(Back to the) Future Collectibles

1985 Toyota Pickup Xtracab SR5 4×4

#89965. S/N JT4RN66SXF5073411. 259k miles. “2.4-liter 22RE inline-4, 5-speed manual transmission, dual-range transfer case, electronically locking differentials, repainted black, gray cloth upholstery, 15-inch American Racing alloy wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers, Smittybilt tubular bumpers, roll bar w/KC auxiliary lights.” Condition: 3+. SOLD AT $21,000. Bring a Trailer, 10/16/22.

Everyone knows that “Back to the Future” is responsible for the popularity of the DeLorean DMC-12. However, the movie has also driven interest in 1980s Toyota pickups. Marty McFly’s truck was only on the screen for less than two minutes (I checked), but it created a lasting impression. No fewer than five clones of the BTTF Toyota Pickup have sold on BaT this year, and some have topped $50k. This one sold for much less, with mileage playing a huge factor. (The other high-mileage example that sold earlier in the year made $7k more, although still well behind the best examples.) Our subject’s shiny, repainted exterior with its roll bar lined up with smiling KC Daylighters looks great, but its past life shows in all the worn and rusty parts in its engine bay. Still, these trucks can take a beating. Considering the high prices for vintage Toyota trucks, this BTTF clone was well bought compared to the other recent examples we’ve seen.

1994 Toyota HiAce Super Custom Limited 4WD

S/N KZH1060011586. 58,300 kilometers (36,300 miles). “3.0-liter 1KZ-TE turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 213 lb-ft of torque, 4-speed automatic transmission, electronic suspension, rear parking mirror, three sunroofs, soft-close sliding door, swiveling and folding second-row seats, folding third-row seats, power-adjustable door mirrors, kettle in the center console.” Condition: 2. SOLD AT $16,375. Cars & Bids, 10/28/22.

I recently had the opportunity to ride around in a friend’s HiAce Super Custom Limited. (His looked virtually identical to this van, but was the gasoline-powered 2WD variant.) The outside of these vans is unassuming, a simple shape with the vintage curves of the 1990s. The excitement comes from the futuristic tech found inside. The digital dash displays using a mirror reflection, and the center console hot/cold box can make ice cubes. The front and rear have separate heat and A/C controls. A speaker and mic intercom setup allows the driver and rear passengers to talk to each other without yelling. A large moonroof along with mini moonroofs for the rear let in lots of light. Electric curtains surround all the rear windows. There are multiple seat arrangements for the second row, placing it forward, backward or sideways. The HiAce is basically a mini camper, and our subject van is a 4WD rig that you can take on logging roads. With the prices of the inferior kei trucks that can barely keep up with city traffic approaching $13k, why not spend a little more for a full rig maxed out with the latest and greatest technology of 1994? This van sold at a pre-pandemic price, but you should still be able to find one today for around $20k. Well bought.

2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

#90072. S/N JF1GD706X4L521320. 54k miles. “Turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-4, 6-speed manual transaxle, front and rear limited-slip differentials, driver-controlled center differential, WR Blue Pearl paint, blue-and-black two-tone upholstery, gold-finished 17-inch BBS wheels, gold-finished Brembo brake calipers, functional hood scoop, rear wing, automatic climate control, power accessories, factory stereo with six-disc CD changer, window sticker.” Condition: 1-. SOLD AT $34,125. Bring a Trailer, 11/09/22.

One of the newer, rising Japanese collector cars is the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Millennials grew up with the STi representing an obtainable dream car. Some were even able to buy these cars new (with the help of their parents). What more could a young person want at the time than a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sedan with a 6-speed and LSD that already has a hood scoop and a huge spoiler? The motors of this generation are fairly reliable, unlike the other 2.5s found in more-pedestrian Subarus, which are known for their faulty head gaskets. The second-generation Impreza went through three front end designs: “Bug Eye” (2001–03), “Blob Eye” (2004–05), and “Hawk Eye” (2006–07). These names refer to the shape of the headlights; our car here is the Blob Eye. (This seemingly small detail can be divisive among Subaru fans.) While this car is an amazing example, the 2005 model is more desirable, as it came with a lot of little improvements. The bolt pattern was updated to 5×114.3 along with getting half-inch-wider wheels. The steering rack and power-steering fluid cooler were improved, a better LSD was fitted, the ABS controller was updated, and some styling changes to both outside and inside the car were made, including a redesigned center console. The biggest upgrade came with the DCCD, which is the controller that changes front-to-rear power routing through the center differential. This is why we recently saw another low-mileage 2005 STi sell for double the price of this example. Regardless, for a nice, low-mileage 2004, this was a fair deal for both buyer and seller. ♦