WATCH us have fun jumping this rough-and-ready JK Rubicon on some off-road tracks.
Vote for the Jeep JK Unlimited Wrangler Rubicon to win the 2017 Custom 4×4 of the Year
The JK Unlimited is one of the most popular 4x4s out on the tracks right now, but most pale in comparison to owner Bill’s Rubicon.
As stock, the JK Rubicon comes with plenty of cool kit, including a beefy front axle, lower case gearing, rock sliders and an electronically disconnecting front swaybar.
This highly modified JK steps it up a notch again, thanks mainly to the crew at Double Black Offroad who went through the Jeep from front to rear prior to dealer delivery.
Up front is a DBOR stubby bar for greater wheel exposure, which provides greater approach angles, as well as a Smittybilt winch and controversial Smittybilt mesh grille. Lightforce HTX230 driving lights reside up top.
The JK Unlimited sits 4.5 inches higher thanks to a full Double Black Offroad Wild Kit, which replaced the factory suspension links with heavy duty adjustable items from Synergy Manufacturing. Taller Rubicon Express coils were also added front and rear.
Among a heap of other kit, features include a Daystar hood cowl, an AEV snorkel, Airaid air box, DBOR flat fender flares, Smittybilt XRC rock sliders, DBOR rocker guards, Smittybilt Atlas rear bar, and Teraflex removable mud flaps.
What about that hue? “It’s Sunset Orange, which is a rare colour,” Bill said. “And it matches General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard.”
Watch the monster JK tackle steep tracks with aplomb in the above video.
To read our full review of this incredible 4×4, buy the August issue of 4X4 Australia – in stores now.
UPON hearing the name Clark Rubber, most people instantly think of swimming pools and hot summer days.
This is advertiser content
However, the Australian owned company has been delivering a broader range of equipment – namely rubber and foam products – since 1946, when its founders, Charlesworth and Clark, formed a partnership to establish Clark Matting and Rubber.
This has expanded to include a catalogue of pools, spas, pool accessories, mattresses and bedding, tiles, carpet, footwear, and even artificial grass.
With such a rich history of manufacturing and selling rubber products, the company recently released a new range of rubber mats, in particular its heavy duty Ultimate Matting.
Made using natural rubber, the Ultimate Matting is cut-to-measure in-store and is priced at $149 per linear metre, which places it at the higher end of the rubber-mat price scale. But with that high price, comes a quality-made, durable product.
The Ultimate Matting is (on average) 20 per cent thicker than standard ute matting, has a unique reversible design, and is UV-stabilised so it will last longer when exposed to the elements. The rubber is also made from a new compound that adds to its high levels of durability, and it has been designed as a versatile surface solution for utes, trailers and trucks.
With that in mind, we scooted down to Clark Rubber’s Moorabbin store in Melbourne’s south-east to pick up a 2x2m offset of heavy duty rubber, which was cut to shape by the staff to fit nice and snug in the Ranger Wildtrak’s tray – this was relatively easy thanks to 3mm channels to help guide the cutting process.
With the impressive-looking mat blending in nicely in the Ranger’s tray, we spent the following weekend putting it through its paces: we threw a heap of gear on top of it and then pointed the Ranger at a variety of terrain, from undulating trails to cruisy highways.
It’s safe to say, the gear hardly budged an inch – everything stayed in place and we didn’t have to tie anything down.
The durable rubber can also cop a pounding, with only a blast from a high-pressure hose needed to wipe away any remnants from a weekend spent tackling muddy tracks.
The Ultimate Matting has been designed to assist with the drainage of water, something which is imperative for an exposed tray. Despite working well, we found this design attracts leaves that burrow into all of the mat’s tiny gaps.
The stubborn little leaves refused to budge, even when hitting 100 clicks – we can only imagine how this issue will only be exaggerated when heading off on a camping trip, among a flurry of red gums and eucalyptus trees.
Despite this, the Ultimate Matting has considerably improved grip in the tray and is now permanently affixed to the Ranger Wildtrak, with no intention of removing it anytime soon.
Clark Rubber’s Ultimate Matting comes with a two-year warranty.
CONTACT Website: https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/ RRP: $149 per linear metre
RAM has launched its limited edition 2500 Code Black on to the Australian market.
Much like the Ranger FX4, Hilux TRD and Colorado Z71, the Code Black – RAM’s first Australian limited edition version of the 2500 – has mainly been built to keep up appearances.
However, separating the 2500 Code Black from the likes of the FX4 is that it comes with class-leading rubber in the form of Nitto ‘Terra Grappler” 275/65R20 A/T 126/123R all-terrain tyres. These surround 20-inch black alloy wheels and are protected by heavy-duty wheel arch flares, also black.
The aesthetic upgrades mainly involve – as the name suggests – black paint, which has been splashed over the special edition RAM 2500’s grille, front and rear bumpers, the door-mounted rear-view mirrors, and the badging.
Other than this cosmetic treatment, the special edition RAM 2500 is standard. A 6.7-litre Cummins turbo-diesel engine – capable of generating 276kW and a mammoth 1084Nm – is carried over and enables the ute to tow up to a massive 6942kg.
American Special Vehicles engineers all right-hand drive RAM utes to Australian conditions, and each vehicle is covered by a three year/100,000km warranty, which includes full parts and service support from a nationwide dealer network.
The RAM 2500 Code Black has a RRP of $149,500 plus statutory charges, delivery and dealer costs.
For more information, including the full range, specs and RAM dealer network, visit: www.ramtrucks.com.au
THERE’S no shortage of aftermarket kit on the market, so we’ve compiled a shortlist of the hottest products currently in catalogues.
Here’s a sample of some of the best kit you can add to your fourbie.
ARB DIGITAL TYRE INFLATOR & AIR PRESSURE GAUGE
ON AN average 4×4 adventure, punters are likely to cross all sorts of terrain – mud, water, rocks, dust – so it pays to carry the right gear to keep an eye on tyre pressures. ARB’s digital tyre inflator and air pressure gauge makes it simple to check pressures and alter it via simple operation. The unit features an easy-to-read, large LCD screen, an ergonomic thumb-operated inflator lever, a bleed button, a clip-on chuck, and a battery capacity indicator. The pressure range is: 0-200 psi, 0-414 bar, 0-1400 kPa, or 0-14 kgF/cm2. Website: www.arb.com.au
OPPOSITE LOCK 70 SERIES BULLBARS
TO KEEP the front end of Cruiser safe, Opposite Lock has released a MY17 Land Cruiser 70 Series range of bullbars. The Premium Steel Post Type Bullbar, made from premium grade steel, provides superior protection and maintains the Cruiser’s already pleasing aesthetics. OL’s Steel Fleet Bullbar is a simplified design for those who are thriftier. Both have been uniquely designed by Opposite Lock engineers to complement the single-cab LC’s original looks. Website: www.oppositelock.com.au
UNIDEN CB TITANIUM TWO-WAY RADIO
UNIDEN’S flagship two-way CB Titanium handheld radio has copped a few performance upgrades and additional car accessories thanks to the introduction of the car kit deluxe pack. The heavy-duty UH850S-DLX Titanium radio has an extended battery life of 39 hours operating time, with a range of 17km and 5W. Other key features include access to 80 UHF channels, waterproofness, a voice enhancer with four audio settings (normal, bass, midrange and high), and it comes with a three-year warranty. Also included is a magnetic portable antenna and a Cigarette lead battery saver. Website: www.uniden.com.au RRP: $329.95
EAST COAST BULLBARS
EAST COAST BULLBARS has a shed full of Land Cruiser bullbars available for purchase and fitment. Two bar styles are available: Big Tube Bar and Big Tube Winch Bar. ECB’s Big Tube Bars are ADR and airbag compliant, have air-directional cooling vents, a CB aerial bracket on selected models, ECB bumper lights, ECB LED indicator/park lamps, and a choice of superior finishes. The bars are a full bumper replacement or a bumper over design. Bars are available for 60, 70, 80, 100 and 200 Series. Lifetime warranty supplied. Website: www.ecb.com.au RRP (from): 60 Series Big Tube Bar: $2390 70 Series Big Tube Bar: $2390 80 Series Big Tube Winch Bar: $2490 100 Series Big Tube Winch Bar with ECB bumper lights: $2585 200 Series Big Tube Winch Bar with ECB bumper lights: $2990
EFS SUSPENSION
EFS are the suspension specialists, and it has your Land Cruiser’s needs covered. Want a lift? Or simply need to improve the OE suspension’s handling and stability? Then give the crew at EFS a call today. EFS have developed kits for the 200 Series, 76 Series, 79 Series and the Prado. All products are backed by a nationwide three year/100,000km warranty. Head online for full specs and details. Website: www.efs4wd.com.au RRP (from): 200 Series $1250 76 Series $1750 79 Series $1870 Prado $1400
MSA 4X4 EXPLORER STORAGE DRAWER SYSTEM
THE storage experts at MSA 4×4 have put their minds together to create the Explorer Aluminium Storage Drawer System, what it claims to be Australia’s most advanced 4WD storage system ever. The system maximises storage space, yet remains similar in size on the outside to most other systems. Features include Pro-Glide technology, which handles up to 250kg per pair of drawers; Open-stay block, which holds a drawer open on steep inclines; the MSA 4X4-designed handle lock system for maximum security; and an LED strip light flush mounted to the inside of the drawer. The system is compatible with MSA 4X4 drop slides, fridge slides and fridge barriers. The ADR-compliant system comes with a lifetime guarantee. Website: www.msa4x4.com.au
MAXTRAX
WE’VE done countless off-road recoveries here at 4X4 Australia, and the consensus always seems to be that a set of MaxTrax will get you out of trouble better than other recovery board. The lightweight boards measure up at 150mm long X 330mm wide x 85mm tall, so they can easily be stored in your fourbie’s tray, or on a roof rack for easy access. The clever design will clear you from mud, snow or sand! Website: www.maxtrax.com.au RRP: $299
WHEN Toyota introduced the 1VD-FTV 4.5-litre common-rail TDV8 engine to the 70 Series Land Cruiser range in 2007, it endowed the venerable workhorse with significantly more torque than it ever had previously.
In fact, the new TDV8 engine made a claimed 430Nm at 1200-3200rpm, up by 50Nm compared to the earlier 1HD-FTE six-cylinder turbo-diesel powerplant, and up a whopping 145Nm compared to the naturally aspirated 1HZ.
However, more torque places more pressure on driveline components, and although many owners have never experienced issues with the standard clutch in the VDJ70, complaints are not uncommon, with issues including clutch slipping, clutch noise and premature wear.
Any potential problems with the standard clutch are exacerbated when the Land Cruiser is modified, whether via a performance upgrade (think: chip, exhaust, etc.) and/or the fitment of larger diameter tyres.
Problems can also arise when the Land Cruiser is used for heavy towing purposes, or is subjected to extreme off-road conditions.
Steve Booth from Power Torque Vic, which specialises in power upgrades on common-rail diesel engines, told us he replaces just about every VDJ70 Land Cruiser clutch that comes through his workshop.
“Every single 70 Series [TDV8] that we tune, except for the really early stuff like ’07, ’08 and ’09 models, the clutches are pretty much garbage, they don’t hold anything,” he said.
“Toyota must have made a change along the line somewhere and it wasn’t for the best, that’s for sure. Even with power increases to around 140kW, the clutches are slipping, but it’s more the torque of the V8 that makes them slip.
“A lot of people, when they put slightly bigger tyres on them, and an exhaust system on them, that’s enough to make them slip,” Steve said.
Even the latest variants of the 70 Series Land Cruiser aren’t immune to clutch problems when modified.
“When the DPF model came out [in 2016], that had a better slave cylinder and improved clamping force, but we’re still finding that they’re not good enough… as soon as you tune the DPF model, the clutch goes. We’ve had brand new ones on the dyno where they’ve done 100km and the clutch fries,” Steve explained.
Rather than replace the standard clutch with an OE item, Steve fits a heavy-duty aftermarket clutch kit, along with a billet flywheel.
In fact, there are several aftermarket clutch kits on the market designed to better stand up to the high torque output of the TDV8 engine, particularly those that have been modified, placing added stresses on driveline components.
Adelaide-based company Australian Clutch Services (ACS) has been supplying clutch kits and components for more than 25 years, and it offers a wide range of aftermarket heavy-duty clutch kits to suit most four-wheel drive vehicles on the market (including the VDJ70 Land Cruiser) under the Xtreme Outback banner.
The company says its in-house R&D facility provides it with the resources to “continually analyse new friction materials and evaluate spring rates to obtain the optimal combination of performance, noise suppression and durability”.
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The latest Xtreme Outback clutch kit to suit the VDJ70 Land Cruiser utilises an extra-heavy-duty pressure plate, and it provides a 58 per cent increase in clamping force over the OE clutch.
Despite this increase, ACS claims the heavy-duty clutch retains close to original “driveability” courtesy of a replacement slave cylinder, which is designed to alleviate any extra pedal effort required to operate the clutch.
While this kit utilises an extra-heavy-duty pressure plate, the company also offers a standard heavy-duty version.
The Xtreme Outback clutch kit comes with everything needed to replace the OE clutch, including an extra-heavy-duty pressure plate, 300mm OE quality replacement friction disc, thrust bearing and carrier, replacement slave cylinder, pilot bearing, and clutch alignment tool.
Xtreme Outback also supplies replacement flywheels, if required.
“We offer a comprehensive range of upgrades for Land Cruiser vehicles including the extra-heavy-duty upgrades for 70 series six- and eight-cylinder models,” Xtreme Outback mechanical engineer, Stewart Furze, said.
“Our range includes a variety of upgrade options in organic and we also offer a ceramic upgrade for very high horsepower applications.”
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As Stewart Furze mentioned, Xtreme Outback also offers an extra-heavy-duty clutch kit to suit six-cylinder HDJ70 Land Cruisers.
According to ACS, the “design of this kit is focused on producing a clutch that offers exceptional driveability and improved torque holding capability when the vehicle has engine modifications and is used in extreme conditions”.
If you intend to modify your 70 Series Cruiser, whether an older six-cylinder model or new TDV8, chances are you’ll need to upgrade the clutch to an aftermarket heavy-duty item.
CONTACTS XTREME OUTBACK Phone: 1800 CLUTCH Website: xtremeoutback.com.au
POWER TORQUE VIC Phone: 0417 558 799 Website: powertorquevic.com.au
WHILE local car companies serve up dress-up pack for Aussie 4×4 utes, Isuzu in the UK got serious when it teamed up with Arctic Trucks, a company with 25 years’ experience developing 4x4s for the chilly climes of Iceland and Scandinavia.
Unfortunately, the resulting Isuzu D-MAX AT35 is only sold in the United Kingdom and there are no plans to introduce it here.
What makes it so extreme? The AT35 retains much of the D-MAX’s original drivetrain, including the 2499cc 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder engine capable of extracting 120kW and 400Nm.
But where Arctic Trucks enforces its influence is underneath, with re-engineered suspension courtesy of Fox Performance Series dampers, front and rear. This, in addition to 35-inch Nokian Rotiiva AT tyres (fitted to 17-inch x 10-inch wheels), means the AT35 rides 55mm higher than a standard double-cab D-MAX.
It also has six degrees more approach angle and 10 degrees more rampover angle, placing ground clearance at 290mm, approach angle at 36 degrees, rampover angle at 32 degrees and departure angle at 23 degrees. The AT35 measures up at 5295mm (length), 1930mm (height) and 2000mm (width).
The tough and durable chassis features the high tensile strength steel and cross-member braces of the D-MAX it’s based on, but comes with additional braces to aid stability and spread payload weight evenly.
Just like its D-MAX siblings, the AT35 can haul more than 1000kg of on-board gear and tow up to 3500kg.
Shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive selection (two, four and low-ratio) can be applied via a dial located on the centre console, which, when used correctly, can theoretically mean the AT35 can crawl over “almost anything”.
We took a double-cab AT35 (it’s also available in extended-cab configuration) with all the bells and whistles mentioned – including the massive tyres and motorsport inspired dampers – to a disused quarry in Rutland, UK, for a thorough initiation.
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The older five-speed auto (new Australian D-MAX has a six-speed gearbox along with a torquier revised engine) test mule had the high and low-ratio four-wheel drive options, but no locking diffs, none of that fancy terrain mode nonsense, and no adjustable ride height.
For the test process, we took a three-prong approach to evaluate the D-MAX – a hill climb, a rock crawl and a timed obstacle course.
The first challenge was a hill climb from a standing start – one short, scrabbly testing hill, a right turn and a left turn, followed by a second (and more upright) ascent. The D-MAX scrabbled and its live rear axle – it’s an unloaded ute, remember – bounced to provoke some axle tramp, before cresting the climb.
A rock crawl test was next on the card. The idea was simple enough, navigate the D-MAX from one end of a series of large rocks to another, testing ground clearance, traction and axle articulation.
The accessories gave it such tremendous clearance that it hopped over the obstacles, with barely a whimper.
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The final test wasn’t out of the 4×4 purist’s handbook. We picked a start point, an end point and a series of obstacles between the two, and then drove as quickly as we could from one end to the other, across all obstacles, without damaging the Isuzu.
The course went: Risk-of-grounding-out jump, turning-circle test, steep descent, water wade, abrupt climb, gentle mogul, steep descent, open plain, narrow climb, muddy mogul, slippery corner, turning-circle test, and back to the start.
The D-MAX felt like it wanted the abuse and it finished the course at 1min 50sec – for comparison’s sake, a Land Cruiser finished the route in 2min 7sec.
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In addition to the AT35’s standard kit – fender flares (front and rear), extended profile AT side steps, an integrated fuel filler cap, daytime running lights, chrome front grille and rear bumper, LED rear lights, roof bars (double-cab only), body-colour front bumper, rear parking distance sensor (double-cab only), projector headlamps, a receiver hitch, and folding heated chrome door mirrors with side-indicator repeaters – a host of optional off-road extras are available for the AT35.
This includes 27 LED square work lights with Arctic Trucks logo, a skid-plate underneath the radiator/engine, a skid-plate underneath the engine/gearbox, an ARB inflator with gauge, and a pump-up emergency inflation kit.
Unfortunately, the Isuzu D-MAX Arctic Trucks AT35 is only available in the UK, meaning you can’t get one here. Still, it comes with a full factory-backed five-year/200,000km warranty package, with three years recovery and assistance cover.
AMONG the hundreds of Toyota 4x4s in attendance at the annual 2014 FJ Summit in Ouray, Colorado, there was one Land Cruiser that really grabbed our attention.
The FJ Summit is primarily an event for the FJ Cruiser crowd, but this old-school FJ45 stood out among the late-model wannabes.
As we were checking it out in the street, we got to talking with its owner, Tim McGrath. Tim hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, from where he runs a business called Sackwear that designs and sells T-shirts, patches and other cool 4×4 related gear. Check it out at www.sackwear.com.
Like everyone else in Ouray that weekend, Tim was there for the FJ Summit as part of his travels in his super-cool FJ.
Tim and his wife Jennifer have children, and their old FJ40 ‘Shorty’ was getting too small for their needs. They also had what Tim calls an FJ45 pick-up (what we’d call a ute) and a plan was hatched to create a more family-friendly fourbie.
When you see the designs at Sackwear, you’ll see Tim has some talent with a pencil. He penned a concept sketch of the 4×4 and took it to Don Haywood at Wolf Creek Rod Works in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to turn his ideas into reality.
Tim says the remade 45 is a Troopy as it takes its style from the venerable Toyota Troop Carrier, but it differs from the norm with its custom bodywork and soft top.
The cab and pick-up bed from the FJ45 were sold and a 1966 FJ40 was sourced as a donor vehicle for the new project. It was cut behind the door pillars, retaining the forward portion, and a new rear section was custom-fabricated by PACOL, a Florida company that specialises in vintage Land Cruiser body panels.
Classic 4X4: Toyota BJ/FJ Land Cruiser
The body was remounted to a refurbished FJ45 chassis and completed with NOS front ’guards and the remaining panels from the original 45.
When completed, the body was painted in a metallic grey taken from the Porsche palette, while the soft-top is a custom-made piece from TLC 4×4, the same company behind Icon 4×4 vehicles.
The chassis refurb included the original differentials being rebuilt with ARB Air Lockers and 4.11:1 gears, with disc brake conversions both front and rear.
The axles are slung under Alcan leaf spring packs with Bilstein 7100 shocks, while the wheels are Walker Evans Racing alloys with 37-inch BF Goodrich Krawlers bead-locked to them.
No old Toyota six-cylinder engine was going to turn those big tyres, so a small-block Chevy engine was the logical install, and a relatively stock Ram Jet EFI 350 was fitted.
The V8 is backed by an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission and an Advanced Adapters Orion ‘twin-stick’ transfer case fitted with a 4:1 low range gear set. Tom Wood’s drive shafts feed the drive to the axles.
Inside this Land Cruiser is a mix of new tools with old-school charm. The rear section of the body was made with a flat floor, allowing Tim to fit a Mastercraft bench seat to match the buckets up the front.
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All the seats feature five-point harnesses, also from Mastercraft, while further protection comes from a roll-cage by Metal Tech of Oregon.
Up front, the dash continues the mix of old and new. The metal dash panel is retained, but the gauges have been replaced with AutoMeter units.
Myriad switches are mounted below the dash and a massive Lowrance GPS unit. An aftermarket air-con and heating unit keeps the cabin cool regardless of whether the Cruiser is in the Colorado Alps or the New Mexico desert.
Modern touches are few on the outside of the car, but include plenty of LED lights. The rock lights are from Vision X; Baja Designs supplied the back-up lights; and fitted to a Hanson Offroad front bumper are a pair of Hella Xenons and flood lights from Rigid Industries.
Mounted inside that bumper is a Warn 9.5t winch fitted with synth rope and a Factor 55 Pro Link. The rear bar comes from 4Plus Products and includes the tyre carrier which mounts another massive BFG, a set of MaxTrax and some Jerry cans.
With prices of the FJ40 and 45 Cruiser going through the roof in the USA, there’d be plenty of purists who might scowl at Tim and Jennifer’s ‘Restomod’ Troopy because it wasn’t restored to original condition.
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That doesn’t bother the McGraths, and the vehicle has taken them all over the US and has caught the eye of plenty of fans along the way.
“We have gone to Colorado, the San Juan Mountains area two or three times a year, and to the Overland Expo in Arizona” Tim said. “These have all been family trips, along with our two kids who are eight and 10 years old. It’s a tight fit, but one heck of an adventure.”
With that tight fit in mind, Tim is planning to build a storage system for the rear of the Troopy to better carry cargo.
Other changes include adding some skid plates to protect the underside, and fabricating an airbox to connect with the snorkel that is fitted.
With its classic, old looks and capable V8 drivetrain, this FJ has plenty of life left in it.
ANOTHER Land Rover has arrived in the 4X4 Australia shed.
It’s a small price to pay for getting Justin Walker back on staff at the magazine, and as JW will be our man in Sydney, we’re glad it can drop its oil up there.
JW’s recently acquired Series 2 Discovery makes it a trio of Landies for our team in New South Wales. Dean Mellor just got back into one in the form of a 300tdi Defender 110, while Fraser still rolls around his highland estate in his Range Rover Classic. And folks think we’re Toyota biased!
Ron Moon recently added a Land Cruiser 79 to the expedition-ready Patrol in his garage, while Dan Everett is steadily removing parts of his 60 Series that you could hardly call a Toyota anymore.
I still have my BJ73 Cruiser, but haven’t been able to afford to register it for the past two years – because I do this job for love, not money. I’m feeling broke in both currencies (insert sympathetic violins here).
Elsewhere in our team of regular contributors, Russ Ryan has his dependable Defender 90, Mark Allen his VDJ78 Troop Carrier, Scott Heiman has a Toyota Hilux, Lucy and Matt Eaton get around in a D22 Navara, Robert Norman has a Toyota Prado, Mick Hurren drives a three-door Discovery, Matt Wood a 4×4 Perentie, Cristian Brunelli a SWB JK Wrangler, Dan’s daily is a new Ford Ranger, and both Nathan Duff and our chief photographer Ellen Dewar are in FJ Cruisers.
So there you go, it really is a mixed bunch of 4×4 vehicles in the 4X4 Australia family.
While it is an assorted fleet of manufacturers, it is notable that 12 of the 18 vehicles listed above have live axles front and rear. It’s that proven set-up that gives a vehicle the strength, ability and reliability you want in a do-anything 4×4.
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As we continue to see less of this configuration in new car showrooms, our vehicle fleet will get older.
Thankfully, there are so many great aftermarket products available and workshops out there to keep them on the tracks.
AUSTRALIANS have purchased more Toyota Land Cruisers than any other nation.
According to statistics released by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, Australians account for 10 per cent of all Land Cruisers sold since the famous nameplate was born back in 1954.
In June 1954, Toyota’s Hanji Umehara renamed the BJ – a petrol-powered, water-cooled, inline-six – to the Land Cruiser. In 1958, Sir Leslie Thiess imported the first Land Cruiser 20 Series to Australia, and 13 Cruisers were then put to work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Since then, more than 700,000 units have been sold locally. This is made up of 370,000 workhorse vehicles (including the current 70 Series range), and 330,000 wagons (including the 200 Series).
The all-times sales record excludes Prado wagons that bear the Land Cruiser nomenclature, of which more than 260,000 have been sold in Australia.
Toyota 70 Series Electronic Stability Control
On a global scale, almost seven million Land Cruisers have been sold.
Despite annual sales of the Land Cruiser now being headed by the United Arab Emirates, Australia maintained an 11.9 per cent share of global sales in 2016.
Tony Cramb, Toyota Australia’s executive director of sales and marketing, explained how the Land Cruiser is now a vehicle capable of performing double duties as both a work and family vehicle.
“Even the most rugged Land Cruiser 70 Series variant is now equipped with extensive safety features in addition to the traditional quality, durability and reliability that has distinguished the brand over six decades,” he said.
“[The] Land Cruiser is also about luxury, with the top-of-the-line 200 Series Sahara featuring four cameras to assist with manoeuvres from challenging off-road driving to negotiating tight parking spots in our concrete jungles.”
THIS Toyota BJT had been wasting away in the corner of a Tooleybuc shed in NSW for the better part of 40 years.
One of only two examples imported into Australia by B&D Motors in Footscray, the rare, barn-found BJT saw out its past life performing many outback duties, from tractor work to delivering mail.
This specific example, a 1953 Toyota BJT – #159 – was one of 298 used as a civil defense vehicle of the National Police Agency in Japan. It was sold in 1956 to B&D Motors as a used vehicle.
The BJT was the first production vehicle after the Toyota BJ, but was the first production vehicle that would later carry the Land Cruiser name.
Paying homage to the Toyota FJ Cruiser
In the early 70s, this example was sold to its last owners for a mere $200 and was used mainly as a bush-basher, before it was left to rot in the corner of the Tooleybuc shed.
The needle-in-a-haystack BJT is now on its way to the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Utah, USA, after it was snatched up by Cruiser collector Greg Miller.
It will headline CruiserFest 2017, to be held on September 9.