Toyota Hi-Lux pickups have been the favorite vehicle for often unsavory para-military types and insurgents or whatever, but this one has not been imported from Africa. In fact, it was “militarized” right here in Eugene, as I first saw it years ago before the back was finished. But it’s a rather convincing little rig, eh, except of course the lack of four wheel drive. Minor details…
This is an N20 generation, built from 1973 – 1978. These were massively popular in California, and increasingly so throughout the country during the great mini-truck boom. The 18R and 20R SOHC engines in these quickly achieved legendary status, as being nigh-near bulletproof. There’s quite a few of this generation still plying the streets here, although not on military patrols. We’re a rather pacifist sort of place.
Of course it is sitting in the Whit, a neighborhood with a long tradition of radical politics, and home to a gaggle of anarchists. Maybe this is here just waiting for the revolution. Well, even if it doesn’t come in a very long time, the Toyota will probably still be running then.
That really does look well done .
I hope we don’t see it on the news next ! =8-) .
-Nate
A more authentic para military look would have been plain ol’ white with a machine gun tripod in the back. Insurgents don’t spend any extra money on paint.
Nonetheless a cool little truck.
But that would probably attract traffic stops with SWAT team back-ups.
I’d love to liberate that truck. It looks like it need to share a farm with me and my donkeys. They were used for everything.
We still spot this generation of Hilux on the East Coast occasionally, but rust has seen most of them off. The beds seem particularly susceptible. They quietly dissolve around the 18R/20R, which is invariably still in good health. There are two still alive in my neighborhood, both of which fall under the “rusty runner” category, but one hopes the march of the rust is slow these days. We don’t get a lot of road salt in central VA, so as long as you do a good undercarriage wash after a winter weather event, the conditions are generally favorable.
Here’s one of the neighborhood residents, along with a bonus CC Volvo 164 (that I unfortunately have not seen in over a year). Picture is older but I saw this truck as recently as last week.
Funky truck and the sofa frame on the cab is a nice touch. The strap hanging from the branch is odd.Wonder why it has new license plates if it has been around for a while?
I looked at moving to Eugene before settling in Portland and a few of the Craigslist listing for rental houses made it quite obvious they were anarchist friendly. Bit surprising since I had just relocated to the Northwest, but no thank you, I rather stay off the Suede Denim Secret Police’s naughty list.
I haven’t seen one of these in years, but to me they are very forgettable looking. When these were new, I preferred the Datsun. When the next generation Hi Lux went on sale and Datsun (now Nissan) adopted this slab-sided look, I switched favorites.
Don’t most paramilitary groups use a “camo” paint scheme….this looks so PRE 70s.
I want one of the newer middle eastern market Toyota LC trucks that uses the older squared-off 80’s land cruiser styling and looks like it should come pre-fitted with your choice of Russian-made light machine guns in the bed. Like the ones you see in ISIS videos. Those things are dope. Too bad assholes use them and many will be tragically destroyed in drone strikes in the coming months (the trucks, not the jihadists).
It’s been said that the Toyota Hilux truck is the motor vehicle equivalent of the AK-47 rifle – rugged, dependable and able to withstand harsh conditions.
Amen, as a retired Jarhead I know the M-16 is more accurate and has a higher mussel velocity and better kill range, but is persnickety when just slightly dirty or even barely wet. The last thing you want to do is strip and clean her in the field. You can neglect cleaning and then drop an AK in the mud, and she’ll fire just fine. Too bad the bad guys use them!
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a25677/ak-47-history-1110/
Very enlightening article here on that..
I am a retired Corpsman. The marines I knew during the sixties preferred the M14 to the M16. IIRC the corps kept the M14 thru a good part of the VN conflict. Had to do with usability after dropping it in a rice paddy.
Semper Fi
Was this the generation marketed as the HiLux happy truck?
Wonder if the electrical system has been Faraday caged for EMP’s. It wouldn’t surpise me!
Out here, I’d doubt that. The people that want a truck to blend in wouldn’t have done this. They would have gone with a brown color. A fake Armed Forces vehicle would be too noticeable.
Not that the neighbor’s 1940s Studebaker pickup isn’t exactly noticeable, either! 😉
Probably built for show, possibly to make a statement. It is very common around here to paint older trucks olive drab with a white star on them, and cover them up with anti gun control and NRA stickers.
I’ve always liked this generation Toyota (HiLux) PIckup truck. If I were to buy a truck myself, I’d rather buy one of this generation than the Tacoma sold today.
IMO, just about anything is better than the huge (and ugly) newer Tacoma. I will always be a fan of ’70s and ’80s Japanese pickups. And I still believe that trucks of that size can be made to get better gas mileage than they do.
It’s not just Japanese trucks that have become obese. I recently had a chance to compare side by side a 1967 Ford F100 and a 2014 F150. Both 2WD. The new truck made the old one look tiny. The hood on the new one was about a foot higher. The whole truck was much beefier looking. A huge waste of space, sheet metal and weight. Same complaint I keep hearing about many ’60s and ’70s cars. Oh, and as big as it was, I still hit my head on the roof getting in, something that didn’t happen with the ’67.
I’ve seen one of this same vintage in my neighborhood in Portland. It says “Old reliable” on the driver’s door. I had a 74 Toyota Chinook camper.