ARCHIVE 1976 Toyota HILUX SR5 Reference Resource Technical Overview Video ( USA-Spec. )

[ToyotaMatt]

.


1976 Toyota HILUX SR5 Reference Resource Technical Overview Video ( USA-Spec. )​

- Super Kool Technical Video & Parts close-up's

- The Author gets a bit too old , too fast but if you focus on the content and not him this is super good Tech.

.
.

.


​

 

[ToyotaMatt]

 

[ToyotaMatt]

 

[ToyotaMatt]

hi mr. @pappy ,

what exactly is a Toyota Idea Truck in 1976 / 1977 ?


.

.

 

[pappy]

hi mr. @pappy ,

what exactly is a Toyota Idea Truck in 1976 / 1977 ?

I've never hear of that before. Maybe @cruiserdan has an idea.

 

[cruiserdan]

I've never hear of that before. Maybe @cruiserdan has an idea.

Basically showing what an aftermarket outfitter could do with one. The 4WD one in the background looks like a Wolverine conversion. That company was in Salt Lake City on 33rd South, between Main and State Street. They started converting them around 1975. I delivered parts to that shop when I worked for Apache Auto Parts in 1976.

That is a 1978 brochure. 1978 was the only year for the RN2x with the larger black cab side vents.

EDIT, 4/17/25: Could be 1977 or 1978. The large vents actually started with the 1977 model year.

 

[cruiserdan]

Google-fu:

 

[Disturbio]

hi mr. @pappy ,

what exactly is a Toyota Idea Truck in 1976 / 1977 ?


.




View attachment 3736895


.

View attachment 3736896

It's the Hilux that Toyota California sales and service AND cal poly made to race. There was 3, a 1973, 76 and 77 that got raced off road. This is where the 4x4 was born for the pickups. They didn't want wolverine or whatever the other 3rd party was to get that business. Toyota corporate got with cal poly who was already running a 73 and essentially gave them corporate sponsorship. There is an awesome article on desert racerz forum but of course I can find it right now you'll have to settle for all the pics I had saved.
I never have figured out what happened to the actual un-raced 77. I've seen the ad where it got painted brown with gold accents and 15inch sabres. That same truck was owned by a Toyota dealership in so cal and was in display at the Pomona car show in the 90s. Not sure what became of it since but I bet Toyota would want it back.

 

[Disturbio]

It's the Hilux that Toyota California sales and service AND cal poly made to race. There was 3, a 1973, 76 and 77 that got raced off road. This is where the 4x4 was born for the pickups. They didn't want wolverine or whatever the other 3rd party was to get that business. Toyota corporate got with cal poly who was already running a 73 and essentially gave them corporate sponsorship. There is an awesome article on desert racerz forum but of course I can find it right now you'll have to settle for all the pics I had saved.
I never have figured out what happened to the actual un-raced 77. I've seen the ad where it got painted brown with gold accents and 15inch sabres. That same truck was owned by a Toyota dealership in so cal and was in display at the Pomona car show in the 90s. Not sure what became of it since but I bet Toyota would want it back.

View attachment 3886230

View attachment 3886231

View attachment 3886232

View attachment 3886234

 

[Disturbio]

Basically showing what an aftermarket outfitter could do with one. The 4WD one in the background looks like a Wolverine conversion. That company was in Salt Lake City on 33rd South, between Main and State Street. They started converting them around 1975. I delivered parts to that shop when I worked for Apache Auto Parts in 1976.

That is a 1978 brochure. 1978 was the only year for the RN2x with the larger black cab side vents.

It's not a wolverine that's all Toyota baby

 

[Disturbio]

It's not a wolverine that's all Toyota baby. 1976 77 and 78 have the bigger vents. If you look close at the first idea truck (1973) pic. The cab is 3-4 inches shorter. So 72.5-75 have the little silver vent. Owning both, the cab stretch is welcome.

 

[cruiserdan]

It's not a wolverine that's all Toyota baby

Incorrect. Toyota did not build any 2x series trucks in 4WD.

Regarding the cab vents. I pulled out my old microfilm. The large vents actually changed in 1977.

 

[pappy]

Incorrect. Toyota did not build any 2x series trucks in 4WD.

Regarding the cab vents. I pulled out my old microfilm. The large vents actually changed in 1977.

Ya know Dan, I remember when you still used microfilm at AmToy. Dang that was long time ago.

 

[cruiserdan]

Ya know Dan, I remember when you still used microfilm at AmToy. Dang that was long time ago.

Guess where that catalog came from...

We switched to electronic in around 1996 or so. Bell & Howell was the first vendor for those "books".

 

[pappy]

Guess where that catalog came from...

We switched to electronic in around 1996 or so. Bell & Howell was the first vendor for those "books".

I moved to NM in 1995, so that sounds right.

 

[Disturbio]

Incorrect. Toyota did not build any 2x series trucks in 4WD.

Regarding the cab vents. I pulled out my old microfilm. The large vents actually changed in 1977.View attachment 3886374

No Toyota built the idea truck.... At least two of the 3 right at Toyota. Yes an early rn20s and 2 76s I know wolverine did conversions. I have one. I'm not saying your wrong there but this is the idea truck. Not associated in anyway with wolverines. That's what every picture from the off-road magazine article is about... In off road magazine. The pictures of the Toyota corporate guys at Toyota didn't convince you? Plus they raced her so plenty of record on that.

Here is the link to the article that confirms Toyota built it. Toyota's First Factory Race Truck? - https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/threads/toyotas-first-factory-race-truck.129196/

If you look in the comments one of the guys in the picture of the idea truck in Toyota is the head of service for Toyota California.

Also one of the cal poly guys in the pits posted more pictures. He ended up being a Datsun racer and won at mint and a couple other notable races.



Side note for future scrollers...A 72.5 to 74 side vent is smaller. 75-78 have the same vent to accommodate cab stretch. There is no change to 77 specific. Rn10s and stouts are a different story.

For future interwebs searchers looking, go by the photos and visual differences if you have to buy the vent covers, beds, cabs, engines, gas tanks etc. The difference in the US hiluxes are highlighted on our importarchives.com page and the US stout and Hilux group on Facebook if anyone is interested in the nitty gritty. Also a ton of wolverine conversion info and builds. Anything toyopet stout to 1978 we got covered.


Cheers

 

[Disturbio]

No Toyota built the idea truck.... At least two of two of the 3 right at Toyota. Yes a rn20s and rn23. I know wolverine did conversions. I have one. I'm not saying your wrong there but this is the idea truck. Not associated in anyway with wolverines. That's what every picture from the off-road magazine article is about... I'm off road magazine. Plus they raced her so plenty of record on that.

Here is the link to the article that confirms Toyota built it. Toyota's First Factory Race Truck? - https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/threads/toyotas-first-factory-race-truck.129196/

If you look in the comments one of the guys in the picture of the idea truck in Toyota is the head of service for Toyota California.

Also one of the cal poly guys in the pits posted more pictures. He ended up being a Datsun racer and won at mint and a couple other notable races.



Side note for future scrollers...A 72.5 to 74 side vent is smaller. 75-78 have the same vent to accommodate cab stretch. There is no change to 77 specific. Rn10s and stouts are a different story.

For future interwebs searchers looking, go by the photos and visual differences if you have to buy the vent covers, beds, cabs, engines, gas tanks etc. The difference in the US hiluxes are highlighted on our importarchives.com page and the US stout and Hilux group on Facebook if anyone is interested in the nitty gritty. Also a ton of wolverine conversion info and builds. Anything toyopet stout to 1978 we got covered.


Cheers

View attachment 3886578

View attachment 3886580

See the 2nd gen Hilux was smaller. They got a shiny small vent. 75-78 got the same style as the 79+ just slightly different shape

 

[Disturbio]

This is the other company I couldn't think of the wolverine competitor. I've never seen one of these conversions. Pretty sweet looking though