1987 Toyota 4WD Cargo Van: $10K for a Two-Speed Crawler?Off-Road.comAlta MLFri, September 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTCAdd us on Google1987 toyotaThe spec sheet reads like an exotic: two seats, mid-engine layout, a manual gearbox, and available 4WD. That describes an Audi R8. However, it also describes this 1987 Toyota 4WD Cargo Vanlisted on San Francisco Bay Area Craigslist, and the asking price is $10,000.Old-school forward controlSold as the Master Ace in Japan, the Toyota Van reached the U.S. for the 1984 model year to take on Chrysler's K-car-based minivans. Where the Mopar vans used a conventional FWD two-box layout, Toyota went old-school forward control: a one-box body with the engine mounted in a doghouse between the seats and RWD. In contrast to American carmakers that had abandoned the format, Nissan and Mitsubishi brought similar cab-over vans to the States around the same time. Writing for Jalopnik's Nice Price or No Dice column, Rob Emslie notes the model was dubbed the "Space Wart" by its most ardent admirers. Toyota offered the Van as both a windowed passenger model and a windowless cargo version like this one. A single curbside sliding door opens into a flat load floor that runs to the rear hatch, interrupted only by the wheel arches. Motivation comes from a 102-horsepower 2.2-liter 4-YE four-cylinder tucked into the cross-cab bump ahead of the cargo area.The right options for dirtThe drivetrain is what earns this one a look. It pairs a five-speed manual with part-time 4WD, and because it's the manual, the transfer case is two-speed, giving you a proper low range for crawling. Automatic-equipped vans, however, didn't get that low gear. The van is basic by design: no A/C and hand-cranked windows. As a result, the 203,000 miles on the odometer are easier to accept given that simplicity and Toyota's reputation. It's a one-owner rig, and the seller includes Carfax images in the ad to back up the service history. The champagne paint still shines, as do the chrome steel wheels when they aren't caked in mud. Knobby tires of undisclosed age wrap those wheels with plenty of tread left. Inside, the dash has small cracks and the sound system has been heavily modified. Still, the wood-paneled cabin is tidy enough. According to the seller, the van has a clean title, current tags, and a passed smog test. Payment is cash only, and the van sits in California's San Francisco Bay Area.