The concept of “right car, wrong venue” can absolutely be a thing when it comes to secondhand metal. After all, I’ve seen Maybachs for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and something tells me the typical Maybach customer doesn’t spend all day on Marketplace. Likewise, every so often, a fancy internet car auction site ends up seeming a bit like a used car lot, such is the case with this Toyota Tundra that recently hammered on Bring A Trailer.
Specifically, we’re talking about a proper base-model 2008 Toyota Tundra, a regular cab truck in fleet white and everything. It’s the antonym of a Cowboy Cadillac, a truck that was very much purchased to do one job, creature comforts be damned. The only options on this thing are a heavy-duty battery and starter, a steel wheel and tire package, and floor mats. As such, it’s almost beautifully basic, lacking even a driver’s vanity mirror.
With a 236-horsepower four-liter V6 under the hood, it’s also not going to win any drag races or tractor pulls. Paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, this isn’t a hero V8, but it’ll keep this Tundra trucking along for ages, so long as it’s serviced regularly. Toyota fans seem to love this engine in the Tacoma of the period, and considering their expectations for reliability, that’s a pretty good sign.
Is it cosmetically perfect? No. The bed has its fair share of scrapes and dents on the sheetmetal, there’s definitely some abrasion going on underneath the drop-in plastic bedliner, and it seems like there’s a little damage on the corner of the front slam panel. This definitely seems like a truck that’s done some work in its life, so why list it on Bring A Trailer? Well, there are a few good reasons.
First off, it has incredibly low mileage for the year, with just 65,000 of them on the clock. Secondly, it’s spent life away from the rust belt, which means that the underbody actually looks rather nice. It’s worth noting that non-rotten Toyota trucks usually pull crazy premiums, and in a niche like that, listing this truck on Bring A Trailer makes some modicum of sense.
However, it made perhaps the most sense to the winning bidder, who snapped up this truck for $13,700 plus auction fees. That’s a pretty alright price for a relatively clean, low-mileage second-generation Tundra, especially since the interior looks damn near new. Most importantly, it’s the sort of truck someone can buy and run for a long, long time. Maybe even another 20 years. After all, the 1GR-FE four-liter V6s in these things are known to go forever.
The auction of this Tundra just goes to show that cars can definitely pop up in interesting places. If you keep your eye out, you might be able to score what you’re looking for in a place where a lot of people who may otherwise be interested in it aren’t.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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I guess it’s maybe a fair price if it’s a truck that you really badly want.
It would be a hard pass for me though. Bare bones trucks are cool but they either have to have the good motor or a stick, or both, and this has neither.
My most recent truck was an ’02 Silverado six. And with plenty of prior experience, I can tell you that you don’t want a full-size truck with a normally-aspirated six.
The EPA says this Tundra gets 15/19 with a six and 14/18 with a V-8. Even if that’s true in the lab, the MPG difference is virtually zero in the real world, and the V-8 will probably get better mileage if you tow/haul regularly. Loaded or empty, the eight will accelerate better.
Want a bare bones work truck or SUV? Check the public surplus for your state.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/browse/cataucs?catid=4&_mls=f
You won’t believe the number of perfectly working, well maintained, low mileage vehicles get listed simply because it has exceeded it’s eight year expected service life.
Of course, always check anything you want to bid on in person, review service records for any discrepancies or major repairs, and don’t “bring a trailer” unless instructed to do so.
> Searches “Grumman”
> Finds only a step van.
FINE, I’ll continue dreaming about LLVs, then.
Lol, you would need to check a different resource for that.
Publicsurplus is mainly local and state agencies. You’re better off finding it on a federal surplus site, like GSA or govdeals.
https://www.govdeals.com/asset/37138/8445
Granted, not quite a Grumman, but you get the idea.
2WD seems to tamp the price down. IMO, $13.5k for a 16 year old “fleet white” 2WD truck still seems like plenty of money.
I was more excited about this awesome two-tone brown GMT400 dually.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-chevrolet-c3500-pickup-gmt400-2/
Huh. I actually think that’s not an unreasonable price given the venue. This truck will outlive you while needing little beyond basic maintenance. I fully expected to scroll down and see a $30,000 winning bid just because it was on BaT and with everyone getting horny for simple Toyota pickups.
I’m sure the HOA who bought it for their residents to share will be very happy with it.
Lol… Best comment this month!