Difference between US vs Japan built gen 5 pickup

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

DeltaT

DeltaT

10 Year
Joined
Jan 5, 2012
Threads
27
Messages
463
Location
Marlbank, ON
Hey guys,

I have a couple of Toys, but no pickup truck yet.

I have been looking for a third generation N30 series (here in Canada) but so far no luck.
Then I came across this mint gen 5:

gen5.jpeg


I have been eyeballing this 1991 low mileage single cab long bed for some time now, hoping that the owner is willing to drop his price ($13.5k ouch)

While doing some research I know that some '91's are NUMMI made and others are Japan made. As you probably know, you can identify this by looking at the VIN number (4T for US, JT for Japanese).

Question: Are there any other differences between them? Visual/technical but also as far as reliability goes?
 
#1: Nice looking truck, but that price is insane. That's close to what it was new.

#2: I'd never buy a regular cab truck. Not enough room.
 
Yeah, it is a lot of money, but I wasn't planning on paying that. ;)

The overall condition is close to new to as fas as I can tell. Only 13000 miles since new.

I tried to contact the owner but he doesn't get back to me.

As far as my question. Anybody?

Some more pics. What's up with those blue bolts anyway?

underneath.jpeg


Interior looks mint:

int.jpeg
 
I have a a 94 regular cab short bed assembled in nummi. It seems to be holding up fine. I do believe motors and trannies and major components were built in japan and merely assembled in the USA. If I am wrong then I can say my American Built truck was well built, otherwise, it was well assembled.
 
The drive train is all Jap no matter where final assembly occurred. Australian Hiluxes have been made in Thailand for Yonks and they hold up well. US Camrys are probably the best made cars ever and they are made in the US. I reckon it's irrelevant where they are made these days as they still have to meet Toyota quality control before they leave.

Those blue bolts say 'owner with too much time on his hands'. Just better hope he put it back together correctly as he obviously took everything apart to squirt paint on it. I'd be more concerned about that than where it was assembled.
 
The owner finally got back to me. The vin starts with JT, so it is a Japanese built truck.

Still haven't seen the truck in person. They crazy asking price is holding me off. Although I have restored a couple of vehicles and if you look how much money I spent on that it puts the price in perspective.
It is also a bit of a drive to get there. If I go and look, I want to be in a (financial) position to negotiate an pull the trigger. I am sure there aren't many takers with an asking price like that although the owner says he's getting lots of interest.
I don't know, it only has 13k miles. It seems mint. It might be a true survivor. Those silly blue bolts does have me wondering. What else did he do and why would you do this in the first place.
And I am not a fan of all that chrome and the roll bar needs to go too.
 
Ask him why it has an aftermarket (non-OEM) exhaust on it.

Honestly, I'd rather have a truck with more miles. Sounds like it hasn't been driven in quite awhile, which means that every seal will leak and all the brake components will need to be replaced.

I would figure out what the maximum amount you are are willing to pay, stick that in your pocket as a wad of cash. Wave it in front of his face, he may take it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom