Curbside Classic: Potential '66 F-100 Pickup Replacement Found – 1993 Toyota T-100

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

I’ve given it some thought over the years, and there’s only one truck that I’ve seriously considered as a replacement for my F-100, and this is it. In fact, it’s almost a perfect update on the Ford, with the benefits of modern technology. Don’t laugh, but I’ll take mine with the 2.7 liter four cylinder. It’s got more horsepower (150) than the Ford (129), and a pretty healthy dose of torque. It’s not like I’m planning on pulling 10,000 pound trailers down the road. Oh wait; I actually have done that with the Ford…

As far as I’m concerned, Toyota made a giant blunder when they abandoned their T-100/gen1 Tundra platform for the current monstrosity. And I don’t just say that in hindsight. But then my perspective is not Texan, and I accept that different folks have different ideas about how massive trucks need to be. But here’s the ironic thing: these T-100 trucks are very popular around here with professional landscapers, who try real hard work them to death, but rarely succeed.

The thing about big new trucks as I pointed out in my earlier post is that you pretty much have to use a trailer for hauling materials that some of us like to still put into beds. But landscapers (and others like me) like a low bed for placing materials, often need to back into tight spaces, or just don’t care to pull around a second bed on wheels. And the T-100 is old-school Toyota rugged and simple, has a full-sized bed and can fit three in the cab. And it gets up to 25 mpg with the four. Just the thing to keep operating and maintenance costs low. That explains why the resale value on these trucks are still holding up.

Well, I doubt Toyota is going to bring back the T-100, but sooner or later someone’s going to see the hole in the market for a full size bed that’s reasonably low to the ground and married to a mid-sized cab big enough for a tall guy. A torquey four cylinder, gas or diesel, and we’re good to go. Well, my old Ford isn’t exactly getting worried yet.

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • FromBrazil FromBrazil on Jan 15, 2010

    Where's all the Ranger love? Whenever pickups are mentioned on this site, the Ranger gets loads of defenders. Not so much this time? Mr. Paul, a Ranger doesn't fit you? I'm curious as to why? Is it much smaller than this truck (sorry never got T100s down here, forgive my ignorance)?

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    • FromBrazil FromBrazil on Jan 15, 2010

      Thank you as ever Mr. Niedermeyer for your kind attention. Now I understand much better the context of your articles and decisions. Anyway, if you do get the Toyota truck, it would provide an interesting comparison to the Ford truck. Kudos and greater health to you!

  • Gmrn Gmrn on May 30, 2011

    Sorry for the late addition, but I just joined. Amazed to have finally stumbled upon a knowledgeable car community focusing on...well, just the everyday type of stuff that's been filling my extra cranium space since the late 70's when I was a budding car buff. But now back on topic. Lord, I hope you got the 2.7 Ahh the T100. Back in the summer of '08 the truck bug bit me again and I surmised that a gently used '93 T100 (with just 112k miles) to be the elusive jack of all trades for my needs. It had just the right options; Benign white in color, 2wd, 8 foot bed, 4-spd auto, (for the little lady to pilot) cold AC, blue cloth interior in great condition, decent MPG's, and the SR5 package. It drove rather well and, upon my inspection, appeared to be a solid purchase. BUT, it also had the ***3.0 v-6*** This would almost seem to be not worthy of mentioning, if it weren't for the head gasket issue. For those unfamiliar, ponder this. It seems when these motors were manufactured there was a wee bit of a "dimpling" problem (block I think, but may have been the heads) where the two bolted up and said gasket was in between. It seems that enough folks had problems that Toyota stepped up to the plate. And step up they did...in the form of a free head gasket replacement. Unique about this was that it was almost free of strings. i.e. no vehicle mileage limits, nor any time requirements. Yes you could have a 15 yr old truck with 300k on the odo, and they would do it. No questions asked. Once. If it had been done (as with my truck) in 1996 when it had 30k on the odo, never again would they be responsible. Guess how I found out? At 124k miles and after developing a misfire and losing coolant, I visited a Tacoma forum. They actually had a kindly Toyota tech on their MB who was running folks VIN's. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I would go on to learn of the many unique parts to the T100 that were interchangeable with exactly ZERO other models. I'm surprised more aren't aware. Good luck Sir.

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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