did toyota ever offer a regular cab 4x4 Tacoma with a v6 and a factory rear locker. because thats what I want before the tacoma grows to the hideous beast due out soon.

No they didn't. You had to get the extra-cab. They did offer a regular cab 4x4 V6 in the 95.5 and 96 year models, but that's it. Those are pretty hard to find though.

You should be able to find quite a few regular cab 4x4 4 cylider models though and then you could throw in a lock rite in the rear and have a nice rig though.