Tacoma Stalking, er...uh, Spotting, with Charlie™ (1st Gen Edition)!

They still do that on 99 percent of their vehicles, I know a buddy that bought a truck from them and his truck was covered with so much rust after that rubber coating came off. It only stayed on there for a month and it started breaking apart from all the rust underneath.

He also had a problem not able to get his title from them after he paid in full. Took him months to get them to give him his title and he was about to get lawyers involved. He couldn’t even drive the truck for a few months because he wasn’t able to get tags.

 

That’s unfortunate to hear. It’s a bummer they get away with it

 

I have to wonder, if this truck were so impeccably maintained and in such great condition, why a "full restoration" was needed.

I mean, they brag about 400+ hours in paint/body. Even if we assume they have insurance job labor rates (I'm guessing $50/hr), that's 20 grand JUST in labor for the body/paint work! For a custom shop to do that, it's probably at least double that for a "restoration" quality job. So we're talking 40 grand, supposedly. Then add "complete engine servicing" and "new" everything else...

Something doesn't add up here.

 

I wouldn't trust the hours stated and I'm not sure, "full restoration," is accurate either. Plus quality would be questionable. I guess it depends on what people are willing to accept as a restoration.
For example lets say this compares, theoretically, to Jeremiah at Proffitts Resurrection Land Cruisers stage 2 resto (for say a 60 series) from their site:

Stage 2 - Vehicle Restoration
A Stage 2 Restoration is not as extensive as a Stage 3. While most of the body components are removed and disassembled, the body tub itself is never removed from the frame. For this reason, the frame cannot be completely refinished nor can the underside of the body. All components that have been removed are completely refinished and the same menu of modifications is available upon reassembly.

That, at base level stage 2 without added menu options, starts at $75K and the frame isn't even part of it. I know its a totally different beast and different to work on, and they're a better shop with a good reputation for quality work and have been doing it a long time, but it still makes you think about that $29K these guys are asking for a finished truck with all this supposed crazy resto work they're doing and the quality of said work.

You can look at the completed results on Bring a Trailer for 90s Toyota pickups and some of them, just user trucks with decent miles, decidedly not restored, have gone for nearly the asking price of this eBay one.

https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/results/?search=toyota+pickup

Even with the 3.slow

 

Oh I wouldn't trust anything they claim farther than I could throw them.

Plus, based on what others have said in this thread alone, they seem to be kinda shady to begin with.

Never mind the fact that you'd have to be on your way to the looney bin to even consider paying 30 grand for a nothing special (not like it's serial number 001 or something) to frills 30 year old pickup truck, even if it does have nice(ish) paint.

Plus, it's apparently not even finished, so you could just be buying a pile of parts, or they just get you hooked then keep jacking up the price because they keep replacing stuff (that in all likelihood never needed to be replaced anyway).

 

its not even a Tacoma, that's a '95 Pickup

 

Figured this out yesterday...

 

2001 Extra Cab SR5; Don't see 2WDs that often anymore!


March 5th, 2022:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

That's true, at least in the rust belt. I still check my saved search for 2WD manual tacos regularly and see one or two a month, usually rough. It seems most of the survivors are 4x4 (and priced accordingly). Glad I found one in decent shape when I did.

 

@shakerhood

1996 ExtraCab SX V6 4x4; What about this one?


March 6th, 2022:

Hamburg, Pennsylvania

 

What in the obliterated clear coat....

 

Yeah, it almost looks pink, but seeing older 1st Gens in Pennsylvania is getting less and less common so I took pictures...

 

Originally part of a thread called 2004 V6/auto TRD Off-Road with less than 40K miles!

There is a chain of dealerships near me called CarShop (formerly CarSense), similar to CarMax or AutoNation but much smaller and only in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; Until recently, most of their vehicles were three years old and newer, with the oldest vehicles being maybe five years old. Mileage tended to vary, but I don't think I ever saw anything on the lot with over 50K, at least not prior to COVID; The current used vehicle market has forced them to lower their standards considerably, and it not longer uncommon to see vehicles a decade old or older on the lot, and many vehicles with really high miles for their model year. Today, I saw a base model 2010 Honda Accord with 122K miles at the Hatfield location. Prior to this low mileage Tacoma, the oldest vehicle I've seen on the lot at this CarShop was a 2007 Chrysler Crossfire with less than 25K miles; Here, I give you a mint last year 1st Gen with "grandma-grade" low mileage!


March 13th, 2022:

Hatfield, Pennsylvania

 

CarShop no longer lists prices directly on the vehicles, but they are not as obnoxious as Peruzzi Toyota next door because almost all of their inventory has a QR code you can scan to bring you right to that specific vehicle; This Tacoma didn't have a QR code, and I could not find the truck on their website with a manual search...

If anybody would like to see this truck, it's sitting on the far side of the lot at CarShop on Route 309 in Hatfield, Pennsylvania; I would venture to guess that, based on the insanely low mileage and how clean the truck is, that the frame has never been replaced!

 

Fresh inspection!

 

Wow, with a topper to boot. I'll guess you paid $12,995.

 

That's lower than I was thinking!