The New Normal? 1994 Toyota Pickup SR5 V6 – Sold?

September 20, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

You must have been living under the proverbial rock if you haven’t noticed that vintage Toyota pickup trucks (and vintage Toyotas in general) have been hot for quite some time. While some so-called collector vehicles have begun to cool along with the economy as of late, a Toyota pickup in near-mint condition with low miles will survive just fine. It’s a blue chip investment, so sellers of trucks like this clean 1994 pickup with the SR5 trim, a V6, four-wheel-drive, and a stick originally listed in August 2022 on Craigslist feel in Colorado are comfortable asking $31,000 for the privilege of ownership. According to the Classic.com model guide for a truck like this, the average selling price is around $15,000, so there’s a “market adjustment” being applied for the options and clean cosmetics:

One of the primary drivers of value for a vintage Toyota pickup is near faultless reliability. I recently picked up a 1997 Lexus LX450, which is a Land Cruiser in fancier duds, with 250,000 miles on the clock. I am blown away by how well this truck drives, especially considering I wouldn’t touch a BMW SUV with similar miles with a ten-foot pole. While I don’t love that sellers are asking insane prices for their trucks, I also can’t say I blame them given the reputation for a 90s Toyota pickup is well-deserved. Throw in the fact that any pickup purchase these days rings in around $50,000 with huge depreciation, and the Toyota actually starts to look pretty smart. The Tacoma will follow in the footsteps of trucks like these, and for a fast-appreciating classic that is fun to drive in its own right and provides plenty of utility that a Miata can’t possibly match, well – $30,000 doesn’t seem so crazy after all.

The ClassicSports YouTube Channel provides this vintage 1994 U.S. Toyota Truck commercial:

The seller’s truck checks all the boxes for anyone seeking an early 90s Toyota pickup. With a clean, rot-free body, a frame that looks clean enough to eat off of; four-wheel drive; the SR5 package; a V6; and a stick-shift, you can’t option it much better than this. The only thing that would make it even better is a different paint code, such as the dark red or navy blue that many of these trucks wore. The seller’s truck is sadly too nice to really use as intended, and I suspect the asking price reflects this. If it’s just going to be used as a showpiece, then $30,000 for one of the best ones you can find right now seems fitting. The chrome bumpers are in terrific shape, and the original teal decals show no signs of fading. The interior is gorgeous – as gorgeous as gray cloth seats and door panels can look – but it really does look like new, which you rarely find in an older truck with some miles on it. With 85,000 miles on the clock, it’s clear this Toyota has been loved, and I’m sure the seller will at least get close to his asking price.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1994 Toyota Pickup SR5 V6. 4×4 Manual 5 Speed.

With absolutely every option that was available for that year.

Sunroof, Bed-liner, Power Windows, Mirrors and Antenna, AM/FM/CD/Cassette. Chrome everything.

It even has the god-awful optional Toyota side steps. The paint is original and untouched. No rust of any kind. No signs of any accidents. .”

Toyota truck domination: will pristine pickups like these always be at the top of the playing field?