Boasting a rare and desirable manual gearbox, this 4×4 is the ideal rig, and it doesn’t take much to see why this Surf is the ultimate Japanese Classic SUV!

Exterior Overview
Toyota’s third generation Surf has a whole lot of staying power. As the years go on, it’s phenomenal to see how many examples continue to trudge on, serving their owners as beloved daily commuters. Perhaps it’s not all that surprising, as Toyota built one heck of a truck back in the 90’s, and examples like this 1996 SSR-G have tallied a mere 136k miles over the years. This one is also quite the looker, with fresh Cavalry Blue (8W2) paint, a factory spare tire swingarm, OEM spoiler, PIAA fog lamps, and the coolest OEM optional brushguard and skid plate this side of the Pacific. It’s also rolling on aftermarket 16″ alloys which are freshly refinished and contrast the Cavalry Blue nicely. Boasting a rare and desirable manual gearbox, this 4×4 is the ideal rig, and shows no notable defects outside of a broken antenna and some delamination on the optional rear window applique. Capable, cool, and collectible, it doesn’t take much to see why this Surf is the ultimate Japanese Classic SUV!

Interior Overview
The interior gets a lot right, and is the perfect choice for enthusiasts looking to daily drive this truck. It’s trimmed in a durable Moon Mist cloth, which has resisted the past 25 years of road use without succumbing to any excessive rips, stains, or tears. Also in good condition, the vinyl dash cover is fixed in place and doesn’t show any typical distortion, UV fading, or cracking to note. The cloth inserts in the door cards are equally as clean, as are the carpet and headliner. The center stack is easy to access, and features an easy to use climate control system. Cycling between ice-cold A/C and hot heat is simple, and a period-correct Pioneer audio system lies adjacent, pumping out the tunes through a set of upgraded door speakers. If you prefer to listen to the turbodiesel’s soundtrack, you can unfurl the power windows, and drop down the rear glass at the push of a button. Daily use is also made easier, thanks to power locks, and power-folding side view mirrors. The rear bench is quite versatile, which is to be expected in a utility-oriented truck. Unlike our USDM models, the seatback can 4-way recline a bit for added comfort. If you need to expand the cargo hold, the assembly folds down flat to gain an extra foot or two. This stickshift masterpiece needs nothing to complete the cabin, but if we were to nitpick, we would want to note the tach works intermittently, and the driver’s mirror requires assistance to fold inward. We’ve even held on to the owner’s manual and factory maintenance booklet to help you feel good about the purchase!

 Mechanical Overview
The 1KZ-TE under the bonnet steals the show, and for good reason. Toyota designed this peppy 3.0L turbodiesel to be responsive on throttle, frugal on fuel, and easy to turn a wrench on too! It should make sense why we sell and service so many, and just like the others our trained technicians have given this Surf the green light for the road ahead. To aid ignition, 2 new 12v batteries were dropped in, and an oil and filter service was performed to help the 3.0 chug along nicely at idle. From there, we installed new serpentine belts to properly drive your accessories, and a new valve cover gasket was installed with new half-moon seal to keep your lubricant internal. With the maintenance performed it was ready for its first road test, and the manual gearbox really makes the most of the diesel’s low-end torque! It’s also easy to operate and selects gears effortlessly. Power is sent to a selective transfercase, with 4WD, a center locker, and low range if you decide to go wheeling. The suspension is comfortable over road imperfections large and small, and the power steering is light and direct, although we wanted to note a minor seep from the pump. The ABS brakes stop on a dime, and we wrapped the aftermarket alloys in fresh Falken rubber to complete the reconditioning. Ask any Toyota truck enthusiast, there’s no going wrong with this truck, and we think the lucky next owner is bound to agree!

For the full listing and photo set, please visit https://www.japaneseclassics.com.