3 Door Sports late 1989, 4 Runner

[Jessamy Funnell]

Dear All,

We just bought a 3 door late 1989 Sports 4 Runner, and find that there is very little information out there about them. How rare is it?

For those who aren't familiar, it has two front doors and the rear hatch door is an electric window ( which needs to be down before opening) the tailgate. It has pop out rear windows, similar to old honda windows.


cheers

Jess and Jim

 

[Rix]

I don't know production numbers or anything, but most of the two doors were California spec, and a lot of them were 2wd.
Exact rarity I don't know, but there sure aren't all that many.

 

[KidVermicious]

Wikipedia says "Nearly all second generation 4Runners were 4-door models; however, from 1989 to 1992, a 2-door model was also produced. These models are similar to the 4-door models of the time in that the bodies were formed as a single unit, instead of the fiberglass tops used in the first-generation 4Runners. Two-door 4Runners from this era are extremely rare, and were discontinued in August 1992, probably due to higher importation duties and owner insurance costs", but it doesn't cite those figures.

 

[Rix]

wikipedia IS user-submitted, so you can't expect to much, nor put complete faith in everything there.

 

[techno]

1989 models are 1st generation 4Runners. They are all '3 door' models and there are 1000's of them. These have the fiberglass removable roof and a roll bar.

The 2nd gen 4Runners began with the 1990 model year (but were sold in late '89).

Which one do you have?
Check out this site for lots of info Toyota 4Runner History 1989

 

[Rix]

he's talking the second pic I think.

 

[KidVermicious]

wikipedia IS user-submitted, so you can't expect to much, nor put complete faith in everything there.

...but it doesn't cite those figures.

:thumb3:

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

Dear All,

Ours is a solid metal, late 89, as pictured second. 2nd generation I believe.

BTW it is 4wd, seats five.

cheers

Jess and Jim

 

[Rix]

v6 or 4 cylinder?
4 cylinder 4wd 2 door 2ng gen 5 speed would be considered the holy grail to some people.

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

Dear Rix,

4 cylinder 2 door, 4wd 2 gen, 5 speed is exactly what we have We bought her yesterday - and possibly stumbled upon somethign a lil different, rare and interesting. Has made the journey fun.

I suspect it wasnt a popular model in Australia, but was popular int he states...

I'll take some photos today ...

cheers

jess and jim

 

[Rix]

Dear Rix,

4 cylinder 2 door, 4wd 2 gen, 5 speed is exactly what we have We bought her yesterday - and possibly stumbled upon somethign a lil different, rare and interesting. Has made the journey fun.

I suspect it wasnt a popular model in Australia, but was popular int he states...

I'll take some photos today ...

cheers

jess and jim

Like I said, they didn't sell alot of them, and most were sold in cali.

if that's what you have though, it's one of the rarest of that breed.
I've seen maybe a dozen of them over the years, worked on 4 or 5, and all but one that I worked on was a 2wd.

 

[techno]

Jess, you're in Oz then? The link I posted is USA info, so there wil be stuff that is not relevant to Australian and Asian market vehicles. Australia has lots of 2 door gray import Hilux Surfs, but I have not seen many badged as 4Runners. If you do some research on Surfs you might find more info.
Where in Australia are you? I'm from Melbourne originally.

 

[Rix]

Lol
I didn't catch the fact that you WEREN'T in the states.
If your in Aussie land, I don't have a clue.
So is it a diesel?

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

No she isnt a deisel, runs on unleaded petrol and has a 22R motor. It is 2365 aka a 2.4 litre. The Date of manufacture is Oct 1989 and compliance plated 11/89.

How do I attach pictures here??

cheers jess and jim

 

[techno]

Easiest way to attach pictures is to click on 'Manage Attachments' in the Additional Option section below where you write replies. Then browse your computer to find the picture(s) and upload them. Easy.

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

We are pretty sure it was manufacturered for the American market, the steering column comes into the left hand side of the car, instead of the right like most Australian or made for aus cars. It has some sort of adapter factory fitted.

cheers jess and jim

 

[Rix]

Is it the cross car chain and pulley dealiebob?

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

Rix,

It's got a cover so you cant really see it but tis obvious what it is, when looking to see what to mount your cb radio and find an usual protubance. We will go through the booklet supplied with the car and see if we can find anything about it, confirmation is that it simply shows left hand drive pictures in the book.

 

[Jessamy Funnell]

Techno,

We are in Brissy but about to head to WA. Will be our first voyage with the car, and should be great fun!! The Surf came out approx 8 years later here, ours is labled 4runner, as is the owners manual with both American, Aussie and other variations in Europe.

 

[techno]

There have been many 89-95 Hilux Surfs imported into au. I believe the 2 door versions were called Hilux Surf SSR. I have a mate in in Ipswich who has a 1993 Surf SSR-X but it's a 4 door.