Toyota has a long history of building compact trucks that is longer than most people think. With the introduction of the Stout in 1964 through the Tacoma, Toyota has been building small trucks for decades. 

Toyota Light Duty Truck History - Stout, Tacoma

Toyota has been building trucks for many years including this 1964 Stout. Here is a chronology of the history of their trucks

Many people first heard of Toyota in the 80s with their “truck” model, yet there have been many changes that you may not be aware of. From winning truck of the year awards to being named a top value, Toyota’s light duty truck heritage is pretty impressive.

Toyota Tacoma 4×2 Chronology

1964 -Stout introduced to U.S.

1969 -Hi-Lux compact truck introduced with 1.9L engine.

1970 -Hi-Lux receives new engine.

1972 -Third generation engine debuts in Hi-Lux.

1972 – Second-generation Hi-Lux.

1973 -Available with extended cargo-bed.

1974 -Wins “Pickup Truck of the Year” from Pickup, Van & 4WD.

1975 -Third generation, larger engine.

1975 -5-spd manual transmission available.

1976 -Pickup name replaces Hi-Lux on U.S.-market trucks.

1977 (September) –one-millionth truck produced.

1977- SR5 grade introduced.

1979 -Fourth generation.

1981 -Receives larger gasoline engine and available diesel engine. SR5 wins “Four Wheeler of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

1983 -Last year of 4-speed manual transmission.

1984 -5th generation.

1984 -Xtracab, turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines available. SR5 wins “Four Wheeler of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

1986 -Last year of diesel engine availability.

1989 -Sixth generation, the introduction of V6.

1989 -Wins “Truck of the Year,” Motor Trend

1989 -SR5 wins “Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

1995 -Seventh generation, introduced as 1995 1/2 model.

1995 -Introduction of Tacoma name.

1995 -“Import Truck of the Year,” Automundo.

1996 -“Best Compact Pickup in Initial Quality,” J.D. Power & Associates. Tacoma Xtra Cab wins “Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

1997 -Minor revision to front styling.

1997 -“Best Vehicle in Initial Quality-Compact Pickup segment,” J.D. Power & Associates

1998 -Addition of passenger-side airbag.

1998 – Introduction of Tacoma PreRunner Xtracab. Tacoma Xtra Cab TRD wins “Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

1999 -Tacoma PreRunner adds Regular Cab to the model line-up.

2000 -Receives daytime running lights as standard on models equipped with ABS

2000 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2001 – Introduction of PreRunner Double Cab, PreRunner Double Cab V6,

S-Runner Xtracab V6 to the model line-up, as well as a StepSide bed. Tacoma Double Cab TRD wins “Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

2001 – “Most Wanted Small Pickup,” Edmunds.com

2001 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Truck

2002 – AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Score (VSS) award for Compact Pickup Truck

2002 – Consumer ReportsMost Reliable Compact Pickup Truck

2002 – Intellichoice named Best Overall Value Compact Pickup Class 2WD

2002 – J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) award in the Compact Pickup segment.

2002 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Truck

2003 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Truck

2004 – Tacoma receives VSC and TRAC as standard on PreRunner models

2004 -“Consumers’ Most Wanted Compact Truck of the Year for 2004,” Consumer Reports

2004 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Truck

2005 – Eighthgeneration compact truck, second-generation Tacoma. All-new Tacoma model line – larger, more powerful, more features.

2005 -X-Runner named “Sport Truck of the Year,” Sport Truck Magazine

2005 -Motor Trend “Truck of the Year;” Among Consumer Guide’s 2005 “Best Buys Compact Pickup Truck;” 2005 Automobile Magazine “All-Star Pickup,” Forbes “Best

Pickups 2005 – Least Expensive;” Kelly Blue Book “2006 Best Resale Value” – Pickup Truck

2006 -Consumer Guide’s 2005 “Best Buys Compact Pickup Truck”

2006 -Four-cylinder automatic model named “Greener Choices 2006” and “Best of 2006” – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

2006 -“Best Value in America” for Compact Pickup 2WD – Vincentric

2006 – Edmunds.com names Tacoma “Consumers’ Most Wanted Truck” for the fifth year in a row.

2006 – IntelliChoice Motorist’s Choice Award – Compact Pickup Class 2WD

2006 -“Most Requested New Truck,” Autobytel

2007 -“Editor’s Choice Award,” Cars.com – Commuters category.

2007 -“Editor’s Choice Award,” Cars.com – Weekend Athletes category.

2007 – “Editor’s Choice Award,” Edmunds.com

2007 – “Most Wanted Pickup Truck, Compact,” Edmunds.com

2007 – ATLAS Award Winner – Compact Pickup Category by Sport Truck Connection

2008 – Truck Trend Magazine names Tacoma its “Best in Class 2008: Compact Pickup”

2009 -Minor changes for 2009 model year

2009 -Kelley Blue Book “2009 Best Resale Value” – compact pickup category

2009 -Named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “TOP SAFETY PICK”

2009 – U.S. News & World Report 2009 Best Car for the Money awards – “Best Compact Pickup for the Money”

2009 – “2009 Best Bet,” The Car Book

2009 – Intellichoice.com “Best Overall Value of the Year” award “Best Truck Value under $26,000.”

2009 – Intellichoice.com “Best overall Value of the Year” award – Compact Pickup Class 2WD

2010 – Kelley Blue Book “2010 Best Resale Value” – mid-size pickup category

2010 – Kelly Blue Book “2010 Best Resale Value: Top 10”

2011 – IntelliChoice “2011 Best Overall Value” – Compact Pickup segment

2011 – J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study “Most Dependable Midsize Pickup”

2012 – Kelley Blue Book“2012 Best Resale Value” – mid-size pickup category

2012 – Kelley Blue Book“2012 Best Resale Value: Top 10”

2012 – US News & World Report “2012 Best Cars for The Money” for Compact Pickup Trucks

2012 – Kelley Blue Book “Total Cost of Ownership Award Mid-Size Pickup Truck” – Tacoma Regular Cab

2013 – Kelley Blue Book5-Year Cost-to-Own Award in Mid-size Pickup Category – Tacoma Double Cab

Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Chronology

1979 – Introduction of 4WD.

1979 -Pickup, Van & 4WD “4WD of the Year,”Off-Road “4WD Vehicle of the Year,” 4×4 and Off-Road Vehicles “Toughest Truck of the Year.”

1980 -Is best selling Compact 4×4 for the next 14 years.

1982 -4WD model available with 5-speed transmission.

1984 -Introduction of auto-locking hubs on 4WD.

1985 – Automatic transmission available on 4WD.

1989 -“Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheel & Off Road Magazine.

1995 -Introduction of Tacoma name to truck line.

1996 -“Pickup Truck of the Year”, Four Wheeler.

1996 -Wins JD Power IQS.

1997 -Expanded availability of locking rear differential.

1998 -Minor change to styling, suspension.

1998 -“Pickup Truck of the Year,” Four Wheeler.

2000 -Adds appearance package, new exterior colors, and receives daytime running lights on ABS-equipped models

2000 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2001 – Aggressive styling changes, several new upgrade packages, and four new exterior colors

2001 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2002 – AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Score (VSS) Top performer in Compact Pickup Truck segment.

2002 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2003 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2004 – Tacoma receives VSC and TRAC as standard on PreRunner models

2004 – Among Consumer Guide’s Recommended Compact Pickup Trucks

2005 – Eighth-generation compact truck, second-generation Tacoma. All-new Tacoma model line – larger, more powerful, more features.

2005 -Motor Trend “Truck of the Year;” Among Consumer Guide’s 2005 Best Buys

Compact Pickup Trucks; 2005 Automobile Magazine “All-Star Pickup,” Forbes “Best Pickups 2005 – Least Expensive”

2006 -Consumer Guide’s 2005 “Best Buys Compact Pickup Truck”

2006 -Four-cylinder automatic model named “Greener Choices 2006” and “Best of 2006” – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

2006 -“Best Value in America” for Compact Pickup 4WD – Vincentric

2006 – Edmunds.com names Tacoma “Consumers’ Most Wanted Truck” for the fifth year in a row.

2008 – Tacoma named top compact truck in Edmunds.com “2008 Consumers’ Top Rated Vehicle Awards”

2009 – Named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “TOP SAFETY PICK”

2009 – U.S. News & World Report 2009 Best Car for the Money awards – “Best Compact Pickup for the Money”

2009 – “2009 Best Bet,” The Car Book

2009 – Intellichoice.com “Best overall Value of the Year” award – Compact Pickup Class 4WD

2010 – Kelley Blue Book “2010 Best Resale Value” – mid-size pickup category

2010 – Kelly Blue Book “2010 Best Resale Value: Top 10”

2010 – Earned Insure.com “Low-Cost Car Insurance Award”

2010 – Edmunds 2010 Lowest True Cost to Own Award

2012- Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com “2012 Best Resale Value” – mid-size pickup category

2012- Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com “2012 Best Resale Value: Top 10”

2012 –US News & World Report ”2012 Best Cars for The Money” for Compact Pickup Trucks

Source Toyota

Anything on the list surprise you? What memories do you have of early Toyota pickups?