Trekker Brochure

[Shoyrtt]

Over on EBay there is an original Trekker brochure from 1982. Here is a pic  8):


And a pic of the cleanest one I have seen:

[iNfErNaL]

You really like those,dont'cha Jim?.

[Shoyrtt]

You really like those,dont'cha Jim?.

I do.  8)

A little ancient history lesson on my obsession. Back in the early 80s, a girl at my high school had a 1st gen "Wolverine" with the walk through cab, but the shell had a higher roofline. She rolled it up on one of the fire trails in the San Bernardino Mountains. The girl was fugly, but she had a nice truck. 

[Cheesemaker]

I like them, except for the whole tailgate, back hatch section.  Looks like they ran out of ideas and screwed up!

[Shoyrtt]

I like them, except for the whole tailgate, back hatch section.  Looks like they ran out of ideas and screwed up!

It looks like a Winnebago!

[46&2]

On the ebay page does it say what the brochure says? I always get a kick out of old auto adds. My grandma has a collection of National Geographics dating back until the 1920s. It really gives you a sense of "change of times" when you look at car adds in the 30s, compared to the 50s, 70s, ect.

I found an old 4runner add in a national geographic at my high school from 1984. I cut it out of the mag and put it up on my wall.

[DTB]

U guys see those old 4x4 ads in the newer Petersons magazine....pretty cool..

I like the Jackman wheel ad 

"Those shore are some fine wheels, Hoss."

"Finer 'en frog hair, boy"

[94MtnYote]

It looks like a Winnebago!

Didn't Winnebago make the top of the trekker?

[Shoyrtt]

Didn't Winnebago make the top of the trekker?

From Wikipedia

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

[alwayzbroken]

I sold a truck a couple years ago to a guy who said he was one of the foreman at Winnebago on the Trekker project when it was being put together there in the early 80s.

[Shoyrtt]

I sold a truck a couple years ago to a guy who said he was one of the foreman at Winnebago on the Trekker project when it was being put together there in the early 80s.

I read on the net that a Toyota dealer in Wisconsin came up with the Trekker idea and approached Winnebago. Maybe that explains this purple version. 

[iNfErNaL]

Jim,I love your rig but as much as you love those things did you ever think about building one?.I would've thought you'da built one of those instead.Don't get me wrong,I think your Runner is beautiful!!!.

[Hammerhead]

I loved my trekker...  could kick myself for selling it...

[skipnrocks]

What made them differant? 

[46&2]

What made them differant? 

They were the predecessor to the 4runner. In the early 80s toyota dealerships made a deal with winebego. They were first gen pick ups with the back cut out and a custom fiber glass shell permanently attached to the bed with a bench seat in the back. Kind of testing the waters if you know what I mean. They are pretty rare on the east coast I hear, easier to find on the west coast. Basically a first gen (79-83) 4runner without a removeable top.

[Shoyrtt]

Jim,I love your rig but as much as you love those things did you ever think about building one?.I would've thought you'da built one of those instead.Don't get me wrong,I think your Runner is beautiful!!!.

I would like a Trekker that was totally stock and restored.  8) The 4Runner is perfect to build because they are still somewhat disposable. I couldn't see cutting the back off of a Trekker to make it a fun trail rig. Maybe I can track that tan Trekker down in Big Bear. 

Until then, we need more pics.

[ZukIzzy]

Jim just buy and truck and build one. The glass is not hard I'll show you how, messy but not hard. Then you can have too many projects going at once like me.

wayne

[iNfErNaL]

Jim,check out this red one I saw at The Rubicon last year.It was pretty sweet,I thought I had a few more pics of it but I just looked through all of them and I guess I don't.

[Shoyrtt]

  The first pic I have seen with the top off.

[CrazyYota]

Jim,check out this red one I saw at The Rubicon last year.It was pretty sweet,I thought I had a few more pics of it but I just looked through all of them and I guess I don't.

that one looks bad a$$

[Shoyrtt]

Jim just buy and truck and build one. The glass is not hard I'll show you how, messy but not hard. Then you can have too many projects going at once like me.

wayne

Not a bad idea, but I think I am just going through separation anxiety. I'm ready for KOH and a weekend of wheeling NOW!

[46&2]

So......what are these?!   

[Shoyrtt]

That is the Wolverine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where did you find those pics? The last time I saw one was 1983 (ok I'm old ).

[Shoyrtt]

So here is the tan trifecta (maybe the first time on the net).
Trekker:


Trailblazer:


and the elusive Wolverine:

[iNfErNaL]

Jim,search Roktoy84 on the Pirate board,he's a member on here too,his name is Fernando and he had probably the sweetest one I've seen.It was marroon with the top off and a full cage with 38s I believe.He rolled it at MCR4 I think and built a first gen.

[46&2]

That is the Wolverine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where did you find those pics? The last time I saw one was 1983 (ok I'm old ).

I actually stumbled upon those pictures on pirate earlier tonight. Someone said that wasnt a wolverine so i was confused. I had never seen one before. The Wolverine is a bad ass looking truck. Definitely rare.... I have seen both trekkers and trailblazers but never the wolverine. elusive indeed.

[Shoyrtt]

I actually stumbled upon those pictures on pirate earlier tonight. Someone said that wasnt a wolverine so i was confused. I had never seen one before. The Wolverine is a bad ass looking truck. Definitely rare.... I have seen both trekkers and trailblazers but never the wolverine. elusive indeed.

They could be right. I was 15 when I last saw one. I remember the high roof line and the window up top and the fugly chick saying it wasn't a Toyota but a Wolverine.

If I remember right, the next year the movie Red Dawn came out where some high school kids took on the Russians with the battle cry "Wolverines".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dawn

[skipnrocks]

I hate to say it but the wolverine looks like an elcomino on steroids!

[iNfErNaL]

Ha ha,yeah I never really liked the Wolverine myself.I really dig the Trekkers.

[CrazyYota]

I hate to say it but the wolverine looks like an elcomino on steroids!