1990 Toyota Camry All-Trac

Thinking about Toyota's Camry is weird. It's such a bland and common car, and yet the name has been around since 1982 and lasted a handful of very distinct generations. And what a difference the early cars were from the Camry of today, or, really, any car of today. Looking at how the Camry has changed shape over the years can also tell you how cars have changed.

The Camry was actually called the Vista outside North America. This is a second generation U.S.-spec Camry. The second generation debuted in 1987 and lasted briefly until it was replaced in 1992.

These cars are strange looking to 21st century eyes. They are remarkably compact and tightly styled. The hood is low and flat. The greenhouse is large, airy and inviting. There is an emphasis on horizontal lines. The bumpers are protruding. It's all because the Japanese were pushing the envelope on ergonomics and efficiency while complying with U.S. auto safety regulations.

While they were mass produced, these are gradually becoming rarities, especially here in the northeast where older cars succumb to rust and are taken off the roads.

Even more rare is the All-Trac option, which debuted in 1988 and added all-wheel drive. They weren't very popular, probably in part due to the higher cost than the regular front-wheel drive Camry.

Underneath the hood, however, is Toyota's tried and true 3S-FE 2.0-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, which is good for efficiency and durability, although the head gaskets were prone to failure. All-Trac was only available with a 4-cylinder engine.

The seller says this survivor has just 131,000 miles, which they point out is only about 5,700 miles a year. This car seems barely driven. The body and interior look really clean, although I'd look for rust. Inside, it's no frills, just straightforward gauges and information.

It's even got the original stereo.

If you're looking for a economical four-seater but need extra traction in your area, this is a nice bet. Unfortunately, the seller hasn't included an asking price, but this should be had for under $5k.

Available here on craigslist in Los Angeles, California.

1 of 1: 1986 Toyota Camry Custom Pickup

I've been intrigued by the first generation Toyota Camry lately. Is it a classic? I loath what the car has turned into today: a bloated, overpriced and unreliable front-wheel drive vanillamobile. But in its first year, the original Camry was this lean and compact ultra-utilitarian vehicle for the calculator watch-wearing Reagan era commuter. Sure, it was fwd, but it was also cheap, simple, and extremely well built. It helped the body was a clean cut three-box shape of straight lines and zero pretensions.

So you can imagine my delight when I found a Camry that epitomizes the 1st gen's thrift to the max: a customized two-door pickup version, one of only one in existence to my knowledge (unless this was a common customization).

The seller has seemingly taken an '86 Camry four-door and done one heck of a chop job, removing the entire rear roof, seats, trunk and doors and replaced it with a pickup bed. I think it looks amazing, and the craftsmanship is extremely impressive. The cabin looks natural thanks to the b-pillars and side window slivers. There is no fold-down rear gate but the car is low enough that throwing items over the bed is easy enough.

Adding to usability is a 4-cylinder 2-liter turbo diesel engine putting out just 85 horsepower. Camry turbo diesels were offered by the factory briefly so they are rare. I'm assuming this was one such sedan before the transformation. There haven't been many complaints about Toyota diesels except that people wish they made more of them.

The seller doesn't shed much light on exactly who did this, how they did it, or why. But the pictures speak for themselves. Mechanically, they say the odometer reads 163k miles and it has new tires, brakes, belt, water pump and seals. They also say it's running well and turns heads. Toyota made diesel pickups, and there are also those Volkswagen Rabbit diesel pickups, but there probably isn't another Camry Pickup out there, and this one seems ready to go for many more miles of dutiful service. Just check for rust and get the full scoop on the transformation then decide for yourself.

Available here on craigslist in Raleigh, North Carolina for $4,500.