- Ultra-clean 1996 Toyota 4Runner SR5 sold for $52,800 at Mecum’s Indy auction.
- Body-on-frame truck showed just 6,954 original miles and was very well preserved.
- An equivalent new SR5 cost $46k including 4WD option and has an extra 95 hp.
A brand-new 2026 Toyota 4Runner SR5 starts at $43,665 including destination. Despite a meaty price rise over 2025, that’s still a pretty good deal for something with real family space and geniuine on- and off-road ability. But at Mecum’s Indy auction, somebody happily spent $52,800 on a 1996 example instead.
This wasn’t some heavily modified overlanding build wearing beadlocks and a rooftop tent. The Desert Dune Metallic 4Runner was essentially a time capsule on wheels – wheels that still wear their original, three-decade-old Dunlop Grandtrek tires. The odometer showed an incredibly low 6,954 miles (11,200 km) and the chassis frame looked brand new.
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That kind of preservation is almost unheard of for a third-generation 4Runner. These trucks earned their reputations by surviving harsh winters, hauling camping gear, and spending weekends grinding through muddy trails. Even the Oak sport cloth upholstery and trunk carpet looked untouched.
Photos Mecum
The SUV crossed the auction block at Mecum Indy last week complete with a power sunroof, running boards, alloy wheels, and Toyota’s old-school AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo setup. Under the hood sat the legendary 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE V6 producing 183 hp (186 PS) and 217 lb-ft (294 Nm) of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic and dual-range four-wheel drive system.
Big Updates In 30 Years
Compared with today’s 4Runner, the numbers don’t sound especially impressive. The new SR5 packs a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 278 hp and comes backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can also choose hybrid power and modern driver assistance tech the 1996 truck couldn’t have imagined.
Photos Mecum
But modern capability wasn’t the point here. Collectors increasingly chase highly original Japanese SUVs from the Nineties because they represent a sweet spot between rugged simplicity and everyday usability. The third-generation 4Runner especially has become something of a cult icon thanks to its bulletproof reliability and timeless styling.
Would most buyers choose the latest 4Runner over this thirstier, less safe, and Bluetooth-free museum-piece 1996 truck for thousands of dollars more? Probably. But if you wanted perhaps the cleanest surviving third-gen 4Runner in America, and a solid neo-classic investment, $52,800 probably sounded perfectly reasonable.
