1,000,000 Tacos Served: A Toyota Tacoma Milestone Heads to Auction
From regular consumers to celebrities, the Tacoma has earned itself a solid audience over the years. That’s thanks in part to the Toyota truck’s reputation for soldiering solidly and reliably through a multitude of conditions and jobs. And while chip shortages caused some delays, the pickup has crossed a major production milestone. To celebrate, the specific truck that crossed it, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, is coming up for auction.
Over three generations, Toyota has made over 1,000,000 Tacoma trucks
The Tacoma technically wasn’t the first pickup truck Toyota sold in the US, though it did spring from it. In 1969 the Japanese brand introduced the Hilux here as, quite simply, the ‘Toyota Truck,’ MotorTrend explains. But in 1986, the US-market Hilux split from its overseas counterpart, swapping a solid front axle for comfier independent suspension. And in 1995, this truck became the first-gen ‘1995.5’ Toyota Tacoma.
Today, the Toyota Tacoma is in its third generation, which was introduced in 2016. To be sure, the Taco’s life here hasn’t always been smooth sailing. For several years Tacomas struggled with accelerator and clearcoat issues. And transmission problems have cropped up even in relatively recent models.
Overall, though, the Toyota Tacoma has proven to be a reliable and capable pickup. And while it’s gotten larger and heavier over time, it’s also better-equipped and even more capable. But not just in terms of towing and payload capacities, though. Models like the Tacoma TRD Pro have become popular bases for overlanding builds. And there are plenty of bolt-on off-road parts available for ‘lesser’ TRD trims straight from the factory.
All of these factors make for a solid recipe for sales. That’s why Toyota recently announced that it’s built over 1,000,000 Tacomas. And now, that one-millionth Tacoma is coming up for auction.
The one-millionth Taco, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, could be yours
Although Toyota recently announced that it was auctioning off the one-millionth Tacoma, the truck wasn’t built in 2021. Instead, the milestone-making truck, a 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro, was built on October 4th, 2019, at Toyota’s San Antonio, TX plant, Road & Track explains. But the truck “is nearly factory fresh,” R&T points out, given that it only has 158 miles on the clock.
Mechanically, the one-millionth Taco is a regular 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro. So, under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. That goes to a six-speed automatic and 4WD with a two-speed transfer case. And while the 2022 TRD Pro has a few upgrades compared to the 2020 model, the latter isn’t terribly different in terms of hardware.
Like the 2022 model, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has Fox internal bypass shocks, 16” wheels, multiple skid plates, a suspension lift, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights. Plus, a locking rear differential and TRD exhaust, Car and Driver notes. And being a 2020 model, this Tacoma TRD Pro has an 8” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as LED lighting. Plus, the seats are leather with red contrast stitching.
How much will the one-millionth Taco go for at auction?
If you want to get your hands on the one-millionth Tacoma, Mecum Auctions is selling it. It will be auctioned off at the Monterey 2021 event on August 12-14, 2021, and 100% of the proceeds are going to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. And included with the truck is a certificate from Toyota confirming the pickup’s production number.
It’s difficult to tell how much this Tacoma will go for. For comparison, a 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro starts at $44,325. But since these trucks tend to hold their value, the one-millionth Taco could sell for that much, if not more. Hopefully, though, the winning bidder will let the truck out to hit some dirt.
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RELATED: Consumer Reports: The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Is Better Than the 2021 Tacoma
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