Stock Number: 4754

The Hilux Surf is unstoppable, and Toyotas formula for building these rugged trucks has become legendary. Nowadays, you'd be hard-pressed to find a proper full-size turbodiesel SUV like this 1994 example. It's insane how well built early 90's Toyotas are across the board. Whether you're looking at a primo luxury sedan or an offroad rig you really can't go wrong with Toyota's tried and true dependability. Powered by one of the most capable diesel's Toyota ever built, this 4WD SUV can off-road with the best of them, yet is civil enough for daily use. Once you put a small suspension lift and some beefy 33" mud terrains you really can't go wrong. A classic set of Mickey Thompson's seal the deal and even has a full-size matching spare mounted outback. Not only does it look tough, but you know it can handle whatever you can throw at it. While it originally left the factory Evergreen Pearl (751) its since been swapped to the rare, and highly desirable, Natural White (056.) The color swap was well done with only the engine bay giving any indication that it wasn't originally white. The paint is in excellent shape with only a few typical light scratches in the clear and a few minor stone chips. The body is in the same shape with only a few errant door dings that any 26-year-old vehicle is bound to accumulate.

The simple, yet straight forward cabin is refreshing compared to new vehicles with their dizzying array of screens and buttons. This Hilux has a spacious cabin, with a few surprising power amenities you might not expect from such a capable truck. Power accessories include the mirrors, locks, and even a one-touch driver window. All of the basic powered pieces are functioning as they should, and the climate control system is rather straight forward. Since the weather is heading into that perfect time for window down cruising you have some massive factory rain guards up front and the back glass is powered as well which is a tricky little feature. The interior is generally all stock with the exception of the head unit and steering wheel. The flip-out screen Carrozzeria is clearly dated and has minimal use stateside so you're probably going to want to update that one. The Momo wheel, on the other hand, is a great piece that's both sleek and quite comfortable. The dash is in great shape, lacking any distortion or cracking from sun damage over the years. The carpets, headliner, and door cards have also held up well over time which is always a good sign for how the truck was maintained over its lifetime. The two-tone seats are exceptionally comfortable and have held up fantastically to routine use. Normally we would expect to find some wear along the bolster and seat base from climbing in and out over the years but there's none of that to report with this one. Offering enough bolstering to keep you in place on rough terrain yet still comfortable enough to run all of your weekend errands in comfort. Plus with the ability to fold the rear seats and crank down the back glass you can even fit in that trip to Lowes to knock out your "honey-do list."

The driveline is nearly bulletproof with the 3.0L 1KZ-TE stealing the show. These torquey four-bangers impress everyone with their toughness and reliability. Fresh off an oil and filter service and two fresh batteries, the powerplant lurches to life with a quick twist of the key. With a mere 138K verified miles this diesel is only just getting broken in. The automatic transmission is linked to a selective transfer case, that can be used in 2WD or 4WD depending on driver preference. Acceleration is impressive for an SUV especially with tires this size thanks to the added torque of the diesel. While the V6 ones offered stateside are plenty fine, they don't hold a candle to the 1KZ at the end of the day. The 3.0L 1KZ-TE turbodiesel has been revered over the years for its reliability and massive torque profile. The automatic transmission is a fairly simple unit and is mated to a selective transfer case. This Surf can be driven in 2WD most of the time for the best fuel efficiency, but when you need to get out of a bind the 4WD can be engaged with the press of a button mounted on the range selector. With the Rancho suspension upgrades, the ride is a bit stiffer than what the factory suspension would be but it's nothing you couldn't live with on a day-to-day basis. While this comes as little surprise to anyone used to lifted trucks we always want to cover our bases. The steering is surprisingly light considering the size of the tires and is plenty easy to wheel around the city in. Thanks to a full turbo-back Fujitsubo Giken exhaust it even has that traditional diesel humm that we all know and love. Cutting down on some of that back pressure also helps add a little power and a tick better fuel economy. Mechanically it touched down in great shape needing only a few routine maintenance items like those batteries and an oil change. The only additional item is two new front axles as the boots had split on the current ones that way you won't have to worry about those anytime soon. A timeless classic, these Hilux make sense for those who value a real body-on-frame SUV. They are cheap to run, easy to find parts for, and an absolute blast to drive.

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB complaint first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.