Brian serves as the Information Technology Manager for Sports Car Market magazine. As a fourth-generation automotive enthusiast, he has a particular passion for Japanese cars spanning the 1970s to the 2000s and is actively involved in the North American kaido racer community.
1978 Toyota Chinook 4×4 Conversion S/N OR52523. 148,600 miles. “47k miles shown, replacement 2.2-liter inline-4, G52 5-speed manual transmission, dual Mikuni side-draft carburetors, Walnut Metallic paint, two-tone vinyl upholstery, dual-range transfer case, suspension lift kit, Nippondenso air conditioning, Recaro seats, pop-up roof, hammock and fold-out bed, dinette and kitchenette, Suburban furnace.” Condition: 1. SOLD AT $27,563. Bring a Trailer, 6/13/24. This “Chinook” retains a lot of the original camper look, but heavily customized. Original Chinook conversions weren’t this tall off the ground or built on 4x4s. But here, the frame, suspension, front axle and the 2.2-liter 20R engine were swapped from […]
1978 Toyota Chinook 4×4 Conversion
S/N OR52523. 148,600 miles. “47k miles shown, replacement 2.2-liter inline-4, G52 5-speed manual transmission, dual Mikuni side-draft carburetors, Walnut Metallic paint, two-tone vinyl upholstery, dual-range transfer case, suspension lift kit, Nippondenso air conditioning, Recaro seats, pop-up roof, hammock and fold-out bed, dinette and kitchenette, Suburban furnace.” Condition: 1. SOLD AT $27,563. Bring a Trailer, 6/13/24.
This “Chinook” retains a lot of the original camper look, but heavily customized. Original Chinook conversions weren’t this tall off the ground or built on 4x4s. But here, the frame, suspension, front axle and the 2.2-liter 20R engine were swapped from a 1980s Toyota pickup sometime in the 1990s. It was then repainted in Walnut Metallic, leaning heavily into the ’70s aesthetic. The Recaros were also reupholstered to blend into the factory interior. The dual Mikuni side-drafts help squeeze a little more power out of the 20R. The three-inch lift in the front and four inches in the back mean this camper can go just about anywhere. This is not the first time it has come to auction, as it sold on BaT for $51,450 in 2020. Then in 2022, after a BaT no-sale at $40,000, it was relisted on PCarMarket, where it sold at $36,750. Now it’s had another big drop. Why? The $51k sale price was clearly inflated during the pandemic, when RVs and other campers were in high demand. Now, not only have many would-be adventurers scratched that itch, but the overall market has also softened. I still think this was a bargain.
1986 Toyota Corolla “Initial D” Replica
S/N JT2AE86C0G0187698. 97k miles. “1.6-liter inline-4,5-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, 4A-GE engine swap, Fujitsubo cat-back exhaust system, rear disc brakes, limited-slip differential, 14-inch RS Watanabe F8 wheels, JDM-style “panda” paint scheme, and a JDM Trueno “zenki” front bumper.” Condition: 3-. SOLD AT $18,810. Cars & Bids, 6/11/24.
It’s time to check back in on the Corolla “AE86.” Last year in the August 2023 issue (p. 82), we reported on a much-nicer-condition GT-S that sold for $28,650. Our subject here is the less-expensive SR5 model, which was originally equipped with the 1.6-liter 4A-C SOHC engine. The owner swapped in a GT-S engine, the 4A-GE DOHC unit. Normally, an SR5 comes with rear drums, and upgrading to discs can be accomplished in one of two expensive ways: with Wilwood calipers and adapter brackets for around $1,300, or swapping in the entire GT-S rear end, which could cost over $1,000. (Considering this car also has a limited-slip, it might very well be the latter.) Unfortunately, this car is not in the best condition. To start with, it has a Colorado “rebuilt/salvage” title. Surface rust can be seen in almost every door jamb and on both rockers. The black paint looks like a rattle-can job, as it fades away in the door jambs. Body damage and bondo filler was painted over on the fenders, the lines aren’t straight, and even the sticker is crooked. If this was 15 years ago, this car would be worth a few thousand bucks at most. But as we have seen, buying an AE86 Corolla back then was like buying Bitcoin. Well sold.
1988 Nissan Hardbody Desert Runner 4×4
S/N JN6HD11Y6JW001036. 215k miles shown. “3.0-liter V6, 5-speed manual transmission, dual-range transfer case, limited-slip differential, white paint with Desert Runner graphics, beige upholstery, 15-inch American Racing wheels, bed-mounted spare, auxiliary light bar and tailgate net, side step bars and tubular rear bumper, Kenwood CD stereo and speakers.” Condition: 2+. SOLD AT $17,504. Bring a Trailer, 6/12/24.
While this might look like a throwback or retro paint scheme, this Nissan pickup is actually a limited edition to commemorate its three wins in off-road motorsports. Only 1,000 of these were built, and we can’t imagine there are too many survivors remaining. Parts such as the bash bars and rear tube roll bars may look like aftermarket, but they all came from the factory. Only a few mods were made to this pickup, including the steering wheel, stereo system and wheels. The paint isn’t perfect, but the light patina isn’t awful-looking, either. We’ve seen generic Hardbody 4x4s selling for this much, though in nicer condition. So the limited-edition livery earned a slight bump, but not much. Well bought and sold. ♥
