Toyota Hilux
source: wikimedia
The Toyota Hilux is a little-known pickup in the states simply because it was only briefly sold on U.S. soil as the generic-sounding “Toyota Pickup” – but it’s so reliable and it carries such a reputation for toughness that it deserves an honorable mention on our list. The Hilux has seen use in nearly every climate, including the bullet hole-ridden mountains of Afghanistan, the conflicted streets of Iraq, the tundra of the North Pole, and even the simmering grounds of an active, lava-spewing volcano. If that all sounds very Hollywood, it’s because it is (minus the Afghanistan and Iraq parts, that’s very much real). The team over at Top Gear tried to “kill” a Hilux by taking it to said destinations, dropping it from a crane, and dunking it in the ocean. Even mangled and deformed, the Hilux lived on.
source: toyota
On more serious notes, the Hilux is favored by rebel groups and Mid-Eastern militaries because of its reliability. In fact, the small Toyota pickup has even been used as a mounted weapon platform on both sides of the sandy battlefields in Syria and Iraq. It scaled mountains in Afghanistan, serving as a vehicle for American Special Operations who were hunting Bin Laden. If unique stories and unconventional destinations measured how tough a truck is, the Hilux might be the winner. At face value, the Hilux isn’t much to raise an eyebrow at. When first produced, the two-seater truck featured a tiny 1.5L or 1.6L motor from 1968 to 1972. Simple but reliable a-arms, leaf springs, and a live axle in the rear kept the Hilux rolling, while a four-speed transmission handled the meager 76 horsepower the Hilux put out.
In 1979, however, the Hilux began to earn its legend: A 2.0L motor replaced the smaller powerplants and 4-wheel drive became an option. A solid front axle and leaf suspension were beefed up and a new gear-driven RF1A transfer case offered unparalleled reliability off-road. This unique transfer case offered very low gear ratios which are credited with preserving the drivetrain’s components for long periods of time. A 3-speed automatic transmission didn’t offer much efficiency across the power band, but it did ensure the Hilux’s powertrain ran smooth and without issue.
Lucky buyers can find the Toyota Hilux for sale in the U.S., imported from overseas. If you do manage to get your hands on one, you’ll be the owner of one of the world’s most reliable small pickups.
