From the plains of Africa to the glaciers of Scandivia, from the desert of Sahara to the forests of the Amazon infact in almost every harsh environment and rugged terrain the vehicle of choice for most people is the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser in many of its forms can be seen accross the world enduring some of the worst possible terrain and climates, yet it survives and keeps going proving to be rugged and reliable. So where did it all start for the Landcruiser? I have put together some info I was able to dig out of the big internet world.
The 10 series Land Cruiser?
In 1941 Toyota built a light tactile truck for the Japanese Imperial Army to be used in the military campaign during the war, having seen the Willis Jeeps used by the Americans the Japanese realised the potential of a light yet capable vehicle and demanded a similar vehicle from Toyota. The Toyota company obliged by building a proto type named the MODEL AK which was similar yet different from the American Jeep vehicle. The Japanese government commissioned Toyota to start the manufacture of a 1/2 ton light truck, in 1942 the AK10 was built and running, it was powered by a 4 cylinder 2259cc engine from a Toyota saloon car. Unfortunately there are no known photographs or AK10 vehicles any where in the world.... AK10 = 10 series Landcruiser?
The BJ Jeep
In 1950 when the Americans were busy in Korea, Toyota was asked by the United states government to build 100 vehicles with the Willys specification . In 1951 Toyota had produced a proto type 4x4 "Jeep BJ", the Jeep BJ was larger and more powerful than the original American Jeep, the BJ Jeep was powered by a petrol 3.4 litre 6 cylinder engine producing 85hp, the BJ Jeep had a part time 4x4 system but no low range transfer case. By 1953 the BJ Jeep was being produced at the Toyota Hansya plant, The BJ jeep was available in Touring BJ-T, Radio BJ-R and chassis form for fire engines BJ-J.
The 20 series Land Cruiser 1955
The BJ was to evolve in to the 20 series, a more civilian type vehicle to enable export and to compete with the British Land Rover, Hanji Umehara - the technical director at Toyota had decided to name this vehicle "Land Cruiser" It was called Land Cruiser because he did not want it to sound "less dignified" than the competition - Land Rover. The Land Cruiser 20 was powered by a 3.9 litre F series 6 cylinder petrol engine, the vehicle was supported with a 4 leaf spring setup. in 1958Toyota introduced long wheel base wagon known as the Land cruiser FJ35V, production of the FJ25 was moved to Brazil making it the first Toyota to be built outside of Japan, by 1959 Toyota was exporting Land cruisers to Australia for use in the mining industry.
1960 a Legend is Born - FJ40
In 1960 Toyota redesigned the 20 series by making many changes in the production stages and introduced the FJ40. The FJ40 was powered by a petrol 3.9 litre engine producing 125 hp, the FJ 40 was the first Land Cruiser with a low range transfer case. The Land Cruiser being built in Brazil were renamed Bandeirante which were powered by a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine producing 78hp.
The FJ40 has achieved a cult following by many hard core 4x4 enthusiasts around the world, it is a seriously capable offroader loved by many. The FJ55 (FJ55 was a long wheelbase 40 introduced in 1967) had front disc brakes by 1975, and there was a diesel engine option in the shape of a 3.0 litre 4 cylinder B series diesel engine. The production of the FJ40 ended in 1984, at least in Japan it did.
I found this informative video on Youtube outlining the Landcruiser history - posted by Automoto TV
60 series Land cruiser - 1980
4x4 type SUV vehicles had built up a reputation and were accepted as a useful vehicle not just for industrial and military use but also by the civilian population. Toyota had recognised this market and introduced the Land Cruiser 60 series, it was very different in terms of size and looks to the 40 series. The 60 had a 4.0 litre 6 cylinder diese 2H and a 3.4litre 4 cylinder 3B diesel engine as well as the F series petrol engine from the 40. Land cruiser 80 was equipped with modern creature comforts such as air conditioning and electric windows etc etc but this was not the only thing that made the 60 a huge success. By 1981 Landcruiser sales had surpassed 1 million worldwide, surely a testament to its reliability and success as the 4x4 vehicle of choice by the masses.
70 series Land cruiser - 1985
With the 40 series production having ended in 1984, Toyota had a market for a lighter 4x4 SUV than the 60 series, this is when Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser 70 known in some markets as a Prado, Bundera, Banderina etc. With its straight lines and 1980s style design in some ways it still retained similar looks from the 40 heritag. The 70 series is still being built today! in 2009 Toyota sold the LC 70 with their newest diesel engine ... a V8 4.5 litre from the 200 series Landcruiser.
80 series Land cruiser 1990 - the best 4x4 ever built!
In 1990 Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser 80 series, now the mighty Land cruiser had evolved into a full time 4x4 machine with 3 diff locks and the superb 4.2 litre turbo charged 6 cylinder diesel engine ready to tackle a variety of terrain from across the world in superb comfort and style. It was branded as a Lexus for some Toyota markets. The 80 series is one of the most loved vehicles in the world and has a huge following from all corners of the world. I consider the Land cruiser 80 series as the best all round vehicle ever built, I own one of the last LC80s a 1997 HDJ82 Landcruiser Amazon GX 24 valve turbo diesel with manual transmission and 8 cloth seats, its my pride and joy, Toyota stopped selling this legendary vehicle in 1998.
90 series Land cruiser 1996
Toyota introduced the 90 series in 1996 in some markets it replaced the 70 Prado, in the UK and some other places it was branded as a Colorado, 90 series was availble in 3.0 turbo diesel and 3.4 petrol versions. The 90 was replaced by the 12o series known as LC3 in some parts of the world.
100 series Land Cruiser 1998 .....
200 series Land Cruiser a.k.a Landcruiser V8 2009 .....
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