On October 31st 2007, Toyota Motor Sales celebrated exactly 50 years in the U.S. Since 1957, Toyota has grown from a small importer of economy vehicles to what will most likely become the largest auto manufacturer in the world. In short, Toyota is a success story. Being that Toyota trucks are so popular, I thought it might be a good time to briefly review the history of Toyota trucks in the U.S.
The first Toyota truck brought to the US was the 1963 Toyota LandCruiser truck. Available in small numbers for only four years in the U.S. market (1963-67), these are highly sought-after collector's items. In addition to being imported to the US, these vehicles were produced by Toyota internationally for many years after 1967 and can be found overseas.
Following the LandCruiser truck, Toyota imported the "Stout". Available in 1964, this was the obvious predecessor of the Toyota HiLux. The Stout, like the HiLux that followed, was only available in one configuration - a reg. cab and a 4-cylinder engine. The Stout's last year was 1968, after which the Toyota Hilux Pickup truck officially replaced the Stout.
The HiLux was the first Toyota truck to reach measurable sales and commercial success. The "HiLux" name, as groovy as it is, was dropped from Toyota trucks in 1975. From that point forward, the small Toyota truck was simply known as the "Toyota Pickup". The HiLux/Toyota Pickup developed rather quickly. In 1975, the SR5 package was first made available. In 1979, Toyota first began offering a four-wheel-drive model. In 1983, Toyota offered an "Xtra Cab" Toyota Pickup that was extremely popular. Toyota trucks began to come in their own in the 80's, reaching top cultural status as evidenced by their various pop-culture references (who could forget the Toyota truck from Back To The Future?).
In 1993, Toyota introduced their first attempt at a true full-size pickup, called the T100. Many people disliked the T100 -- it was supremely lacking in terms of power for a full-sized truck -- a V8 engine was not available. The truck did have some fine points, however, and there are some very loyal T100 owners who argue the T100 was one of best trucks Toyota ever made. Regardless, the T100 was a sales flop.
The "Toyota Pickup" finally got a proper name in 1995. Officially branded the Tacoma, the "Taco" is revered by off-road enthusiasts everywhere. In fact, the Tacoma is easily Toyota's largest commercial success in the U.S. truck market. The 1995 Tacoma offered an excellent combination of performance, power, and off-road ability, while still being a very inexpensive vehicle in it's basic form.
Toyota made another attempt at a making a full-size truck in 1999, releasing the new 2000 Tundra a year early. The new full-size Tundra featured a reasonably powerful 4.7L V8, a larger frame, bigger interior, and greater hauling and towing capabilities than the truck it replaced (the T100). When the Tundra debuted it was a decent seller and a critical hit. The new Tundra was named Motor Trend's "Truck of The Year" in 1999, and sales topped 126k units in 2004.
In 2004, Toyota released a completely redesigned Tacoma. This new larger Tacoma rivaled the full-size Tundra in terms of size and power, while still honoring Toyota's compact pickup roots in terms of economy and off-road performance. The new Tacoma, while more expensive, has been nothing short of a complete success, becoming the best-selling compact truck on the market.
Finally, in 2007, Toyota released the 2nd generation Tundra. This truck silenced all the critics that said Toyota's full-size trucks were really only 7/8th size, as well as offering the most powerful engine in the marketplace. The new Tundra has been extremely popular, setting sales records for Toyota in the full-size market. A lot of the new Tundra's success is because of it's class-leading 10,800 lb tow rating, made possible by the powerful 5.7L V8 and 6 speed automatic transmission.
What will Toyota come up with over the next 50 years? The future could bring a hybrid truck, the first diesel offered by Toyota in the US, there is even talk of selling a small, simple, and inexpensive truck as a Scion. Whatever happens, it's definitely going to be exciting!
Author Jason Lancaster has been working in the car industry and with the Toyota Tundra for the better part of a decade. Find more Tundra Reviews at his website, www.tundraheadquarters.com.
