Every kid who sat through Back to the Future left the theater wanting one of two vehicles, and obviously, only one of them didn’t require plutonium. The black Toyota Turbo 4×4 that Marty McFly lusted after turned an honest compact work truck into a bona fide poster vehicle, and like everything retro and vintage, they have started climbing quite a bit in price. Which brings us to today’s find, a refurbished 1986 Toyota Pickup Turbo 4×4 currently selling on Bring a Trailer.
The Two-Year Turbo Experiment
Toyota built the turbocharged 22R-TE for just two model years, 1986 and 1987, and it was built specifically as a stopgap answer to the V6 Nissan was cramming into its own Hardbody.
The force-fed 2.4-liter four churned out 135 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, and while those sound like pretty modest numbers by today’s standard, they were a proper bump over the standard 22R-E’s 105 ponies. Once Toyota’s own V6 arrived for 1988, the turbo died, and ended up leaving behind one of the rarest configurations in the brand’s truck history.
Rebuilt, Wrapped, and Riding High
This particular truck was completely refurbished under the previous owner, and included a rebuild of that precious 22R-TE with fresh internals and a Comp Cams camshaft. Power still routes through that beloved five-speed manual, dual-range transfer case, and manually locking front hubs.
That sinister black color the pickup is sporting is actually a vinyl wrap laid over red paint, and it’s been dressed up with yellow, orange, and red bedside graphics (a love letter to Toyota’s classic tri-stripe livery). A Superlift suspension with Bilstein shocks props the whole thing up on 15-inch Cragar steelies wrapped in 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrains.
Plaid to the Bone
The cabin might be the best part of the entire truck. Tan vinyl and gray plaid cover the bench seat and door panels, sitting alongside air conditioning, a sunroof, and an Alpine stereo.
And even the column-mounted turbo gauge pod survived the restoration.
Spec Sheet
Model: Toyota Pickup Turbo 4×4
Model Year: 1986
Engine: Rebuilt turbocharged 2.4-liter 22R-TE inline-four
Power (Factory Rating): 135 HP and 173 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Drivetrain: 4×4 with dual-range transfer case and manual locking hubs
Suspension: Superlift lift kit with Bilstein shocks
Wheels & Tires: 15″ Cragar steel wheels, 33″ BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/As
Odometer: ~4,900 miles since refurbishment (total mileage unknown)
Pricing & Availability
The 1986 Toyota Pickup Turbo 4×4 is being offered at no reserve on Bring a Trailer, with bidding set to close on October 15. One caveat worth noting, the odometer shows roughly 4,900 miles since the refurbishment, but total mileage is unknown and the history report flags an inconsistency. Head over to Bring a Trailer to throw your hat in the ring.
Recap
1986 Toyota Pickup Turbo 4×4
A refurbished example of Toyota’s two-year-only turbocharged 4×4 pickup, rebuilt, lifted on 33s, and dressed in retro stripes and plaid, is selling at no reserve on Bring a Trailer through October 15.
