Here’s a familiar silhouette, captured by Eliminator at the Cohort, and this time wearing a face I had never seen. What we’re witnessing is the Bandeirante, Toyota of Brazil’s Land Cruiser-based offering, built in that nation seemingly forever; from 1958 to 2001.
As often happens in South America, steep import taxes forced Toyota to start local assembly. The Brazil plant was among the company’s first in foreign lands. From ’58 to ’62 the model was built from knock-down kits, carrying a 2F Toyota engine with 6 cylinders and 110 HP. By ’62 changes were due, with the 2F engine thought too thirsty for Brazil’s economic reality. With the model now built mainly from Brazilian-sourced materials, a 78-HP 3.4-liter diesel OM-324 Mercedes-Benz engine became its power source.
“Toyota stays, others fade away” roughly translates the ad’s copy. A true statement, as the Bandeirante got just incremental revisions through its long production span. Most significant were power source changes: The Mercedes-Benz units got updated in ’73 and ’90 (OM-324 and OM-364, respectively). Finally, in ’94, the Benz mills were dispensed with and the Bandeirante became all-Toyota again, with a 14B engine.
Besides engines, options like radio and air conditioning became available in ’85, while in ’93 disc brakes and a 5-speed came on board as well. The face of our sample was adopted in ’89, and remained until the end of production.
On a personal note, I’ve had a fascination with Brazil for about a decade now. Maybe it’s time to contact some old friends I know in that nation, so that I can finally meet up close the alternate reality that is the Brazilian vehicular landscape.
An FJ-40oid with rectangular headlamps…fascinating!
They look better here than on the first-gen Wranglers.,,
What is that strange Volkswagen in the driveway? Leave it to South America to have a whole other world of car models we never heard of.
I think it’s a Volkswagen Virtus, the Brazilian spinoff of the Polo VI.
Yes it is a Virtus, Rich. The new ones are powered by a 3 cylinder 1 litre turbo (1.6 liter NA was fased out a couple of years ago).
By the way, speaking about Brazil, feel free to contact me, I don’t know how I could be useful, but anyway I’d be glad to collaborate.
Do you still see any of those old Simcas powered by flathead Ford V-8s, over there?
In the streets? No, not a chance.
Only at old car meetings, and even then they not particularly plenty.
The embossed sheet metal ‘Bandeirante’ on the front fenders, is a nice design touch.
Good job creating a mass of unrecognizable, generic junked cars, in the ad. So as, to not offend competitors.
I never knew about the Toyota version but I am familiar with the airborne Bandeirante as I flew on it in passenger service in the late ’70s/early ’80s. It was a twin turboprop, non-pressurized commuter airliner with a capacity of around 15 to 20. It was crude and uncomfortable and did not last long in US service as it was replaced by better and more sophisticated airplanes. The manufacturer, Embraer, was really created to produce the design for Brazil. The plane was relatively cheap – in comparison to better competitors (Swearingen Metroliner, Beech 1900). I remember it on commuter flights from LAX on, I think, a United Express service. I wouldn’t say it was scary but it seemed primitive and quite basic.
I never knew what the name meant until I looked it up after reading above about the Toyota version. Briefly, it seems to mean “pioneer” but it has a lot of Brazilian cultural heritage to it and maybe a resident there could comment further.
Dear constellation, maybe my comment will come a bit late but here it goes.
The bandeirantes were descendents from portuguese settlers wich basically trailblazed and explored much of Brazil’s deep country, mainly in the 17th to 18th century. They hunted slaves and indians, and searched for gold and other riches.
I’m no specialist but if my perception serves, historiography have turned them from national heroes of the colonization time to pretty much ruthless killers rapists and savages.
I figure your nickname didn’t come by chance as you could remember the airplane bandeirante…
I was in Patos de Minas, Brazil for the first 3 months of this year – lovely people and a fascinating “alternative universe” automotive landscape. My colleague there has one of these as a pickup with the Mercedes Diesel motor (shown here). Resting at the moment, but with new tires it’ll be usable again. Loads of old Beetles, Type 2s, Brasilias and Chevy Opalas roaming around as well as Brazilian products like the Troller 4×4.
Here’s another unique to Brazil Chevy pickup….
…and a Brasilia in lovely condition…
ahem….
Third time’s the charm…
Really nice. IMO those old Chevys D10 are quite beautiful. But these one is a double cab, really rare even at the time.
I hope you had a great time in Brazil