Toyota Indestructible Hilux! 

One of my favorite Hilux/Tacoma stories is when a man in California drove through a fire several times to rescue like 80 people from an assisted living home, destroying the truck in the process, but Toyota honored his trucks sacrifice by giving him a new one.

The HiLux is the builder's friend, the farmer's workhorse, the quarryman's rufty tufty machine, the gas cylinder delivery guy's loadcarrier, and a genuine tradesman's all rounder. Quite literally a jack of all trades for all businesses.

Ford trucks: Built tough Chevrolet trucks: Like a rock Toyota Hilux: Modest and very durable. (No need of impressive slogan)

Had a 2012 one as a work car when I worked as a community nurse in a remote part of the Northern Territory a few years back. The abuse that thing soaked up was incomprehensible.

I can't even put in words how thankful I am for this quality content

Jeremy Clarkson: "I'm going to kill one on Top Gear." Hilux: "I'm about to destroy this mans dreams."

The Hilux is basically the Nokia 3310 of vehicles, in that they’re both basically indestructible and will probably never break.

I have owned my 2006 Hilux 3L Vigo Double cabin truck for 11 years, and only replaced the alternator and cam belt at 50K. And have moved tons of gear around with him. Strong as an Ox and mega reliable. What a great vehicle !

Lost it at “Triumph Door Stop”

Errata: In the "war zone" section, some of the pickups shown aren't Hilux's. But the point still stands. Yes, I've made mistakes when talking about suspension!

Another brilliant video. I had an early Hilux Surf. Got it secondhand with 400 000 km on the clock and it did another 100 000 with me through Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and primarily Zimbabwe. The only thing that required replacing was a transfer box oil seal. I had a Land rover 110 Defender before that and the only reason such as high proportion of them still exist is because they spend a large percentage of the time being repaired. If you want to find a Land rover driver, don't bother looking behind the steering wheel, look under the bonnet (hood)!

Toyota: makes the most reliable, cheap pickup in the world Every African insurgency: *I'll take your entire stock!*

Because of Back to the Future, my brother got one of these. He must have liked it as he got another a few years later

As an Australian, it sounds funny to hear a Hilux referred to as a "truck", when here, most of the time "truck" refers to a much larger vehicle used for transporting commercial quantities of goods - if you need a "truck" license to drive it (a truck driver's license is required for any motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) exceeding 4.5 t), it's a truck, otherwise it's probably referred to as a "ute". Most people I know regard the Hilux as a "ute" here.

My brother owned a 1987 Dolphin motorhome built on a HiLux chassis. It was a nice rig, comfortable, rugged and mechanically sound. He put 100k miles on it in 8 years with no major problems of any kind. My guess is the chassis was right on the edge of being overloaded since you couldn't get up 65 if you weren't going downhill, and it needed the airbag suspension to stay level. Still, it worked fine once you dealt with the limitations, and there weren't any other self contained rigs back then where you could get 18 mpg from regular gas. He sold it in 2000 because they were retiring to become fulltimers, and the Dolphin was just too small for that. He misses it though, and his family and mine had some great trips in it.

The vehicles shown in the 'Toyota Wars' clip are not HiLux's they are 70 Series Landcruisers

Hilux was best back in the days with 4 cyl diesel engines, manual gearbox and solid front axles. Simple, basic and durable.

Wow, what an interesting video. There is a Toyota plant in Durban, South Africa where the Hilux along with the Corolla and Hi-Ace minivan (Sold as the Quantum in South Africa) is built, sold and exported to other African countries. Due to the reliability of their vehicles, Toyota has been the selling car brand in South Africa and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa for decades. The Hilux has been the best selling vehicle overall in South Africa for over 30 consecutive years because of it's popularity as a family and business vehicle. I think this has to be one of my favourite videos on your channel Mr Big Car.

wow, never thought I'd love my Hilux even more 😂😂

Also, let's be honest, it's never been unattractive. Always been a good looking truck.

I've played offroad in a 97 Tacoma and have to say they weren't just a good looking truck but capable too. When I got stuck and started setting up recovery my friend, the owner, suggested we try the 4wd. I wasn't the happiest about the joke but that little Tacoma was something special.

I’m on my third lux , the 95 mode with the aspirated 2.8 would be the slowest and agricultural one I’ve owned , but the most simple and reliable one too. Also unstoppable in the bush.

"Why did Toyota end US Hilux sales?!?" DID I MISS THE EXPLANATION?

Really surprising to know that the Innova and Kijang (sold here in the Philippines as the “Tamaraw FX”, then “Revo” on its final years) were based from the Hilux!! The only one I knew heavily based from that car is the Fortuner. Both the Hilux and Fortuner would cost you quite a sum here and considered a status symbol.

Used to live in an oil town, the company's Fords are being replaced with Hiluxes now

My dad had a Toyota pickup since the day I was born in one variant or another. BTW the Toyota in BTTF is one of the coolest trucks I’ve ever seen.

My daughter was 5 years old when I bought a new 2wd 22re Toyota pickup in 1993. I still own it. In 2019 she bought a new Tacoma because of the great experience with my 93.

I remember riding in a Toyota Stout to school. I'm that old!

I'm so proud to see my car Toyota Kijang (read: Kee Jung meaning Deer) is mentioned in your video! (13:04). It's the most popular car in Indonesia and truly indestructible.

I really look forward to your videos, no matter my car preference I watch them all, and then watch them again while I wait for a new one

The Hilux is insanely popular...in South Africa

First I say thanx a lot. I love it that I bought the new gen Hilux in Thailand. 10 days old and I love my luxy!

“fifty years ago...” “so, like, 1950?” “no, like 1970!” “but that's 30 years ago!” “no, 1990 was 30 years ago!” “f**k.” [crumbles to dust]

Thanks for the historical perspective on my favourite ever vehicle. Bought a 1974 12R 1600 one 2nd hand in 1976. Drove it everyday for 16 years. 2 major accidents didn't kill it, or me (no airbags!) 😲 We still own it. Running and due for touch-up and club rego. Toyota... indestructible.

Watch Whistlindiesel hilux, those things are pretty much indestructible.

I love Toyotas. They were so well built that the body shell would literally disintegrate and the running gear would still be sweet. I had a 95 corolla 1.3 hatchback with a 5 speed manual that I'd regularly thrash the snot out of over hilly, winding roads red lining through 2nd and 3rd. Great feed back through the wheel, sat down nicely in the ass on tight corners when you put the power in and just the right amount of forgiving understeer if you went into a corner a bit too hot. "Sniff" I miss that car a little bit still, it had soul.

If you want to go into the desert get a land-rover if you want to get out get a Toyota

My 2000 Tacoma 4x4 has over 300k and still going strong. We recently had a record breaking winter storm here in the Central US and my little truck was able to anywhere I needed to go.

Great video I currently live in Thailand, and I also have a Toyota hilux, mine is a 2004 sport cruiser, basically a 4 door pickup3,0 litre diesel auto, it has 230000 kilometers on it ,and genuinely genuinely I have never had to replace anything on it other than servisable parts, oil filters battery ,front shocks only ,tyres and only the front break pads no discs yet, don't think I have ever put a bulb in it, obviously the weather here helps but these are some unbelievably good vehicles, ohh its had a few sets off wiper blades actually as the sun tends to melt them to the windscreen, but other that that nothing.

Thanks for the film. BTW Some of the images you showed Toyota's in war zones were not Hilux, they were previous generation Land Cruisers in pick-up format - still available new in certain regions like Africa, Middle East, Australia :-)

Yes! Great to see another Big Car video! Really brightens my day during these hard times :)

Great video as usual, many thanks. I’m intrigued by the *long-term* environmental impact of indestructible vehicles like these. Granted, they’re heavy, damage roads more, and guzzle the juice liberally. But if one of these could physically outlast 2 or 3 normal vehicles, it is arguably the more green choice? Reduces by a factor of 2 or 3 the amount of cars being *made*. Has anyone ever thrashed out the figures on something like this?

I had a 94 Toyota hilux 4x4 diesel 2:8 litre. Absolutely Indestructible. I couldn’t kill it.....

Don´t know if you've already made a "Landcruicer Story" but if not, here's a fun fact. I work in the film-industry in Sweden and makes a lot of commercials. About 20 years ago we shot a campaign for Toyota Sweden which was about the legacy of Toyota, featuring old cars of all kinds of models (they did not want to show the Model X nor the Previa though 😀)... Anyhow, when we shot a scene of "tug of war" between a modern Landcruicer and one from the -70s, all of a sudden the marketing director from Toyota said "This must be the first time we've ever shot a commercial with a Landcruicer"! When I asked why, the reply came instantly. "There's no need, both UN and all the gerillas in the world uses them, we get daily free advertising on more or less every TV-news network".

No mention of the Hilux being the best selling vehicle in Australia

Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed that history lesson.

Quality content thoroughly researched and presented very well.

I been following this channel since it started. In fact I think I was a one of the first few handful of subscribers. Another brilliant video, thank you.

My dad had a 1976 Hilux that was rusted so bad the front fenders litterally flapped in the wind when driven, but it would NOT die😏

Thanks for this. I grew up in my dad's Hilux, I believe he drove it for nearly 9 yrs sometime in the 90s to early 2000s. Unfortunately that was still a time of film cameras and not digital cameras or handphone cameras so it was a real pity we didn't have any photos of it, It was such a practical vehicle.. it could seat 5 easily up front with relative comfort, and when we had outings with our cousins and families, all of us kids would clamor to sit at the back of the truck. Where I residue, there is a new law now that children aren't allowed to sit at the back of trucks due to safety reasons, and even for adults there's a limit to how many; so that is not a sight one will see anymore on the road, All the more I will never forget how we kids up to 7-8 of us at the back having fun as my dad drove along. It was the Happy vehicle, and as kids, no one cared if it was dirty or a truck or expensive vehicle. Even if there was a rich uncle with a nice car, my dad's Hilux is always the pick! Those were the Simpler times, great memories, therefore again its such a pity I couldn't even find ONE photo of us and the vehicle, simply too utilitarian and part of our daily lives (dad uses it for work in the construction industry), that probably none of us bothered with photographs too. Though the memories will stay with me.Thanks Hilux!

What Toyota learned in the NUMMI collaboration is that GM's factories and cars were worse than they ever imagined.

So pleased you have covered the Hilux! Great video!

I remember seeing your content and subscribing when you still had under 10k subs. Really happy to see you grow and keep making great videos!

Toyota Hilux: "Indestructible!" Australian Coal Mines: hold my beer

Wow.... amazing amount of info! Thanks for putting this all together, legend.

One of the best trucks out there. I had an '87 base truck bought brand new right when mini-trucking was the rage in California. Lowered it, aftermarket wheels, and a booming to me sound system. lol Got to tour the NUUMI plant in Fremont back in the late 90's. Got to see some trucks on the line. That was a tour I won't forget.

Some hilux like my 2020 model are now built in South Africa.

As usual, excellent video. I would add that, if in europe and USA, front suspension was independant early on, in developping countries a heavy duty version, with beam axles, was still available in the 90s. I had one in Papua New Guinea from 1991 to 1993. 2,8 naturaly aspirated engine and front beam axle. The other brands (Nissan, Isuzu) had IFS and we had to weld it back to the chassis about once a year...

my grandfather has a 2010 hilux when i was 8, after so many years and it still drives like a dream

Another meticulously researched video, greatly enjoyed I thought I knew a bit about these but clearly not! Those pre 90's one are amazing

I am Toyotally loving my shiny new Toyota Hilux :) . It is the perfect little truck for my farm.

I started my career as an auto technician at a Toyota dealership in 1993. The pickups were our best sellers right next to the Camry and Corolla. When the T100 first came out, it was not well received by our customers. Great video!!! I had NO idea VW rebadged a Hilux!!

Fantastic video! There’s so much to be said about the legendary Hilux!

Fantastic thank you.

Did we ever get to why Toyota stopped selling them in America? I must have dozed off...

The “Toyota War” pics were all of Land Cruisers....

I never drove a Hilux until I got stationed overseas. These simple little trucks gained my respect. Despite harsh desert conditions and questionable maintenance, I can never recall one having a mechanical failure. The simple gasoline 4 cylinder and 5 speed manual transmission probably contributed greatly to that reliability.

Quality as always !

South Africa!! W000t!!! :D Thank you so much, these always make my day better :D

When you live in Africa there is only one choice well that and a land cruiser but the hilux beats it massively on fuel consumption

Excellent video. Thanks for the upload.

Oh those Toyota Stouts from the 60s. They are dang cool! I'd kill to have one of those!

So until 0:38 I thought the Jeckyll & Hyde was referring to the Hilux being used by both ambulances AND war lords. I guess in certain parts of the world, the question at the dealership is “so you want the hand barrow or the machine gun installed?” P.S. Love your content! P.P.S. Ah, you mentioned it even! Excellent as always ... it’s crazy how Toyota always claims they “don’t know how the cars got there”....

At one time I used to think fords and chevys were at the top, Then I moved to central America and one day drove a hilux. Holy baby Jesus those trucks are long lasting and reliable. Mind blowing for sure.

Excellent. Thank you.

Superb video, thank you.

I remember one top gear episode where Hammond bought a broken Land Cruiser and he proudly say its the most unique LC in the world because its broken. So if Hammond get a Hilux he will found a way to destroy it

Yay. I voted for this. Omnissiah’s indestructible gift to humanity

Toyota is the king of Africa it's car to be trusted, it's has been with Africa during the off roads of Africa, what I like about Toyota even poor people they have afforded it ,as African we salute Toyota 🙋🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🙋🏼‍♂️keep it up with a higher spirit God bless you 🙏🙏🙏🙏

I have had two of the truck models shown: 1971 Hilux 1st generation. 1984 & 1986 Hilux SR5 turbo. 4th generation. I wish I never sold the 1971, we were the original owners. After it was stolen and partially stripped for the second time, it sat for 10 years and was eventually sold for scrap. ;( Looking back, it wouldn't have been very difficult to repair it and get it back on the road. I have a few of the rare factory Turbo trucks that I plan on keeping as long as possible. Toyota trucks never die!

Triumph Door Stop... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

0:00 the Hilux also won the andalucian rally on dakar

Great car, fantastic video! Thank you sir

Very well done sir.

Do a video on how crap the navara is. I can supply you one to review 😊

In Aussie the hilux is the "legendary" ute

yeah, hiluxes were pretty much the 4x4 ute you'd see in brisbane not too long ago. i remember for a few years one of the featured pre firework night time shows at the ekka in brisbane was a quartet of specially tuned v6 hilux drift-mobiles. they were super impressive.

Great video , really enjoyed this 👌

Would love to see the Landcruiser story.

I know I’ll get hate for this request, but I’d love to hear about the Toyota Prius from Big Car. I own a few Prius’ and an original Honda Insight and always found the history to be fascinating.

My Dad owned a hilux in the early 1980, kept it for more than a decade..coincidentally my inlaw owned a same hilux only a single cab....now both my husband and I own 3 hiluxs, LN106, LN166, 10 years still going & a Kun26,...these utes are Unbreakable 😊

I drove a '74 year round in Alaska for a very long time. Couldn't kill the thing. After insulating the cab, installing an electric water pump, and a Cadillac heater box it was even somewhat comfortable.

6:14 My dad bought this in white the 1983 model a very robust vehicle.

@15m10s very very clever touch....dodge the ram....get it?

This is the best mini documentary

I love this channel!! Keep it up man!

The war vehicles were the much bigger Toyota Landcruisers, not Hilux

The Hilux is the best selling car in Australia. Better selling than the Corolla!

Fantastic video, top quality.

Very informative