Found a '78 toy...

[tom w.]

in my travels yesterday...






What's with the "wolverine"?

[lilbuddy]

i saw the same thing out at pick n pull in chico...

looked like it had a d30 front end to me...

[ajordan1975]

all i know is that it was am aftermarket conversion.   i think it's a D44 up front?

this is from the TTORA board.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86024

[lilbuddy]

Id say youre right that the wolverines had a d44. Look at the top of the knuckle on the pic on here totally looks like a 44..

The one i saw at p n p in chico was definitely a d30 though. it had 4 bolts on the top vs 3 like a d 44 and the pumpkin was a lot smaller. i wish they still had it, id go take a pic

[tom w.]

Kinda makes me wanna try to get a hold of it, but there's really no reason too... plus it's in pretty rough shape.

[toyotanner]

There is a clean 78 toyota 4x4 looks like it doesnt have much of a lift but is in like mint condition and it has a straight axel never stopped to ask him if it came stock or what axel is in it but i guess he does only live about 10 minutes away

[Tallchevy]

There is a clean 78 toyota 4x4 looks like it doesnt have much of a lift but is in like mint condition and it has a straight axel never stopped to ask him if it came stock or what axel is in it but i guess he does only live about 10 minutes away

Toyota didn't start putting a solid front axle in the pick up until 79. 78 & older are coversions except for the Land Cruiser

[toyotanner]

Toyota didn't start putting a solid front axle in the pick up until 79. 78 & older are coversions except for the Land Cruiser

Yeah i knew that but that truck made me think otherwise because it looked so stock

[welder2000]

They were a conversion company, they use to do ford couriers a friend had one.

[79-83earlyota]

From what I know, that is most likely a conversion rig done by
a company (not sure who, or if it was actaully the "Wolverine" conversion company itself?)
who used the D44.  Apparently it was a concept or prototype
conversion.  Similar to the Trekker.  This quote found on a few
different websites does tell some:

"The 1981 model year saw a vehicle development deal between Toyota and Winnebago Industries (primarily) and two other aftermarket customizers. Toyota was attempting to enter the SUV market. The vehicles which resulted from this collaboration were the Toyota Trekker (Winnebago), Toyota Wolverine, and the Toyota Trailblazer (Griffith). All three employed the Toyota Hilux 4x4 RV cab and chassis, and an all-fiberglass rear section (the Trailblazer had a steel bed with a fiberglass top). There were at least 1,500 Trekkers, 400 Trailblazers (only 41 currently registered by the DMV), and an unknown number of Wolverines sold in North America. Research and development work on the Trekker lead to the development of the Toyota 4Runner (The 4Runner was also sold in the United Kingdom)(called the Toyota Hilux Surf outside North America), which was released in 1984"

[46&2]

Dang was that thing for sale or did you just see it on the side of the road? I have always heard of the pre 79 4x4 conversions but never actually seen one. Pretty cool.

[79-83earlyota]

All I can say at this point, is that thing is RARE!!!!  I bet
there "might" be 50 worldwide, if not even less!?
They would go to a TRUE Toyota collecter/restorer
on ebay for a good price I would think?

[tom w.]

Dang was that thing for sale or did you just see it on the side of the road? I have always heard of the pre 79 4x4 conversions but never actually seen one. Pretty cool.

Who are you asking?

[46&2]

Who are you asking?

You

[tom w.]

Oh, yeah I was workin' down on an old dairy and it's just parked out behind some old corrals. I'd never seen one before, so I took some pictures.



And stole a floor mat...

[DTB]

And stole a floor mat...

bad juju

[tom w.]

Now, when I say stole, I mean more like I thought about stealing... 

[DTB]

Now, when I say stole, I mean more like I thought about stealing... 

thats more like it! I aint sayin nuttin if  arent

[kneedownnate]

All I can say at this point, is that thing is RARE!!!!  I bet
there "might" be 50 worldwide, if not even less!?
They would go to a TRUE Toyota collecter/restorer
on ebay for a good price I would think?

They must be concentrated around redding, cause I've seen a few around here.  I'd rather buy an older hilux and build it myself, but that's just me.

[79-83earlyota]

They must be concentrated around redding, cause I've seen a few around here.  I'd rather buy an older hilux and build it myself, but that's just me.

yeah, me too, then you have an easy, strong base to start with.  I wouldn't mind restoring one of those Wolverines though.  It'd be really cool to have one in stock condition just to buzz around the streets and dirt roads.  I wouldn't build it though, too rare and impossible to find any replacement parts.  Probably wouldn't even really be able to "restore" it properly because of the lack of replacement parts!?