1979. 20r with 96,000 well documented original miles. 4-speed. Original paint. Surface rust on the bed, but otherwise solid throughout.

It was 9pm when I spoke with the seller. From Hayward, California to Oroville, California it's a 3 to 3.5 hr drive. Seller said someone was coming to take a look in the morning. I left at 10pm. It was a Saturday night and the sellers were willing to wait if I was serious.

$1800 was their asking price. Talked them down to $1650 if I drove up that night and liked what I saw. Talked my sister and my brother-in-law into driving me up, selling them on the idea that there was a Casino near the seller's house. Slot Machine junkies.

Got there around 1:00am. Loved the truck. Bought the truck. Drove 55mph all the way back home by myself listening to some station on the factory AM-only radio, sleepy, but so at peace and so happy.

The drive from Oroville to Sacramento, California is as rural as it gets and driving in the wee hours of the morning with only the faint glow of lights coming from the dash and barely any other cars on the road with me, I could have easily been driving back in the late 70's. What a strange but wonderful feeling.

I've owned a lot of different second-hand cars; BMW E30 M3, 190E Benz, 58' Chevy Stepside w/ the Camaro front clip, bagged, with a 383 Stroker under the hood. But for some odd reason after just a few miles driving the little truck I was more confident in her than I ever was driving home for the first time in any of my past vehicles.

Got home around 7am. When I inspected the truck at the seller's place there were no leaks whatsoever. Now at home and daylight available I found the transmission leaking at the tail where it joins the driveshaft. It also had a torn and leaking rubber boot at the "L" of the stick shift linkage. Each seal cost me less than $20 at the dealer. Replaced both by myself within an hour and a half!

No more leaks. Shifts snugly into gear, now. I'm not sure if the parts being replaced made a difference or if it's all in my head, but just as long as she isn't weeping tranny oil - I'm happy.

What an amazing little truck. A breeze to work on. A breath of fresh air to drive.

 

amazing! glad to hear about what you have gotten! beautiful pickup

 

Sweet! Nice find!

Welcome to the board!!

 

movie should be made out of your story... filled with romance comedy and action... great to hear about your buy and hope you have luck with your truck

 

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I had a chance to buy an 80' SR5 with only 134k and close to perfect original paint just two days before I found the Oroville truck. But I called the seller minutes too late. THAT truck was only a thirty minute drive from my house.
$1650 obo was a steal in my opinion.

Then after two days of depression, I found MY truck.

I've only seen one other pre-80's Toyota pickup cruising around in my neck of the woods, while 83' to 87' Toyota pickups are easier to find they're usually abused in every sense of the word. Either that or somebody else's personalized project cut short for one reason or another. Not very many unmolested versions. Even less Toyota lovers willing to share and exchange knowledge.

So to find this site and other people who love their Yotas just as much as I do is just as much of a "find" as my new/old Toy.

Thanks, guys and gals, for all your responses and for all your help.l

 

Man thats a awsome story! I wish i could find older toyota's here that arnt rotten! If you need any help with any mods for the truck this is the place!

 

lol like the one i found but not bought right?

 

. . . I feel what your saying man, nothing like jumping in behind the wheel in something that has seen the changing of time and held onto its place in the world. Me myself Im blessed with 2 of these - 1 my baby my 1987 toyota and then my hidden treasure picked up for $275 in running condition & very minimum rust. Welcome to Toyotaminis man, hope to hear more stories and see the progress of your ride as you detail it up, feel free to jump right into the forums, as you have already, and help us share these tresures with everyone. . .

 

Yeah mang, nice find. I agree with you as well regarding the feeling you get when riding in these little trucks. I'm 40 yrs old and I've had many cars in my day but this little truck I found is just cool!

I'll post before and after pics real soon as it has a little damage that my friend at a body shop intends to fix but she drives so smooth, idles perfect and drives straight. And at 23 years old it really is amazing how nice they are. But that feeling you get when riding around in these little trucks is a good thing, I agree with you.

 

That is such a COOL story!!! It made me feel like I was there. It's amazing how you can be at one with a vehicle in a time like that.

I have a similar story about one I bought about 9 years ago. I had owned 2 previous Toyota 4x4's and was looking for my 3rd. I found one that was about 1 & 1/2 hours away. I talked a buddy into going for a ride. Well being in Winnipeg in the middle of winter means snow storms and we were having one that day. We made it about 5 miles and were actually getting blown off the highway, (that was covered by glare ice) by the strong wind. My buddy looked at me and said "doesn't look like we are going to get there today" and turned around. I was upset because I didn't think the truck would be there by the time I got off work the next day.

Well the next day came and out on the highway we took off again. Finally found the place down a whole bunch of farm roads and took a look at this truck. The box was a little rusted but that was expected being it was a 82 and at that time being about 16-17 years old. All in all it wasn't too bad though. I took it for a ride down the gravel road trying to find the pedals underneath all the hay on the floor. This was a true "farm truck". Anyway after locking the hubs and driving over a cow **** pile to check out how well the 4wd worked, I started dealing.

He wanted $1500 for it and after picking out a few flaws like the fact it needed a battery(had to boost it), and that the rad leaked, I managed to drive away with only losing $800 out of my wallet for this gem. I drove that truck home with an ear to ear grin all the way. I ended up driving that truck for over 5 years and only put a clutch and brake pads on it. I drove the piss out of that truck at times and it just kept on going. I sold it after to a guy I worked with for $600 and about 2 months later regretted getting rid of it. It was one of the best Toys I have ever owned even though it was a "beater" truck.

I know that feeling that you felt well my friend! Welcome to the site!!!

 

Enjoying this site just as much as my truck!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

I think we all have an interesting story in how we found ourselves into these trucks. I'd love to read them all.

My grandfather owned either a 76' or 77'. It was yellow. It was 1980 and I was only 9. I still remember how he woke up early in the morning and would let his yellow baby warm up in the dark before driving off to work. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I leave for work at 4AM.....and now find myself warming up my truck while I have my first cup of coffee in the dark. I kid you not when I say I can't wait for my day to start because of this truck.

I'm 37 years old. Repeating my grandfather's footsteps was not a plan. Just one of those pleasant little circumstances life sometimes guides us to.

Just like this site. I found it AFTER I bought the truck.

Sincerely grateful to have it to turn to and all of you in it.

 

you guys and your stories make me fuzzly all inside

eh, i had similar experiences.

I have always loved this 94xcab. was taken to school in it. dad prewarmed it too. I remember my two oldest halfsisters picking me up from school in it. Just the lil red pickup i have always loved. before the rear bumper's death i'd always jump on it and bounce the heck out of the rear suspension. i was probably 100lbs back before i decided to work my truck. now the family is going through divorce, it got officially announced by the court. I'm driving this thing to school myself now. instead of being taken to and from school in this pickup, i'm on my own now. I remember sitting shotgun, always asking why that lifted pickup in front of us had 4WD on the mudflaps. that truck was a toyota too. idk what happened to that 4WD truck, i loved seeing that thing int eh morning too. probably 8 years ago. Well now everything i do on my truck is my own journey. also about the mudflaps! i removed mine lol. my truck back then had a rusted out muffler.... i cant remember that exhaust tone it had. i just know it's current exhaust tone right now. real low, soft, not much, but very restrictive. it was perfect for my parents. mom took it to work. it's got about 151,xx miles now. it's my turn to work the odometer. i dont think there'd be a day i would want to part this truck. well, my parents drove this truck pretty softly. always changed the oil, and i remember being there as i did the oil changes too. my chest level would be around the grille, it was hard to look into engine bay without climbing onto the bumper.


my truck's history has about 4 minor collisions. no, none of them were me lol. original motor and chassis.







anyways, enough of my thread jacking, i just felt like adding my fuzzy story hahaha.

 

. . . totally with you man, I feel exactly the same way when I get the chance to start my pride and joy every morning and sit behind the wheel ( Lots more to come & much more to add ) . . .