There are few names in off-road racing on a level as great as that of Ivan Stewart. Through a tenacious and intense career that spanned over twenty-five years, the man garnered dozens of wins across the MTEG stadium races, Baja 500, Baja 1000, and much more.

Members of the original PPI build team had a hand in restoring this awesome Toyota. Photo: RK Motors

Teaming up with Precision Preparation, Inc. in 1983 forever changed the way the game was played when Ivan got behind the wheel of his red/orange/yellow-liveried Toyota truck and went on to win race after race after race.

And very soon, this piece of Ivan’s iron will be put up for auction as part of RK Motors’ RKM Collector Car Auction. The auction is taking place October 31-November 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina, very close to the company’s headquarters.

Though it endured a great number of miles over harsh desert terrain in the capable hands of its legendary owner, it wasn’t all for naught; the truck added a Baja 1000 win and four Baja 500 wins to Stewart’s career. Also, it’s since been rebuilt and restored professionally by several members of the original building crew from PPI.

Speaking to Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, Off Road Xtreme editor Stuart Bourdon was told in response to the report of the impending sale, “I drove the truck in Barstow (California) about a year after the restoration was complete, and it was in perfect shape.”

Stewart went on to say, “Larry Roeseler and I were the only guys to ever race it; but I would love for it to go to a museum or a collection where it can be seen by the public, rather than just sitting in a warehouse, where it’s been for years.”

Moving power to its BF Goodrich 37×17 tires is a 302 ci TRD V-8, sporting a compression ration of 13:1. It’s more than well-suited for roaring through dust and dirt with over 550hp at its disposal, easily making this rig capable of reaching speeds in excess of 135mph.

Although some of the powerplant’s internal components may seem familiar with names like JE Pistons and Carrillo Rods, this thing is still a unique piece of art thanks to numerous custom-built components. The engine gets its fuel by way of eight EFI throttle bodies directed by a Weber/Redline ECU.

Exhaust is channeled down a set of tuned stainless Borla headers that use USFS-approved spark arrestors. You wouldn’t guess it from the relatively quite idle, but just tapping the gas pedal gets an intimidating roar out of this purpose-built machine.

But a truck like this would be useless if not for excellent suspension and handling. For that, you have a front and rear double A-arm setup using PPI tuneable coil overs, with stiff springs provided by Eibach. Stopping power is decisive and sharp thanks to PPI rotors with Brembo calipers and a Tilton master cylinder.

Ivan romps around the Southern California desert in the rebuilt Toyota in 2012.

Buckled inside, the driver is nestled in the center of a handmade 015 aluminum chassis. It would be a bit of a change from the daily driver (especially if using a manual is a new trick), but hauling ass down the Mojave would help you learn right quick.

The carbon fiber/kevlar shell resembles the style used for the Baja 2000, and appropriately carries the names of both Stewart and his co-driver, fellow icon Larry Roeseler, who drove the second 1000-mile leg of the race. Chris Hukill, of Hukill Paint and Graphics, used to work for PPI and reapplied the truck’s paint scheme as it was seen years ago.

Even the Ironman himself gave this truck its seal of approval. With that kind of certification, what more could you ask for?

So guess the final gavel price: $100,000? $200,000? More? Place your bets below in the comments section.