A classic Toyota car that began production in 1968 has been named the most iconic classic car in history. But it still remains banned in the USA to this day.Toyota, founded in Japan in September 1933, entered the U.S. market in late 1957, opening its first dealership in Hollywood, California. Since then, the automaker has introduced some of the world's most popular vehicles, including the RAV4, Camry, Corolla and Prius. It also built a loyal following with the Toyota Tacoma, one of the most iconic pickup trucks ever produced.And in March 1968, Toyota launched its now-classic 4x4 pickup, the Toyota Hilux, which was introduced to the USA a year later. And nearly six decades after its introduction, Huckberry, a media brand trusted by "millions of guys," ranked the Hilux as the "most iconic classic car of all time."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Hilux has been called many different names throughout the years. In North America, from 1976 to 1984, it was named the Toyota Pickup, and from 1984 to 1995, it was called the Toyota Truck.The first-generation Toyota Hilux was produced from its launch in 1968 through April 1972. It featured a two-door body, a front-engine layout and rear-wheel drive. In 1975, Toyota introduced a four-wheel-drive version in the United States, marketing the pickup as the Wolverine 4x4.Toyota Hilux Now 'Banned' in the United StatesOld pickup truck Toyota Hilux on the town street.DarthArt / Getty ImagesBut in 1995, Toyota stopped selling the Hilux in the United States, replacing the classic truck with the Toyota Tacoma, which is still popular to this day.The Toyota Hilux remains unavailable in the USA and Canada markets to this day, but it is still sold in many other countries throughout Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. And while it isn't technically "banned" in the United States, the Hilux is no longer offered in the USA for numerous reasons.AdvertisementAdvertisementBecause the Hilux was manufactured outside the United States, it was eventually pushed out of the U.S. market by the 25% "chicken tax," a tariff on imported light trucks that made the pickup too expensive to sell competitively. At the same time, the Toyota Tacoma was better suited to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards, making it the company's preferred pickup for the American market.Related: 57 Years Ago Today: Disney Opened Classic Theme Park Ride - And It's Still a Fan FavoriteThis story was originally published by Men's Journal on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.