1996 Hilux Surf 3.0TD

lish OEM front bash bar, rare OEM skid plate, an aggressive rear spare tire swingarm, refinished OEM 16′′ wheels, a stylish factory rear spoiler, and OEM rain guards. Aside from a few light imperfections, the body is in good nick, and this rig is fresh off a recent service. Offered with only 107k verified and documented miles on the ticker, this baby is barely broken in. Combining the best of both worlds, old and new, this Hilux would make for a capable year-round daily driver that can also pull double duty at the beach or campsite. Adventurous types, families on the go, and performance enthusiasts alike all seem to love these terrific trucks. Reliable, safe, practical, sporty, and highly collectible, this Japanese Classic does it all! The cabin is simple, spacious, and ergonomic. The driver can find the ideal seating position thanks to a factory seat with optional integrated lumbar support. A tilt-adjustable steering column is also standard equipment. To make daily use more enjoyable, power locks and power mirrors all function in typical Toyota fashion. The dashboard lacks any cracking or fading, and dual SRS airbags are afforded to those riding up front. The center stack is within arm’s reach, and an automatic climate control system is easy to operate. The A/C does a great job of cooling the cabin, and the heat is primed and ready for use for the impending winter that is upon us. If you prefer more natural ventilation, the windows are electric, and even the rear hatch glass powers down to supplement airflow. Below the climate controls is the flip-out OEM TV/radio. The functionality is a bit limited, so we advise slapping in a USDM radio so that you can get some hands-free Bluetooth going. The seats are in above-average condition and lack any major rips, stains, or tears. The rear occupants benefit from 4-way reclining rear seatbacks so that they can relax on longer road trips. The rear seats also split fold and can tumble forward to create a flat loading area to maximize the ability to haul cargo. The door cards are in good nick, as are the headliner and carpets, and aside from some light distortion of the dashboard by the glovebox, it’s hard to complain about the cabin. Even the owner’s manuals and maintenance booklets are included with the purchase of this lovely Hilux. Built atop a body-on-frame platform, this truck can dish it out and take it. Equally resilient is the powerplant, the 1KZ-TE. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.0L churns to life care of two new 12V batteries. To keep the four-banger running smoothly, we replaced the engine air filter and fuel filter. One of our trained techs also refreshed the 1K with a new valve cover gasket, so that the oil level stays full. So that the electronics remain properly powered, new accessory belts were replaced while it was on the lift. Linked to a stout automatic gearbox, the driver can choose between driving in 2WD or 4WD on the fly. For your off-road escapades, a low range and center locker can be engaged to keep momentum trudging forward. If you need to slow down, this Surf has you covered. ABS is standard, and we have replaced the front brake pads and rotors to decrease stopping distances. We then performed a brake fluid flush and replaced the tired old brake soft lines with new ones. The handling is direct and predictable for a truck, and we added in some new front sway bar end links for its state safety inspection. The power steering was completely rehabbed. The steering rack was fully rebuilt, and we flushed the system and replaced the rack bushings while we were in there. The system is easy to articulate, and this rig tracks straight as an arrow. A fresh alignment has been dialed in, and new inner and outer tie rods make future adjustments easy. The factory 16s are wrapped in brand new 31′′ Falken rolling stock. The new rubber looks mean and will provide all the grip necessary for tens of thousands of miles to come. Aside from a non-operational tachometer, it’s hard to nitpick this little truck. Turn key and ready to roll, all this Hilux needs is a new owner!