things 1980s is at an all time high. Fashion, music and of course cars have become highly sought after collectibles. One of the champions of this trend is the venerable Toyota Pickup 4×4, the original Toyota truck. Thanks to their unkillable engines and badass styling, these tiny ’80s pickups have taken the collector car market by storm. However, one lucky soul just snagged a particularly cool example of a 1985 Toyota Pickup Xtracab SR5 for a good price.
How much is an 80’s Toyota Pickup SR5 worth?
This is a pretty tough question to answer, but in general, Hagerty estimates a range of around $10,000-$35,000, depending on trim package and condition of course. The fun thing about this model is that Toyota offered it in many different configurations, decal packs, and body styles.
as seen in silodromewe’re looking at a particularly cool SR5 Xtracab custom build with insanely cool TRD decals that scream ’80s.
This example came up for auction in Bring a Trailerwhere it was sold for the modest price of $24,485.
What makes the Toyota Pickup Xtracab SR5 4×4 special?
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Let’s run through the terminology quickly first. In addition to the legendary toughness of the model, these trucks were small, powerful, fuel efficient and undeniably cool – just ask Marty McFly.
The Toyota Hilux comes from a time when trucks were two-seaters with nothing behind the seats but some metal and a window. The “Xtracab” designation meant that a slightly extended cab gave drivers an extra foot (give or take) of cab behind the seats for a bit of storage space. Not for nothing, but this extra cabin space also gives the diminutive truck a bit more punch for those who like a more solid truck.
The SR5 designation is another classic Toyota trim indicator still in use today, although the meaning has changed. Originally, SR% stood for “Sport Rally 5”. The “5” in this case meant the truck had a 5-speed manual transmission, which this truck also has.
As you can see, this truck is not an original factory example, which is part of the reason for the lower price. However, the things that make it non-genuine are also part of what makes this truck so great.
According to Silodrome, this third generation 1985 Hilux has an extra 6″ suspension lift, 15″ alloy wheels with 33×12.5″ Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires, an updated Alpine stereo and speakers, and the incredibly great Ivan “Ironman” multicolor. Stewart graphics and racing decals. Other factory features include locking buckets, a receiver hitch, and a glass sunroof. The original cloth interior is also still intact.
Maybe next time
Although I’m sad that I missed out on what seems like a great deal on a cool truck, maybe there’s another one right around the corner. I know, $25,000 for an old truck may not seem like a bargain on the surface, especially if you don’t like old cars, but when you consider what it would cost to buy a comparable truck in today’s market, maybe the old Toyota SR5 is a Bad business.