The Toyota Stout is a light truck produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 1956 through 2000. The Stout is the successor of the RK truck and inherited its K-series model code.
The K-series model code was also shared with the Dyna and ToyoAce semi-cab over trucks. The similar K-series model codes among these vehicles caused confusion in the market, because earlier Toyota commercial vehicles were sold by their model codes rather than proper names until the late 1950s. The K-series code became exclusive to the Stout when the ToyoAce was switched to the Y-series in 1971. In Japan, the Stout was sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyopet Store.
The Stout was effectively replaced by the Hilux in most markets in 1968. In some regions, both vehicles were sold alongside each other, with the Stout positioned as a heavy-duty alternative to the Hilux.
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First generation (K20/30; 1954–1960)
Completely redesigned in July 1960, this is the most familiar version of the Stout. The pickup truck initially released with the 1,453 cc R engine (RK45), while the maximum load capacity remained the same at 1.75-ton as the older RK35. In October 1962, a 2-ton version (RK100) was introduced with a 1,897 cc 3R-B engine, which was introduced to counter the 2-ton Nissan Junior 1900. Along with the new optional engine, the Stout also underwent a facelift, including twin headlights.
Conventional mechanical parts were used in the form of leaf springs and four-wheel drum brakes on a ladder frame chassis. Body styles include a pickup (two-door, three seater), a double-cab pickup (four-door, six seater), a two-door box van and a five door station wagon.
The Stout was Toyota's launch model in South Africa in 1961. It sold well until its discontinuation in 1979. The RK45 Stout was the first Toyota to begin complete knock-down assembly in South Africa, in 1962. Between 1961 and 1975, 17,500 Stouts were sold in South Africa – the majority of them assembled locally. This generation Stout was also assembled by Toyota Motor Thailand, beginning in February 1964, in Uruguay by Automotora Basso from 1963 to 1972, and 940 units in Peru between 1967 and 1971. This was meant to compete directly with Nissan's Datsun minitrucks, but it never sold particularly well in its home market and was replaced by the Briska and Hilux following Toyota's takeover of Hino Motors. A version of the Lite Stout, equipped with the 1.9-litre 3R engine was sold in North America as the Stout 1900 (RK41) between 1964 and 1967. During its first year in the American market, a total of 4 units were sold. This Lite Stout model was assembled in South Africa as well, beginning in 1965. It was called the Stallion there to distinguish it from the original model with its solid front axle.
Due to complaints in export markets about limited cabin space, a new cabin expanded by was introduced along with another facelift in 1964. Instead of lengthening the vehicle, Toyota opted a new shorter rear bed – from to – for the long wheelbase heavy-duty Stout, but this version was not offered in Japan despite the new version was still under the Japanese maximum length of . The shorter Light Stout instead received a correspondingly lengthened wheelbase to accommodate the longer cab. South African Stouts kept using a simplified version of the original bed, even after the longer cabin had been introduced, as they were not affected by Japanese regulations on overall length. Bed length was thus , longer than elsewhere. Also in this facelift, the 1.5-litre engine was replaced by the slightly larger 2R unit (1,490 cc), the Lite Stout became the RK43, while the 1.75 ton Stout became the RK47.
There was also the RK47P, a one-tonne six-seater medium duty version with the same 2R engine. Another update and facelift occurred in September 1967 with the introduction of the RK101. This also spelled the end of all 1.5-litre models for Japan, although they continued to be available in export markets. In some markets (e.g. North America) the Stout was replaced by the slightly smaller Hilux in 1969, but in many other markets (e.g. Southeast Asia and Australia) it was sold alongside the Hilux as a heavier-duty alternative.
The RK101 used the 1,994 cc 5R engine. Its in Japanese trim, combined with low gearing for higher load capacity, provided a top speed of only . In later versions higher compression meant that power increased to at 5200 rpm. The engine displacement remained under 2.0-litre so as to offer Japanese buyers some tax advantages when it came time to pay the Japanese annual road tax. South African production later switched to the 2.0-litre RK101 series, available as a flush-side pickup, a dropside, or a chassis/cab. but this is in contradiction to their own parts catalogues which only include the 5R and the 4Y. The Stout underwent a light facelift in January 1982 and became the RK111, still fitted with the 5R engine.
Body styles included a pickup (two-door, three-seater) and a double-cab pickup (four-door six-seater). The Stout was cancelled in 1989 without a successor, as Toyota's first full-size pickup, the T100 (as well as the later Tundra) were built mainly for North America, where the Stout had been replaced by the Hilux in 1968. In Japan, the third generation Stout saw very limited sales, as trucks in this weight class were nearly always of a cab-over design. Most third generation Stouts were exported. Stout production for Japan came to a final halt in March 1989,
Nameplate use with other vehicles
In Ecuador, the petrol engined rear-wheel-drive single cab N140 Hilux was marketed as the Stout II. In Peru, the Hilux Champ is sold as the Hilux Stout.
See also
List of Toyota vehicles