What was the original Toyota truck called?
The original Toyota pickup was the Type AB light truck, introduced in 1937 as Toyota’s first production truck. For the modern pickup lineage, the Stout (launched in 1964) prefigured the HiLux/Hilux that has become Toyota’s global standard.
Early Toyota trucks: 1930s to 1940s
In its early years, Toyota built trucks as variants of its first cars, establishing a foothold in the commercial-vehicle segment that would evolve over decades.
Origins of the AB light truck
The Type AB was the first production truck from Toyoda (later Toyota), developed from the AA passenger-car platform and used for light-duty tasks across prewar and wartime logistics. It established the AB/AA family’s role in Toyota’s early vehicle lineup.
- Type AB light truck (introduced around 1937) — first production truck from Toyoda, derived from the AA passenger car platform, used for light commercial tasks.
The AB family set the stage for Toyota’s ongoing emphasis on versatile, durable trucks in the decades that followed.
The Stout and the Hilux: the evolution of Toyota’s pickups
Seeking a dedicated, modern pickup, Toyota introduced the Stout in 1964, a purpose-built light truck. The Stout’s design and engineering fed into the development of the HiLux/Hilux, which debuted in the late 1960s and grew into Toyota’s global pickup flagship.
From Stout to Hilux: market and naming
The Stout was primarily targeted at domestic and some international markets, while the Hilux name took hold in most regions from 1968 onward, becoming the backbone of Toyota’s pickup success across generations.
- Toyota Stout (introduced 1964) — a dedicated light-duty truck that broadened Toyota’s lineup and influenced later pickups; used in several markets under the Stout name.
- HiLux/Hilux (introduced 1968 in most markets) — the global pickup that evolved through many generations, known for reliability and off-road capability.
Conclusion: The Stout marked the move from AB-based trucks to a global Hilux lineage that continues to define Toyota’s workhorse pickups today.
Summary
From Toyota’s AB light truck origins in the 1930s to the Stout’s 1960s reinvention and the Hilux’s enduring global prominence, Toyota’s pickup history traces a path from early wartime logistics to a trusted, globally marketed workhorse. The original truck designation was the Type AB in the 1930s, and the recognizable modern pickup lineage grew from the Stout, evolving into the Hilux that remains central to Toyota’s lineup.
