I've been interested in history, and of where ideas or objects originate from. Lately, I've been thinking about the history of the 4x4. I've wondered to myself what would have been the "best" year to have been in the marketplace to buy a new truck. Obviously, the first year that pops out is 1985, for obvious reasons. Toyota domination aside, back in the day many domestic and import manufacturers produced some pretty stout and classic trucks. Saying that, IMHO 1972 would have been the year I would have liked to shop for a new 4x4. First and foremost, Toyota had the classic FJ40, but if you needed some extra room you could have opted for the Iron Pig itself, the FJ 55. GM and Chevrolet were offering the last year of the original Jimmy and Blazer respectively (as well as the K10/K20 truck models). I've always enjoyed seeing a 67-72 GM/Chev, they are without a doubt classic in design. Next 1972 also had the original Ford Bronco. While I'm not a Ford fan, I can't argue against the fact that the early Bronco is tough, quite sought after, and commands a loyal following. 1972 also had the first full year production of the International Harvester Scout II. I don't know a ton about old Scout's, but from the few I've seen they do have that classic look and ruggedness. IIRC I read an article that suggested, from the factory, Scout's were one of the more equipped 4x4's. Next, the Land Rover Series 3. These are extremely cool trucks (though rare) and I shutter even time I see a new LR driving down the street. 72 also had the CJ5 from J**P. I dislike J**P, Crysler, Crysler-Dodge, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, but CJ5 seems to be a pretty well-wheeled truck that has withstood the test of time. Well, that would have been the year I've would have wanted to be in the market for a 4x4. In my dreams money is no object so, of course, I would have boughten one of each Runner up year would have been 1984. Toyota had the newly designed pickup truck and! 4runner, in addition to the BJ 40 and BJ 60. With those options I wouldn't have looked anywhere else! Anyone else have a year that they are more particular to?

 

primus sucks

 

That's tough because there are so many wheelers out there that I would love to have, but the garage ain't big enough and the pockets arn't deep enough...

I'm not up on all my years but here is a list of my dream garage

1) 1985 Toyota 4runner
2) 1982 Toyota 4x4 Mini Truck
3) 1969 Jeep CJ5 (Kaiser and this one I have)
4) Nissan Patrol
5) M38A1
6) CJ3B and 3A
7) Early Ford Bronco
8) Mercedes Unimog
9) H1 Hummer Slant Back
10) The Ford made Jeep
11) Old Dodge Power Wagon
12) FJ40 (a few of them)
13) FJ45 (i think that's the truck version)

My CJ. (I'm an equal opportunity offender in brand loyalty)

 

1954-I'd like to get an FJ
Late 60's-International scout
Early 70's-FJ 40
1983-Toyota pickup
1985-EFI 4Runner

Primus sucks

 

thaat thing is CLEAN. all i have to say is... damn.

 

i'm paticulary fond of the 79-83 Toyota 4x4 body style .. I have owned a few , and always seem to go back . in paticular , a Toyota Trekker , which has the most "history" of all . Specific facts are not known anymore , as most of the information has been lost . from what I know (management at a dealer back then) The Trekker #'s were 1500 ? , 700 were allocated to the USA - 500 to Canada , and 300 overseas (various countries) but these # are VERY sketchy . also years are sketchy , 81-83 were the years known .

what is a Trekker you ask ? a proto type 4Runner , affectionatly refured to as the B4Runner (ocdropzone credit ) built buy winnabego . They were built to "test" the market for a "small" suv in North America .

Winnabego recieved the trucks , in no paticular serial # order , and proceeded to modify . The back of the cab's were cut out , making for a passthrew . a complete rear fiberglass back half was added , with a rear hatch and seating for rear passengers and a rear "roll bar" are just a few of the queues to the actual /84 production 4Runner .

 

Slacker, nice pick. The Trekker is a really unique Toyota to be sure. Be interesting to see what the official records at Toyota HQ have to say about it.

Primus Sucks

 

I don't think it was so much a "prototype" as it was a way around import duties at the time. It was imported as a truck, then turned into a "car" to get around the tariffs. Most 1st gen 4Runners were imported without the back seat for the same reason.

While the '72 argument is persuasive, I would put up that now is the best time. You can get a Rubicon or H3 with front/rear lockers, the FJCruiser with a rear locker and a front LSD. Several other models are available with a rear locker. All will easily handle 33" tires stock (which is more than could be said in '72). All will have fuel injection and not stall out at angles.

 

53-54 power wagon
55-57 chevy trucks/panels
55-57 ford trucks/panels
79 up toy trucks/4runner
mid 70's to mid 80's land rovers
willy's any years/Kaiser's

 

land rover defenders and any military the itis, pingauzer gets me going

 

1940 Bantam BRC. look it up Butler, Pa. The original and my home town!

 

they were a proto type NO question !
in the case of imports to get around terriffs , are not then exported ... and actually the import laws wern't addressed untill /84 .. as you said the runners were imported into your country with the seat deleates , and this is also when most of your trucks also were imported as "cab and chassis" and California (fleet side) beds were added at the port . these ONLY in the USA .


some other attemps at the 4 runner were Toyota Trailblazers ~300 converted by Griffith ind. pass threw , with the original steel bed and fiberglass top and also wolverine .. dont know who converted those , and the have even smaller #'s not much known about the wolverines but I personallyu have seen a new one of each of these , back in the day .

 

I hate to say it but 1st gen Broncos were cool. I also have a thing for late 80,s Blazers. Still the fj40,s were the nicest looking trucks ever.

 

I would put up that now is the best time. You can get a Rubicon or H3 with front/rear lockers, the FJCruiser with a rear locker and a front LSD. Several other models are available with a rear locker. All will easily handle 33" tires stock (which is more than could be said in '72). All will have fuel injection and not stall out at angles.[/QUOTE]

The idea that now, current day, is the best time for 4x4's is really debatable. I'm not sure about that Some do come with lockers, etc, and will handle 33 " tires, as pointed out, but I just don't see how anything produced today can compare with a classic bronco, blazer, FJ/BJ, Toyota Pickup/4Runner CJ , or Land Rover Series. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but the longevity and substance of the old school 4x4's, particularly Toyota's, inevitably skews my attitudes towards new trucks.

 

Here's the dream:

 

I will admit that the vehicles today do not have the character or soul of those earlier rigs, but locked front/rear will go farther than open/open ANY day.

Also, what we call "soul" or "character" today people called "maintenance PITA" back in the day. I mean, seriously, who wants to replace points or jets these days?

 

Ditto on these are the times to get good 4x4 rigs, but I still have a thing for early 40's ,50's power wagons.