Step-side Tacoma? Did I just see a unicorn?

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183k miles, New tires at 60k..

 

I should add, that’s not mine. Just saw it recently and it seemed relevant.

 

They aren't crazy rare but definitely not something you see everyday like the regular bed 1st gens. I see the step sides once in awhile around SoCal. It's more rare to spot an S-Runner 1st gen, especially a clean one.

And they weren't made in Mexico, they were made at the Nummi plant in CA just like all the 1st gens were.

 

Personally I don't think they look bad, but the step side Tundras from the early 2000s were hideous

 

The whole bedside looks like a fender flares for a 62in tire

 

In the land of plenty Tacomas (Hawaii) I see one every now and again. Definitely not common.
Agree that those side step Tundras were kinda messed up looking.

 

I had a 2002 tacoma access cab step-side 4wd.
It's actually what I traded in when I bought my 2014. I just always thought that bedside was ugly. Not as ugly as the the tundra step-side, but still ugly!

 

I love the 1st gen Tundras but oh god does it burn to look at the rear of those

 

I look at the 1st Gen s.s. Tundra in the context of Japanese love of Anime.
That rear design just tells me a story of love of anime with a splash of Roswell Alien.
Definitely not a classic American design, it does tell a story if you don't mind a splash of an international accent.
They may have been built here - for here, but it is a foreign vehicle.
I don't think you can take offense at the design any more than you could take offense with someone from Paris visiting NYC & speaking English with an accent.
Those step side Tundra's are simply the Japanese putting a little bit of themselves on the outside of the truck. It's just a cultural difference expressed in design.

 

step side anything is dumb unless its a '40s pickup truck.

 

I’d include the 60’s and 70’s Chevy step-sides in the cool category as well.

 

ehhhh. I was shopping for a 60's fleetside truck for a while, I'm not a step side kind of person. 60's is pushing it in the looks category. Anything after that is just.. why? especially the early 90's GM step side trucks, ugly.

 

I dont think all step sides are dumb.
That lil red dodge was the fastest production vehicle in 1978 when equipped with the 440 big block


The 1979 street coupe came with a 454 , granny 4 speed manual , power windows and air conditioning , 4x4 . It was a fast 4x4

 

Kind'f like long or short beds or reg. cab, access cab, or double cab. Different strokes for different folks.

 

To me, the step side Tundra design reminds me of the aesthetic a lot of US automakers were doing at the time with the PT Cruiser, the new Ford T-Bird, Chevy SSR, etc. There was a lot of that rounded, bulbous and curvy lined aesthetic going on and it almost always looked bad and dated.











The early to mid 2000s was a weird time for car designs

 

But a good time for Wrangler designs.

 

Agreed. I had a '71 Stepside Chevy C-10 for my first truck. Three speed manual converted to floor shift. I *loved* that truck. Never should have sold it.

I'm only 37 now, but if I could go back 10yrs and slap myself I'd still have it...

 

They should bring back this flare side bed option paired with the bed cooler.....

that way you couldn’t haul anything

 

I saw a unicorn too today! At a used car lot in downtown Lenoir, NC. I didn't get out to look at it closer, and the only description on the dealer's Facebook page is "2000 Toyota Tacoma ,auto,new tires, nice clean truck. $4,500."

 

Dang, another one & it's also silver, I know they couldn't all be silver but I'm beginning to wonder, so far, I ain't seen many, but all I've seen were silver