This is a second generation Toyota 4Runner, seen on a small second hand car market in east Beijing. The 4Runner was sadly in a rather bad shape, but the owner of a nearby shop told me it was still running.
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The N130 second generation Toyota 4Runner was made from 1989 until 1995 with a facelift in 1992. Our Beijing car is a post-facelift example.
The sec-gen 4Runner was based on the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. Both cars shared the same platform and are basically identical from the B-pillar forward. There was a 3-door version as well, but the 5-door version was far more popular.
The 4Runner was sold all over the world, and Toyota being Toyota, the trim levels and specifications did differ a lot depending on the market. The names differed too: in Japan it was sold as the Hilux Surf, and in Brazil as the Hilux SW4.
There was a long list of petrol and diesel engines available. Our black example has the largest petrol unit under the bonnet: a 3.0 3VZ-E V6 with 150 hp and 244 Nm. The engine was mated to a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual, sending horses to all four wheels.
Now that is a proper gear lever! A big handle in a big car for big men. Next to hit the lever for the 4-wheel drive system. The leather seats are in a fixable shape. Steering wheel is original, but the radio is after-market.
The poor car was used at a storage room for all sorts of blankets and boxes.
The Toyota 4Runner has never been sold in China, and this is the very first second generation example I have ever seen in country. The shop’s owner told me it was shipped over from the United States in the late 1990’s.
SR5 was a trim level, still used in some markets today.
The 4Runner badge, nicely combining the 4 and the R.
The original mud flaps and a rusty pipe.
Narrow license plate frame does indeed point to an ex-U.S. car.
It just needs a little work…