First generation

Introduced in April 1954 as the Toyopet RK 1¼ ton truck, it was larger than the similar Toyota SG light truck but smaller than the Toyota FA medium duty truck. In 1955 it was upgraded to carry 1.5 tons.

The standard body was a 2-door, 3 seater pickup

Pickup truck

A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...

 with a separate well body (with a fold down tailgate). Other bodies advertised by Toyota included a van, an ambulance, double cab coupe utility (2-doors, 6 seater, integral well body), drop-side pickup, pickup with stake sides, a pickup with full height metal side with a canvas top, a light bus (precursor to the Coaster

Toyota Coaster

The Toyota Coaster is a minibus produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 1969, with the second generation introduced in 1982, followed by the third generation in 1993...

) and an ice cream van.

All models used mechanicals common to new vehicles of its time, such as a ladder frame chassis, leaf springs, solid axles and 4 wheel drum brakes. The engine was the 48HP 1500 cc Type R with a manual transmission. The body was professionally finished with windscreen wipers, dual outside mirrors (1955 onwards), hubcaps, chrome trim and dual headlights.

The 1954 model was designated as a 1¼ ton truck but was actually rated to carry 1220 kg. The 1955 model was designated as a 1.5 ton truck but was actually rated to carry 1330 kg.

In 1957 the RK was revised to become the RK30 and the RK35. In May 1959 it was named the Stout. Its main competitor was the Nissan Junior

Nissan Junior

The Nissan Junior was a series of medium-sized Pickup trucks built from 1956 until 1982. It was introduced to fill the gap between the light Datsuns and heavier Nissans such as the 80-series trucks. While the smaller Datsun Truck always outsold the Toyota Hilux, the larger Junior always played...

.

Second generation (1963-1968)

Completely redesigned in 1963 this is the most familiar version of the Stout. The Japanese market had the 1453 cc Type R engine in the RK45 and the 1897 cc 3R-B engine in the RK100.

Export out of Japan began in September 1967 with the RK101. In some markets (e.g. North America) it was replaced by the slightly smaller Hilux

Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...

 in 1968 but in many other markets (e.g. South-East Asia and Australia) it was sold alongside the Hilux. The RK101 used the 1994 cc 5R engine.

Conventional mechanical parts were used in the form of leaf springs and 4 wheel drum brakes on a ladder frame chassis. Body styles included a pickup (2-door, 3 seater), a double-cab pickup (4-door, 6 seater) and a 2-door van.

Third generation (1979-1986)

Facelifted and modernised in March 1979, the Stout now looked more like the smaller Hilux

Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...

 but still fulfilled the same role as before. It also continued to use the same 1994 cc 5R engine.

Body styles included a pickup (2-door, 3 seater) and a double-cab pickup (4-door, 6 seater). The Stout was discontinued in 1986 without a successor as Toyota's first Full-Size pickup, the T100

Toyota T100

The Toyota T100 was a full-sized pickup truck introduced by Toyota in late 1992 as a 1993 calendar year vehicle....

 as well as the Tundra

Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...

 were built mainly for North America, where the Stout had been replaced by the Hilux

Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...

in 1968.