Daihatsu Hijet-truck for Sale - Import from Japan

The Daihatsu Hijet Truck isn’t just some quirky leftover from Japan’s domestic past—it *is* the past. This lineage stretches back to the late 1960s, born into Japan's kei car movement and sculpted by tax codes and tight alleys. Early L35/L36 models had a screaming 356cc two-stroke engine and barely 20 horsepower—a scooter with a bed, really. But it’s the 5th-gen S65s and especially the 6th-gen S80P/S83P trucks (late 1980s–early 1990s) that are dominating the import market now. These are the real gold: cable-throttle, leaf-sprung honest machines. Minimal electronics. Just mechanical charm and stubborn reliability packed into 11 feet of steel. And it hasn’t stopped evolving. Modern S500P/S510P models still cling tightly to kei-truck regulations—1.47m wide, 3.4m long—but bring airbags, auto start-stop, even safety tech like lane departure and Smart Assist. It’s the same idea, just leveled up for a 2020s world.

Performance? Depends on your chassis. The base EF-series 660cc engines—especially the naturally aspirated DOHC EF-VE—give you around 46–47 hp. That might sound laughable, until you realize the truck weighs just over 700 kg. It’s agile on tight roads, surprisingly quick off the line up to 60 km/h, and absolutely brilliant in traffic. Turbo variants with the EF-DET engine bring things up to the kei limit: 63 hp and over 100 Nm of torque in a chassis light enough to feel borderline reckless. The boost hits at low revs; you’ll grin in first gear and pray in fourth. On gravel or mud, a 4WD Hijet will reliably claw forward with un-glamorous but dependable enthusiasm. Steering? Light and go-kart immediate on early models, thanks to their ultra-short wheelbase. You sit right over the front axle. Drive a 1990 S83P at 30 km/h and it’s fun. Take it to 90 and suddenly you’re white-knuckled, feeling every gust of wind and crack in the asphalt. Fuel economy is a nice bonus. Modern S510Ps average 15–19 km/L (up to 45 mpg US), easily beating most compact pickups—when driven as intended.

Here’s what they don’t tell you: the cab is tinny. The dashboard is hard plastic that looks like it was vacuum-formed in 1993. There’s a radio. Sometimes. But who cares? You buy a Hijet for the experience. Canvas seats stick to your back on hot afternoons. The throttle cable whines. On older models, downshifting into second gives you a tactile thunk that makes modern trucks feel like numb plushboxes. And when you're loading gear into a flatbed with alloy-sided drop-down gates, you realize: this isn’t a toy. It’s a scalpel built for Japanese city work. Concrete crews. Postal routes. Snowplows in Nagano. On U.S. trails or tight European estates, it feels right at home. Worst part? The ride is bouncy when empty. It’ll hop like a frog over expansion joints. That’s leaf springs and light weight for you. But load it up—even a few hundred kilos—and suddenly it settles. Becomes perfectly usable, even on longer drives.

Want a good one? Go to the source. Auctions across Japan are still flush with S83P and S510P models—especially utility-grade trims with under 80,000 km. Many are Grade 4 or above, meaning light cosmetic wear but strong mechanical condition. Local resale units in the U.S. or Europe? Often higher km and already worked hard. Plus, fewer are equipped with 4WD, A/C, or turbo engines. Japan's mild climate also spares them from serious rust, which is a known issue for older S80-series Hijets in North America. The best units? Mid-2000s S200P 4WD rigs—usable, cheap, and parts-rich. Or newer S510Ps with Smart Assist if you care about modern features. View all used Daihatsu Hijet Truck models for more options direct from Japan.

ZervTek handles every headache: sourcing through auctions or trusted Japanese dealers, arranging inland transport, managing all export paperwork, and securing shipping to your destination port. We know what a good Hijet looks like—and what to avoid. We ship to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, and even hardworking fleets in Uganda and Kenya where these trucks are rapidly gaining traction. Let us inspect your future truck before bidding. We reject auction junk and chase clean Grade 4s with integrity. Our turnaround? Quick. Our customer support? Human. Got questions about importing? Start with our Import to USA Guide if you’re stateside. Or check out our Import to UK Guide if you’re in Europe.