The DFW Car & Toy Museum has added a distinctive piece of automotive history to its Ron Sturgeon Collection with the acquisition of a 1996 Toyota TownAce 4×4 Fuel Truck imported directly from Japan. This compact right-hand-drive utility vehicle features a fully functional 450-liter aluminum fuel tank and represents Toyota’s engineering for demanding environments.
Originally manufactured for the Japanese domestic market, the TownAce is powered by a 1.8-liter 2Y inline-four engine producing 77 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle’s utilitarian design includes a column-shifted five-speed manual transmission, dual-range transfer case, and push-button four-wheel-drive system, making it capable of operating in challenging terrain where such vehicles would typically refuel machinery in remote locations.
‘This is the kind of vehicle you’d expect to see refueling machines deep in a mountainside village—not turning heads at a Texas car museum,’ said Ron Sturgeon, founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum. ‘But that’s exactly why we love it. It’s a workhorse with personality, and a reminder of how Toyota builds trucks to do anything, anywhere.’
The vehicle’s functional features include an M.K Lorry 450-liter aluminum fuel tank equipped with its own pump and fuel-level gauge. The right-hand-drive cab maintains its original interior with a split bench seat trimmed in gray vinyl with patterned cloth inserts and a no-frills dashboard featuring a two-spoke steering wheel, 160-km/h speedometer, and gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level.
The TownAce joins over 200 classic vehicles and 3,000 vintage toys and collectibles at the museum, which continues to expand its offerings throughout the year. The museum’s location and hours can be found on their website at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com. This acquisition underscores the museum’s commitment to preserving diverse automotive artifacts that demonstrate engineering solutions across different cultures and applications.
For enthusiasts of Japanese domestic market vehicles, overlanding equipment, or unique automotive designs, this functional fuel truck provides insight into vehicle adaptation for specific industrial needs. The TownAce represents more than just transportation—it embodies a practical approach to vehicle design that prioritizes reliability and functionality in demanding conditions, reflecting Toyota’s global reputation for durable light-duty trucks.
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