Toyota has now been building the Hilux pickup for 50 years. That’s a half-century of history made and a reputation built. Of course, most know the Hilux as an indestructible mid-size pickup that sells in nearly every country around the world – 190 countries, to be exact. Well, to celebrate the Hilux’s golden anniversary, Toyota has put together a one-off show truck called the Hilux “Invincible 50.” The automaker then chose the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show to display its self-congratulating concept.

Toyota started with a Double Cab Hilux and added several Toyota-branded aftermarket parts customers can typically find at a Toyota dealership. There is also a custom wrap designed to grab the attention of show-goers at Frankfurt, too. The truck is designed to be at home both on the job site and doing fun weekend-style activities. Toyota’s marketing hype says it’s “ideally suited to a broad range of both professional and leisure activities.” Perhaps that means the cargo box holds hammers just as well as camping gear. Either way, Toyota certainly has the right to celebrate the Hilux’s 50 years in production.

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2017 Toyota Hilux 'Invincible 50'

Specifications
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  • Model: 2017 Toyota Hilux 'Invincible 50'
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What makes the Toyota Hilux 'Invincible 50' special?

The Toyota Hilux “Invincible 50” isn’t a one-off concept with special bodywork that no one outside Toyota could replicate. Rather, it’s basically a stock truck with plenty of add-on parts that give it a unique personality with added functionality.

Most noticeably, the truck has a body wrap with Invincible written boldly across the cargo bed and rear doors. The black, 18-inch alloy wheels are new too, as are the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires. Toyota’s choice of the BFGoodrich brand ties into BFG’s sponsorship of Toyota’s Dakar race teams. Adding some buffness to the truck’s appearance are black fender flares and mud flaps at all four corners. A set of black side steps help ease the climb into the cab.

Out back, the Hilux Invincible 50 has a black sports bar – a popular feature on trucks around the world and something we’d love to see return in popularity in the U.S. General Motors has tried this with a few special edition versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, along with the Colorado and Canyon mid-size trucks, too. Mounted between the sports bar rails is a composite tool box that offers lockable, watertight storage for whatever needs to be carried. A plastic bed liner helps keep the inner bed walls from getting dinged up.

Except for the custom wrap, these accessories are easily added to any Hilux pickup. Of course, Toyota will love to sell you some and charge for the installation.

Toyota has kept things simple inside this one-off Hilux pickup. There are floor mats, custom door sill scuff plates, and an upgraded leather wrap on the parking brake handle.

Toyota is expecting 2017 to be a record-breaking sales year with more than 40,600 Hilux trucks sold in Europe alone. That is more than the Hilux's last European sales record of 40,104 sold in 2007. The Hilux also remains one of the most mass-produced pickups around the world. The humble Toyota truck has come a long way in 50 years, hasn’t it?

References

Toyota Hilux

Read our full review on the Toyota Hilux.