Off-road fans are rejoicing on the Toyota Land Cruiser’s return to the U.S. market after a two-year absence. We do not but know what the specs on what the probably 2024 mannequin 12 months automobile shall be but, however the excellent news is Toyota has bought over 10 million of them worldwide. If you cannot wait till the brand new one comes out, listed below are some traditional variations of Toyota’s go-anywhere flagship which you could purchase proper now.
FJ Firm G40
Everybody is aware of the traditional FJ40, which had an unimaginable run from 1960 to 1964. However in case you rely variations in-built South America, that lifespan extends all the best way to 2001. Within the final decade these have develop into such classics that there are a number of firms constructing restomod examples in the best way Singer builds Porsches.
Florida-based FJ Firm is among the greatest. They take current Land Cruiser our bodies and conduct a frame-off nut-and-bolt rebuild. Alongside the best way, they set up trendy mechanicals just like the 4.0-liter V6 from a Tacoma and 4Runner mated to a 5-speed handbook transmission. They’re built-to-order so clients can specify exterior and inside colours, in addition to efficiency choices like a supercharger or entrance and rear locking differentials. Beginning at $225,000 they are not for the faint of coronary heart, however you’ll be able to sustain with site visitors and present up all of the Audis on the restaurant’s valet stand with out smelling like gasoline.
1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55
In 1967 Toyota determined to department off the Land Cruiser line with a comfort-oriented “wagon” physique fashion. These longer variants, with chassis code FJ55, seated extra and set the template for American market Land Cruisers. The unique FJ40 line begat the utilitarian J70, which is able to quickly be making a return to the Japanese market resulting from well-liked demand.
Nicknamed the Iron Pig, the FJ55 had many of the capabilities of the FJ40 however the longer wheelbase and bigger dimension did barely compromise its off-road talents. They weren’t fairly as well-liked because the FJ40 and as such are fairly uncommon right this moment. This one on the market in Statesville, N.C. seems to be respectable in case you do not thoughts a non-original inside. Overlook sheetmetal, inside plastics and vinyl are a few of the hardest bits to search out on the subject of classic Japanese autos, which can clarify the customized cabin. This mannequin additionally has the bonus of being register-able in California, as solely automobiles 1975 or older are smog-exempt. The $37,900 asking worth is not low-cost, however there are solely a handful of those on the market within the nation at any given time.
1986 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60
The FJ60 has been steadily rising in worth lately. Partially that is as a result of the FJ40s received too costly, but in addition as a result of all 80s SUVs like Jeep Grand Wagoneers and Chevy Blazers have develop into true collectors gadgets. The Land Cruiser’s globally revered off-road capabilities have additionally made the 60-series considerably of a film star, with latest roles in safari thriller “The Beast,” Navy Seal collection “Terminal Checklist”, and revenge thriller “The Outdated Man,” and plenty of extra.
For those who’re purchasing for a 60-series there are two necessary distinctions within the technology. Within the U.S. market the 1981-87 FJ60 got here solely with carbureted 4.2-liter straight sixes mated to 4-speed manuals, identifiable by its spherical sealed-beam headlights. The 1988-90 FJ62 has an up to date engine with gas injection and is a greater freeway cruiser, however comes solely with an computerized. If you would like one thing apocalypse prepared the FJ60 shall be your jam, because it has no circuit boards (and is thus EMP proof) and the handbook transmission can however bump-started. Extra particularly, the proprietor of the Japanese Land Cruiser restoration store Utilitas as soon as instructed me the 1986 and up fashions use a thicker gauge metal for the physique, so a 1986 FJ60 like this one on the market in Birmingham, Ala. is the one to get. At 141,000 miles, it is simply damaged in.
1997 Lexus LX450
In response to many skilled off-roaders, the 80-series Land Cruisers are the very best to get. In a world the place a 301-horsepower Camry can get to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, the 60-series will really feel extraordinarily sluggish on freeways. The 80 is trendy sufficient to maintain up with site visitors, however nonetheless rugged sufficient to fulfill hard-core 4-wheelers. It is the final technology with the sought-after stable entrance axle, which helps hold rocks from bashing in your oil pan if you’re far off the grid. Experience high quality will undergo considerably, but when it is adequate for Biggie on the streets on New York, it will be adequate for many. The 80 can be out there with triple locking differentials, however beware — such geared up examples will double the sale worth on the used automotive market.
On the identical time, the 80 is opulent sufficient to qualify as a Lexus, and it did. A flippantly reworked model grew to become the primary Lexus LX. So why not simply get the Lexus? Mockingly, on the used market the Lexus fashions might be had for barely much less cash resulting from the truth that the Land Cruiser identify carries a lot cachet. This instance on the market in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa. seems to be to be in unimaginable situation, contemplating it has nearly 300,000 miles on the odo. That is end-of-life for a lot of automobiles, however a used Toyota with that mileage can nonetheless command a $17,950 asking worth. However that is one of many many appeals of the Land Cruiser; with correct care and upkeep they will carry on trucking gone a standard automotive’s expiration date.
2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Version
For these within the know, there are a number of automobiles that may be purchased new, pushed for a few years, then bought for as a lot or extra money than you paid for it. Sometimes these are restricted manufacturing or efficiency automobiles just like the Honda Civic Kind R, however the Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Version was a type of uncommon specimens. Once we examined it in 2020 we advised letting another person take the depreciation hit and purchase one used, however they by no means did. Oops.
Created as a send-off to the venerable Land Cruiser identify earlier than anybody knew whether or not it could return to American shores, it gussied up the 200-series Cruisers with BBS wheels and an old-school badge like those you’d discover on an FJ40. Our take a look at automotive stickered at $89,239, however these days examples like this one in Austin, Tex. are asking almost $97,000 with the added bonus of getting 25,000 extra miles on the clock. That would have one thing do do with the rear coloration, Magnetic Grey Metallic (the overwhelming majority of Heritage Editions have been black or white; a tough estimate is that for each one 10 of these there was one in silver or grey), however even frequent colours are asking for greater than MSRP.
It simply goes to indicate, when you’ve a very good factor going, maybe you should not be so fast to let it go. This recommendation goes for Land Cruiser house owners but in addition Toyota itself. It was in all probability all the time a part of the sport plan to re-introduce the nameplate after a quick hiatus, however now Toyota USA won’t ever be capable to declare steady gross sales of a mannequin that had been within the lineup since 1957. That may’ve been 66 straight years of Land Cruiser. Used values show that regardless of the age or mileage, there’ll all the time be somebody on the market who wants a Land Cruiser.
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