Toyota was not kidding when it said it was building a one-off Tacoma to celebrate Back to the Future Day on October 21. But even this author, in his ardent BTTF/Toyota enthusiasm, is impressed with what they’ve created.

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The BTTF tribute borrows just about every cool detail from Marty McFly’s truck. Starting with the most obvious, enamel-like black paintwork and wheel faces with chrome simulated beadlocks hearken back to the 1985’s black paint and chrome wheel rims. Also calling the cinema truck to mind are the two square driving lamps, capped with yellow KC HiLITES light covers. The lamps are mounted to a custom tubular front bumper with an integrated grille hoop, just like the famous 1985, while four round lights with matching covers are mounted to the rollbar just above and aft of the cab. The rollbar and front and rear bumpers look just about exactly as they did in 1985.

However, nearly anyone with a set of eyes could recreate those obvious aspects of Marty’s Pickup on a new truck. What sets Toyota’s efforts with the 2016 Tacoma tribute apart are the details. The front turn signals are colored a deep, smoky amber, recalling a time when ugly orange lenses cluttered the lines of every U.S.-market vehicle. The theme is repeated on the taillights, where Toyota brought back tricolor units (although the reverse lamps look like they’ve been replaced with very futuristic metallic trim strips).

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See all 15 photos

Also in back, the Tacoma’s sculpted tailgate and stamped model logo have been 86ed in favor of a smooth tailgate with TOYOTA script plastered across the middle (yay!). One last cool detail: While 22R-E–equipped Toyota 4x4s came with a badge on the C-pillar that read “TOYOTA 4WD EFI,” the 2016 has a very cool “TOYOTA 4WD D-4S” badge, a nod to the Tacoma's modern 3.5L V-6.

Toyota made a short video hyping its new Mirai fuel-cell vehicle, which is powered by hydrogen. While that's all well and good, what actually makes the YouTube flick worth watching are the cameos by Marty and Doc, plus the flashbacks involving the new Tacoma driving through actual Hill Valley landmarks. Welcome to the future.

Source: Toyota

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