Toyota · 1969-1972
"Hilux" Pickup (1st Gen)
The first-generation Toyota Hilux (N10, built 1968-1972; US model years 1969-1972) was a Hino-built small truck that reached the US in 1969 as a short-bed regular cab with a 1.9- or 2.0-liter four. It established the cab-chassis-plus-local-bed import tactic that dodged the chicken tax.
- Years
- 1969-1972
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Engines
- 3R · 8R · 18R
- Sold in
- Japan · US · Export
Spec sheet
- Generation
- 1st Gen
- Production
- 1969–1972
Built in Japan from March 1968 to April 1972.
- Assembly
- Hamura, Tokyo (Hino)
- Long Beach, California (Atlas Fabricators, final assembly Nov 1971-72)
- Durban, South Africa
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Sold in
- Japan
- US
- Export
- Codes
- N10
- RN10/RN15 (1.5 L SWB)
- RN11/RN12 (1.9 L)
- RN14 (2.0 L 18R)
- Body styles
- Regular cab, short bed (only body in NA)
- Bed lengths
- Short (NA); long bed from 1972 in NA
- Drivetrains
- RWD
- Transmissions
- 4-speed manual
- Wheelbase
- 99.8 / 109.6 in
- Length
- 165.9 / 181.5 in
- Width
- 62.2 in
- Height
- 62 in
- Curb weight
- 2,440 lb (1970 US Half-Ton Pickup); SWB truck 2,260-2,293 lb, LWB truck 2,370-2,392 lb (Wikipedia, global spec)
- Payload
- Half-ton rating; 3,840 lb GVW (1970 US Half-Ton Pickup)
Engines
| Engine | Disp. | Config | HP | Torque | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3R | 1.9 L | I4 OHV | 85 | 1969 | North America | |
| 8R | 1.9 L | I4 SOHC | 108 | 117 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm | 1970-1972 | North America; 1970 US brochure: 1,858 cc (113.4 cu in), 108 hp @ 5,500 (SAE gross) |
| 18R | 2.0 L | I4 SOHC | 108 | 1972 | North America | |
| 2R / 12R (global) | 1.5/1.6 L | I4 | 1968-72 | Japan 76-90 hp |
Related
Overview
The Hilux went into production in March 1968 as the RN10, a short-wheelbase regular cab with a 1.5-liter four, engineered and built by Hino Motors in Hamura, Tokyo, as a replacement for the Briska. A long-wheelbase version came in April 1969, but in North America only the short bed was sold until 1972.
For the US, Toyota fitted bigger engines: the 85-hp 1.9-liter 3R in 1969, the SOHC 8R of 108 hp (SAE gross) from 1970, and the 2.0-liter 18R of 108 hp for 1972. A four-speed manual was standard; the chassis used A-arms and coil springs up front and a leaf-sprung live axle at the rear.
From November 1971 final assembly moved to Long Beach, California: trucks arrived as cab-chassis units and a bed was built and bolted on locally, a form of tariff engineering that cut the 25% import duty on light trucks to the 4% chassis-cab rate.
The model was replaced by the RN20 "RokeHi" in May 1972.
Trims, Bodies and Drivetrains
Cab and bed
- Body styles: Regular cab, short bed (only body in NA)
- Beds: Short (NA); long bed from 1972 in NA
Drivetrain and transmissions
- Drivetrains: RWD
- 4-speed manual
Highlights
- Engineered and built by Hino for Toyota; replaced the Briska
- A-arm/coil-spring front, leaf-spring live rear axle
- Cab-chassis import with a locally built bed to dodge the 25% "chicken tax" (4% chassis-cab tariff)