Stock #6692
Exterior Overview
Toyota’s 3rd generation 4Runner was a smashing success. It was also an enduring chassis, experiencing a lengthy seven-year production run with minimal changes. In Japan, the most desirable engine option was withheld from our lowly American market, and our 1998 Hilux Surf boasts an intercooled turbodiesel engine under the bonnet. It’s also remained in great condition over the past 27 years, and is finished in its original Desert Dune Metallic (1A5). Showing only a few minor chips, scrapes, and dings from daily use, this Surf is in good shape overall and touts a factory spare tire arm, rear spoiler, OEM rainguards, and a tasteful set of OEM three-spoke 16″ alloys, and an aggressive front brushguard. Offered with only 111k verified and documented miles, this safe and reliable rig is a solid value for stateside buyers, as these Surfs typically are better optioned and in superior condition compared to our USDM units. Ideal as a safe family hauling daily driver, weekend campsite weapon, or bona fide beach cruiser, this Hilux has tremendous torque, and is one resilient Japanese Classic SUV!
Interior Overview
The cabin design is timeless, truly. A lot can be attributed to this Surf’s abundance of power options, but purists will appreciate this truck’s emphasis on quality, visibility, and overall comfort. This SSR-G has all the bells and whistles, while maintaining functional switchgear, like automatic climate control that keeps the cabin supplied with cold A/C and hot heat. The tan cloth upholstery is durable and in good shape, and besides some steering wheel wear, the front of the cabin hardly looks like it was used for over two decades. The dash is free of major distortion or cracking, and touchscreen Pioneer audio is tucked into the center stack. With Bluetooth functionality, you can jam out from day one and keep your eyes safely on the road. If you prefer to listen to the turbodiesel whistle and roar, all power windows unfurl rapidly, including a power moonroof, and electric rear glass that drops down for a true open air experience. The power locks and electric folding side mirrors work like a charm, and to assist tighter parking scenarios, a convex mirror opens up from the rear spoiler. The rear bench is comfortable, offering a slight recline for road trip snoozing, and the seats can be flipped forward to expand the cargo hold. The optional backlit gauge cluster makes the instrumentation easy to read, and if we were to nitpick anything else, the sun visors show some separation and there are some light carpet stains to note.
Mechanical Overview
Under the hood, the aforementioned 3.0 turbodiesel stands loud and proud, in factory intercooled form! It also sports an OEM cold weather package, where 2 new 12v batteries aid ignition. We performed an oil and filter service on this four-banger, and took care of a new valve cover gasket and half moon seal to ensure your lubricant stays internal. A new engine air filter and fuel filter keep contaminants out of your combustion chamber, and with the maintenance performed, this 1KZ has no issues sailing up to highway speeds. It’s also torquey around town if you choose to race it stoplight to stoplight. Power is sent to a smooth-shifting automatic gearbox, which can send power to two or four wheels. For real off-road expeditions, a center locking differential can engage alongside 4WD low. We replaced the output seal at the front of the transfercase to keep drivetrain woes to a minimum, and this Surf runs like a charm. The factory adjustable suspension soaks up road imperfections with ease, and we’ve done some rehab to the power steering system to keep this Surf trudging along for the next few decades. The pump was rebuilt with new seals, as was the steering rack, where we chucked on new inner and outer tie rods for good measure. We wrapped the refinished wheels in fresh Toyo rubber, and to prolong tire life and aid drivability, a four wheel alignment was performed to make the most out of all our drivetrain reconditioning!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant 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.
