1990 Toyota Hilux

y a suspension lift, a factory front skid plate, and freshly powdercoated 16′′ Enkei Decem10 alloys, this Hilux has the tough guy aesthetic to match. Save for a few small paint chips and dings, the cosmetics are nothing to scoff at, and this rig would still have an impressive presence on off-road trails, or in the parking lot of your local Cars & Coffee. With a bulletproof powerplant, and a chassis likely to last through the apocalypse, this Japanese Classic Hilux is a rock solid investment! Toyota appeared to utilize the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” ethos when sculpting the Hilux’s cockpit. The seats are trimmed in a durable grey tweed, and complementary grey vinyl lines the interior. The materials are in above-average shape for being 35 years young, including the low-lying dash which has fortunately resisted any major cracks, peeling, or other miscellaneous UV damage over the years. The center stack houses a fully functional climate control unit, with cold A/C and hot heat on tap, and upgraded JVC Bluetooth audio. Toyota diehards will surely love the rare factory field monitor positioned atop the glovebox, and the parameters still display accurately for anyone looking to immediately traverse this one off the beaten path. The driver benefits from an upgraded MOMO woodgrain steering wheel which feels comfortable in the palm. For such a barebones cabin, drivers will appreciate the inclusion of power locks and mirrors to make daily use more enjoyable, and tried and true crank windows are at all four corners for any buyers yearning for a bit of early 90’s nostalgia. This double cab has no issues seating three additional passengers in the rear, and a rear access window niftily slides open if more natural ventilation is required. The headliner and carpets are in good nick, and we’ve even included some stylish Imperial floormats to preserve the interior. Save for some miniscule bolster wear, there isn’t much to nitpick with this cabin, and we think it should suit the next owner’s needs quite nicely. While the exterior and interior certainly do a swell job of increasing this truck’s curb appeal, any self respecting Toyota enthusiast knows it’s what’s under the bonnet that counts. In this LN106’s case, power is delivered via a naturally-aspirated “3L” diesel inline four. This one cranks over with quickness, and a bit of additional maintenance was performed while she was up on our lift as well. A three-decade old vehicle certainly needs its fair share of refreshing, but luckily this one only needed the basics. A fresh oil and filter service was performed, and we installed a new voltage regulator on the alternator to keep the batteries properly charged. New serpentine belts were installed, and this happy little diesel has no issues chugging along to highway speeds. While you won’t be winning any races with this powerplant, plenty of torque is on standby for the trails and a slick shifting 5 speed manual gearbox helps put power down to all four wheels with ease. A solid front axle is the stuff dreams are made of and with 4 Low engaged and the hubs locked, not much stands in this Hilux’s way. We’ve even freshly rebuilt the front hubs with new bearings and seals for a bit of preventative maintenance. The 2′′ lift provides the ground clearance needed to traverse any rocky terrain, and the ride is firm yet compliant. To bridge the gap between pedal and pavement, our last order of business was installing fresh Falken all terrain rubber on all four corners. Not only do they look mean, they greatly reduce any unwanted road noise and should deliver plenty of grip for tens of thousands of miles to come!