Second Hand Volkswagen Taro Aerial

Yes, the Volkswagen Taro — a pick-up truck sold in Europe from 1989 to 1997 and based on the Toyota Hilux — was fitted with a standard roof or front-wing mounted radio aerial as part of its factory specification. Most variants came with a basic fixed or manual telescopic aerial to serve the standard radio head unit. If your Taro is missing its aerial or the mount is damaged, used examples are available from breakers who specialise in this era of commercial pick-ups.

The Volkswagen Taro was produced in a single generation throughout its 1989–1997 production run with no significant facelift that changed the aerial mounting point or base specification, so aerials from across the production run are generally compatible. The key practical checks are whether the aerial is the fixed or telescopic type and whether the connector for the head unit matches. Confirm the specific type and connector style with the breaker before purchasing.

Trim level does not affect aerial fitment on the Taro — the aerial mount position and base fitting are the same regardless of specification. You may find cosmetic differences such as a chrome versus plain finish on the aerial mast between different spec vehicles, so it is worth noting what finish your original had if appearance matters to you. Functionally, any Taro aerial should fit any other Taro regardless of trim.

This is worth exploring because the Taro was mechanically based on the Toyota Hilux of the same era, and some body and trim components were shared between the two. However, whether the aerial base and connector are identical enough to be a direct swap is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as there may be differences in the specific connector or mounting thread. A breaker experienced with both models will be best placed to advise.

Given there was no significant body or specification revision to the Taro's aerial mounting across its production life, an early and late example should use the same fitting. That said, confirm with the breaker that the aerial type (fixed, telescopic, or powered if fitted) matches your vehicle, and that the connector tail is compatible with your radio. It is always worth quoting your registration to the breaker so they can cross-reference against their parts.

The Taro was sold in relatively small numbers in the UK, so aerials are a niche find, but vehicle dismantlers (breakers) who deal in early 1990s light commercial vehicles or Japanese-based trucks are your best starting point. Using Findapart allows you to get quotes from multiple UK breakers at once, which is the most practical way to track down low-volume parts like this. Because of the Taro's Toyota Hilux underpinnings, it is also worth asking breakers whether a contemporary Hilux aerial is a compatible alternative.