Easy Way to Find 80's Flavor (1 Viewer)

[corbs]

Is there an easy way to figure out what flavor 80 your looking at? For the most part there were three different "flavor" 80s, correct?

1) 91-92 - w/3FE
2) 93-95 - First FZJs
3) 96-97 - ??? distinction from #2

Are there external cosmetic differences? I'm pretty sure there are internal ones. . . a 91-92 is easy to spot if it's being driven (if it's going really slow, then it's probably got a 3FE ;p ), but what about when it's just parked on the side of the street?

Maybe a stupid question but what the hell?

 

[Darwood]

97's have their T symbol in the center of the rear door instead of to the side.

I think only 93's have white lettering on their rear mudflaps (could be wrong about this, CDan would know).

95-97's have the dash with airbags and the smaller tranny (of course you didn't mention if we were allowed to look underneath or inside to identify the year).

 

[brent]

There is a different grill on the earlier ones, it says toyota instead of the symbol, think '94 was the last year with the letters...........personally I liked the letters better...........other than that I can't think of anything, obviously the 40th I have says 40th on the side and th ecolor might be unique to it alone.......haven't seen anything but a 40th that sage color????

 

[Darwood]

They also made 40ths in Green, but those seem to be rarer.

 

[elmariachi]

obviously the 40th I have says 40th on the side and th ecolor might be unique to it alone.......haven't seen anything but a 40th that sage color????

In addition to the grille, the '91 and 1992 models had a different wheel than 1993 and later years. When the 16x8 wheels hit, so did wider fender flares and integrated running boards. The 1993-'94 bumpers had chrome trim strip, 1995-1997 were solid gray, no chrome. FYI, 40th was available in dark emerald green as well as sage. There is also an albino white one somewhere.....

 

[corbs]

Ok, so:

91-92: Toyota spelled out on grill, 15" wheels,
93-94: Possibly White lettering on rear mud flaps, chrome bumper trim strip, start of integrated running boards, start of 16" wheels
95-97: Solid gray bumper, air bags openings on dash, centered Toyota symbol on rear/cargo door.

That helps. Anything else?

Mahalo!

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

The Toyota is spelled out through 94's grill.....

And I don't know about older than my 94, but the center of the center caps on mine are black, not silver. I think they went to all-silver later

 

[ryanjl]

91-92: Toyota spelled out on grill, 15" wheels, Narrower fender flares

93-94: Toyota spelled on grill. Possibly White lettering on rear mud flaps, chrome bumper trim strip, start of integrated running boards, start of 16" wheels, start of wider fender flares

95-97: "T" symbol on center of grill. Solid gray bumper, air bags openings on dash.



My 95 has the "T" symbol on the left of the upper rear hatch, though, so I'm not sure what year is what on that. The "T" in the center of the grille is a dead giveaway for a 95-97 unless someone has changed it.

Also, I'm not sure I've ever seen a 91 or 92 with tinted windows from the factory, whereas all the others have had the 2nd row passengers on back tinted.

If someone has had a 91 or 92 tinted aftermarket, chances are all the windows, front included, will be done.

 

[NorCalDoug]

I don't think the 91/92 came with rear window tinting (privacy glass). The wheels are different, the fender flares are narrower.

93/94 - toyota on front grill; black centers on wheel "hub" caps.

95/96 has "T" on left side of rear hatch.
97 has the "T" in the center of the rear hatch.

I'm not sure how to differentiate between a 93 vs 94 or a 95 vs. 96.

On the LX 450... the 96 has the "Fulltime 4WD" emblem; the 97 does not.

 

[cruiserdan]

FYI, 40th was available in dark emerald green as well as sage. There is also an albino white one somewhere.....

The white one is a fake.

91-94: same grille, T O Y O T A
91-93: white letters on rear mud flaps (93 wider flap)


Privacy tint introduced in 93, applies only to vehicles with third seat.

 

[Darwood]

So from this info 93's and 97's are probably the easiest to date at a glance to the exact year. 97's have the rear 'T' in the center and 93's would have the white letters on the mudflaps, as well as wider flares and 16" wheels.

 

[cruiserdan]

94 also qualifies since it has the "T O Y O T A" grille, stainless mouldings on the bumpers and un-painted rear flaps.

 

[White Shark]

91-92 also came with cloth seats. Later years had leather as an option. You can see the cloth or leather headrests. The overall height and width of the trucks are different between the 91/92 and the 93-97 years. It's easy to see the rear drums on the 91-92 and the rear discs on the 93-97. You can also spot the single cat shield on the left side rocker panel just behind the front mud flap. The 93-94's had double inline cats and the 95-97 had inine cats. The small black plastic shield guards the cat/cats. Oh, the 91/92's are way cooler too. That tends to stand out as well.

 

[Darwood]

94 also qualifies since it has the "T O Y O T A" grille, stainless mouldings on the bumpers and un-painted rear flaps.

Now I feel stupid. Of course you can tell a '94 since it would have a 'TOYOTA' on the grill and no paint on the mud flaps. I'm kicking myself for not picking up on that.

 

[cruiserdan]

No need to kick yourself.

If it would make you feel better you could call me up and buy something........

 

[RavenTai]

On the LX 450... the 96 has the "Fulltime 4WD" emblem; the 97 does not.

I thought this is the same for LCs' also?

 

[cruiserdan]

I had to pry that emblem off of Beo's '97 tailgate when I installed his JDM license plate mount.

 

[IdahoDoug]

True Confession: I like the white letters on my 93 rear flaps enough I'm trying to figure out a way to paint the letters on the 97 as well. Had no idea only the 93s came that way. Fun facts.

DougM

 

[cruiserdan]

91-93 actually