When Toyota first started building 4Runners, the idea was to have a comfortable yet rugged SUV that Toyota loyalists could rely upon. It was the mid-1980s, and Toyota had its finger on the pulse of the off-roading scene, having sponsored Ivan “Ironman” Stewart and his Baja racing efforts, as well as releasing models that even diehard Americans had to appreciate.

Two generations later, it was the late 1990s to early 2000s, and not much had changed. Different drivetrains, refined looks, sure, but the heart and soul of these SUVs was as honest as ever. The outgoing third-gen 4Runner, which stopped production in 2002, was seen as the pinnacle of those early models, with its unassuming face and serviceable interior, as well as its sturdy, if underpowered, 3RZ-FE I4 and 5VZ-FE V6 engines.

So it is with an aching heart that we see one of those last few 4Runners made in 2002 here, on Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), awaiting its judgement. Sprinkled with snow in the Colorado cold, the SUV can still muster up the strength to start, but it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

That’s because the rear axle has suffered a bad wound to the left side, bending it backwards and leaving a massive dent in the steel body. While it’s not the worst fate that could’ve happened to the SUV, it’s still bad enough to be deemed a total loss by USAA.

Whatever it was that caused the accident, it will take a good amount of work to the body and undercarriage to get this 4Runner going again. Would you consider taking this on as a project? Or would you rather save the money to work on something else? Let us know in a comment below.