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1999 Toyota Tacoma Sr5 Rebuilt Title Rust And Split Chassis - Mechanics Special on 2040-cars

Year:1999 Mileage:139000
Location:

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Up for grabs and with no reserve is my 1999 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 Manual Transmission - with a rust split chassis in front of both rear leaf springs.  The truck still runs and has a rebuilt title.  This truck has been used by me as a work truck since my 2010 purchase. The truck starts with a jump and runs smoothly.  The 4X4 transmission works in both high and low 4x4 in addition to working in normal 4x2 mode.  I have most of my service records since 2010....these include routine maintenance including oil changes every 3000 miles, new shocks, new parking brake cable, new battery and alternator.  Other than these minor items - the truck hasn't needed much attention and has never left me stranded.  Mechanically I would rate this trucks performance over the last 4 years as 8 out of 10.  It needs gas and oil changes.  It doesn't burn oil or have any leaks. The timing belt is marked as being replaced at 98,700 miles prior to my purchase.  I know the front end needs new suspension bushings.  

I have never gone off-roading with this vehicle and I do not smoke.

Vehicle History:  I have a CARFAX documenting the vehicles previous mid-western owners (I am the 5th owner), 2009 collision and the successive rebuilded title (noted as: rebuilt) in 2009 prior to my purchase.  I will describe the truck accurately in its as-is condition, provide plenty of photos showing any areas of concern and am available by email if you have any additional questions about it.   

The body:  The truck has been used as a work truck so it has it has its share of scratches and dings from loading wood in.
I do have a topper (painted to match maroon) that will be mounted on the truck during pickup.  The removable topper has Thule bars mounted on top for carrying long items (wood boards).  The Thule bars are a little bent - but can easily and safely carry a few hundred pounds up there. The lifting rear window of the topper was broken by me when loading a drill press into the bed....I closed the window on the corner of the steel foot of the drill press and the glass shattered.  There is a Plexiglas template that I carefully cut to match the seal of the rear window of the topper.  In the future the Plexiglas template can be used by a glass company to cut glass to match if you wanted to...but the plexi rear window works just like it should already.  The bed has a plastic liner.  I would rate the condition of the topper as 6 out of 10.  I put it on and use it once a year in spring when I drive to NYC and need to keep tools locked up inside it.  

As noted before the truck was damaged in a accident before my purchase in 2010.  I have had no accidents in the car since my purchase.  I did have the hubcaps and the catalytic converter stolen (which was replaced and the truck has successfully passed the required Illinois emissions inspection).  The original stereo was stolen and replaced by another factory stereo with CD player.  The speakers are not blown and the CD player works will without skipping.  The weatherstripping is in good shape all over with no leaks to the interior from any of the seals or windows.  The grill on the front over the radiator (with the toyota emblem on it) doesn't attach perfectly - but stays in place.  The rear bumper is bent and rusted from the 2009 accident and the drivers rear corner by the tailgate has a nice ding at the corner. The right side of the tailgate catches a little bit above this corner but only needs a soft nudge of the hand before it will close.  other than that the body is in pretty good condition - please refer to photos for the larger scratches and dents.  The gas door on the driver's side works but does not have a lock.  The chrome trim above the rear passenger wheel was knocked off by the car was this sunday-on the day I took the photos...I still have that piece and it can be reattached using the existing clips.  All the lights work including the trailer lights.  I would rate the overall condition of the body as 7 out of 10.  The Tires (including the full size spare) have plenty of life left in them and have been properly maintained with regard to rotation, balancing, alignment and air pressure levels.  The fuel door lock is broken - the fuel door still works properly.  

The interior:  The beige interior is in pretty good shape, there are some scratches on the plastic but aside from the vinyl on the center consoles lids passenger corner (see photo) - there are no rips in the interior.  The headliner is in good shape as are all the seats and the carpets,  the mats are original, lightly worn for their age and shampooed once a year during spring to remove any coffee stains I may have created during the prior year.  No warning or service lights come on as you can see in the photo with the trucks very low millage displayed on the odometer.  I would rate the overall condition of the interior as 8 out of 10.  The cruise control works 95% of the time.  The rear window of the truck is an aftermarket sliding window....it fits well in the factory hole, locks and does not leak.  The original window was broken when my stereo was stolen.  The plastic tip of the arm rest on the drivers side - where the window controls are - is broken at the very front.  A 1" piece is missing in front of the door lock controls - see photo.  The jack is still in the truck with all the parts in place - I also will sell the truck with my copy of a Chilton's Toyota Tacoma service manual.

The Chassis: I would rate the chassis of this truck as 1 out of 10 - it is as bad as it can be.  The chasis has split on both sides of the truck right in front of the rear leaf springs - as such it is unsafe to drive.  Purchasers must be able to tow the truck home.   As you may or may not know - Toyota issued a factory recall for the Tacoma for rust problems due to insufficient rust protection paint applied to the frame at the factory.  This truck has the typical Toyota rusty chassis but since the factory recall was not performed (due to this truck having a salvaged title)...this truck has a nice case of the rusty chassis...despite the body being in good condition.  See photos of recall paperwork. I am selling the truck because of the rusty chassis - see photo of frame just in front of rear leaf spring.  I wouldn't buy a Tacoma from anyone who isn't showing the frame to you as this problem is common for Tacoma's between 1996 and 2000.  I am showing you the frame is rusty...and that is why I need to get a different truck.  The frame could probably be repaired and made roadworthy again by extensive welding and patching of the steel.  The truck can be parted out (good body, great mechanicals, clean interior, rusty frame) or sold to a salvage yard or fixed as a mechanics special.  Serious ebayers only with good history and active and verified paypal accounts.  If you don't have an ebay history - do not bid.  All forms of payment (even cash bills) will be verified at a local bank branch prior to exchange of title and key.  You will get a key and the title only after payment has been received in full and verified.  No test drives due to split chasis,  The truck is not road worthy and needs to be towed by the purchaser.  No low ballers or after winning bid negotiations will be tolerated - a winning bid is committed selling price.  All transaction communication will be through ebay email to ensure the ebay purchase is protected by ebay for both the buyer and seller.  The vehicle must receive a deposit prior to pickup and be paid in full and removed from video monitored lot within 5 days of the auction's closing.    

The truck is located in a video supervised lot in downtown Chicago and is available for inspection during the auction.  I am happy to answer any questions you may have - or provide you with additional photos of any areas you may have questions about. This is my second Toyota truck and I would be keeping it much longer if not for the frame being split.  Everything works as it should aside from the rust split chassis which has made the vehicle unsafe to dive.  I have the title in hand with nothing owed against the vehicle. 

I will answer any questions and handle all transaction details only by ebay email.  I will be checking ebay email once a day over the course of the auction.  Ask a question if you have one.  

I bought the truck for $7000 in 2010.  I have put about 30,000 miles on the truck without a single mechanical problem.  
I imagine its worth between $900 and $3400 in parts, interior, body and motor with the chassis fully split and the rebuilt title.  
This truck still has some life left - but I just can't do the work at the moment so its time for it to go.  







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