These older Land Cruisers have a very loyal following. There’s a number of them around, including at least this one and likely another in my immediate neighborhood. This is a 1988 (thanks to Carfax), of the J60 generation, whose run paralleled the decade of the 80s. Will there be a 2017 Land Cruiser in the driveway in 2047?
I only got this one driveway shot, but we’ve covered one in detail before her,; by Perry Shoar, and then there’s my Land Cruiser history.
I was at the local Toyota dealer recently (to buy a new Corolla for my daughter’s new group home), and while waiting I noticed a new LC in the showroom. It’s a vehicle that’s totally fallen off my radar. I never see new or newish ones; they obviously still have a very small but loyal following. And of course they’re pricey, starting at $85k. Who buys them? Guys who drove Land Cruisers 30 years ago and have become successful?
Australia has bought 700,00 of them since about 1960, 10% of all made. Remarkable considering our population and, for years now, the huge price of them. They first came via a large contractor onto a massive post-war engineering scheme in Australias alpine country, the Snowy River Scheme, where essentially, a mountain river system was caught and dammed and tunnelled to flow inland (to dry country) and through hydro-electric plants. Took 30 years to complete, btw.
Overcoming prejudice against Japanese products (Australia was bombed by Japan only 17 years before and P.O.W.’s in S.E. Asia cruelly mistreated), the contractor then began to sell the cars to outback mining explorers. As 6 cylinders and as built by the Japanese, they were quickly recognised as superior tools to Land Rovers, and sold accordingly. Today, nobody but a tourist drives anything but them (or Hiluxes) in the outback, where reliability means livelihood and even life.
Because of their name and resale they also sell, quite needlessly, in suburbia for the school run, sometimes even in the top-ten sellers. God knows where the money comes from, to buy or run ’em for that purpose. In 2047 Aus, there’ll be heaps of them in driveways – as beautifully made dinosaur ornaments awaiting an electric transplant, I suspect.
From what I saw in Australia, tourists are in Land Cruisers too.
Having read many times in UK car magazines that Land Rover had died a death in Australia due to reliability being paramount, I was amazed when I worked for an import services company in WA to find that Defenders were on sale in Australia (had to wonder who bought them) and that they were being ordered as fire appliances. (this was 2010)
Land Rover certainly continued to sell in suburbia and still does, seems to be no shortage of Discoverys around (and no end of folk trying to offload used ones on the net!). The Australian army is only now replacing the special model it had built called the Perentie (powered by Isuzu), and Defenders sold in small numbers to some farmers and others with nostalgic tendencies. As for fire services, govt and semi-govt organisations like them often seem to make strange committee-based decisions that no-one else would. Not sure I’d like to live where a Defender was defending me in high summer, though….
My BIL and Sis wanted a Cruiser when they went walkabout a couple of years ago but the horrendous price put then off Australia doesnt have much depreciation on cars like NZ does, the bought a 3.2? Pajero for towing instead, Those 60 series were good cars the 4.2 diesel siz being the pick of the crop followed by the 3.4 B model diesel four, rust killed them faster than anything else could, there were plenty in NZ a few years ago mostly ex JDM imports with factory winches fitted not many left now the metal termites luv em, not quite as capable off road as a Landrover but they are reliable.
Now I can see it….. great rigs, though thirsty. Looked at one new in 83. Not cheap, but they were not luxury priced either.
I find these older ones appealing as well. New ones are seen occasionally around here. If my experience is any guide, they sell to the wife in the high-priced McMansion neighborhood who wants the nicest SUV she can get for taking the dogs to the grooming studio. But she has a practical side, which is why she has a Land Cruiser and not a Land Rover. Has any Land Cruiser sold in the US in the last 5 years ever been taken off road?
When I was in Central America in the 1990’s, these were the vehicle of choice for those with the money or the need to absolutely, positively, get there. Never even saw a Jeep, let alone a Land Rover.
I was told of, but didn’t see myself, of a Colombian newspaper ad touting the Chevy Suburban as a better choice to own than the Land Cruiser because Chevys were less likely to be carjacked. I suspect it’s not true, but it sure fit the time and place accurately.
Here in the American West (or at least the Southwest) the people who buy Land Cruisers and their Lexus cousin (NEW) tend to be the kind of people who have Ranches outside Santa Fe/Taos/Angel Fire/Tuscon/Sedona and can actually use the capability.
Generally those folks have also learned that Range Rover/Land Rover aren’t worth the trouble and tend to be driven by the “nouveau riche” as opposed to the old money.
Same in Houston; older wealth prefer these (NOT the Lexus cousin!) and let nouveau show off their riches with the Land Rovers etc.
On vacation I saw a number of LCs in the Westchester, Hamptons and upper East Coast areas.
I’d love to buy one since the design reminds me very much of my Trooper (itself a cheap knock-off of the LC) – tall, boxy, not a modicum of style. Far more luxurious of course. And reliable too.
I know someone who did well for himself and and bought a Land Cruiser when the kids started coming. He made a point of telling people he drove a Toyota. So that kind of person.
I see very few of these in California, even in the upscale parts. Maybe its all new money out here.
If it’s indeed an ’88, that would make it an FJ62, at least for the US market, distinguished from the earlier FJ60 by quad rectangular headlights and standard automatic transmission.
Given the current state of sedans, I imagine you got a good deal on the Corolla.
An LE for $14K. Perfect for their needs, and it’ll be good to go for a very long time. 🙂
A new Corolla LE for $14K, you are good in getting a good price. I think close to this amount to produce this car
Glad to hear you got a good deal, but is it going to get the COAL treatment?
That’s a steal!
Looking at Toyota Canada’s website, it appears they don’t even bother to sell the Land Cruiser here.
Head over to the Lexus dealership, and check out the LX. Or the GX, which is a LC Prado.
You see new Land Cruisers in Bend, as well as lots of old ones, although the new Land Cruiser contingent is roughly 50/50 Toyota and Lexus badged versions, plus a few of the smaller Lexus model based on the Land Cruiser Prado.
Lately Craigslist has also been turning up grey import Land Cruiser 78s, so far we’ve seen a crew cab, a single cab and a station wagon for sale plus there is at least one troop carrier (2 door wagon/van) in the neighborhood.
I guess the wealthy Californians buy them when they move up here to the “wild frontier”, rather like my in-laws who bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee in New Jersey right after they bought land for a house in Bend.
Buyers of Land Cruiser are among the wealthiest households in US, the annual income is north of $200k. In central Jersey where I reside, they, the newer modlel, are often seen in white color and driven by middle east women. The vehicles are popular with middle east and African countries. I always consider it is a speciality vehicle produced limited quantity. I once read its design life is 300k miles., that exceeds any regular produced vehicle sold in US. In oversea, a cheaper version is sold under Land Cruiser Prado, in US it is sold through Lexus GX. I do not think it is designed to run beyond 300k. My favorite Land Cruiser is FJ62 with 5 speed manual in the early 90s. They are highly sought after in west coast, and hardly seen in North East now.
I don’t know who buys them, but I want one very badly for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on. I guess I like the old-school look and stance, and general understated nature. Not as blingy as an Escalade, but darn close in price.
A QX80 is cheaper but somehow comes across that way, despite arguably higher market aspirations.
There are numerous Toyota dealers in my general area (I consider up to a 2 hour drive to be new car dealers I would shop), each with one or two in stock. A couple of them show 10% or about $8500 off which makes it a more compelling buy, though it still isn’t cheap.
Even here in oz, these are falling off the radar a bit. Back in the day of this beast, options were few and far between. But once the Prado hit the bitumen, families started opting out of the fullsize Landcruiser market.
Been seeing plenty of the 60-series lately. And none of them a rust bucket like this rarebie…
Wow. I didn’t know that one of the LC’s largest markets was Australia. I do know they’re pretty popular with the elites in developing countries with poor roads such as Pakistan as well as many Middle Eastern countries (which have well paved highways). Its competitor is the Mitsubishi Pajero (which is called Montero in N.America and Spanish speaking countries because “pajero” is roughly equivalent to “wanker” in Spanish).
Rode in one of these things south of Siwa, Egypt in 2009. Odometer had 300+km (“+” because the odometer had stopped working). Our guide was hurling the thing over sand dunes. It was a thrilling experience, especially as the fuel was being gravity fed from the tank strapped to the roof. I can only conclude that these things ought to be indestructible under normal use.
The pickup version is being used as military vehicles down here.i am not old enough to remember it but my dad remembers that back in 80s during iran_iraq’s war they used to use LANDCRUISER pickups mainly to put anti aircrafts weapons on their back and they were strong enough to carry heavy loads for military purposes.when empty the Ride is very rough.
I do no think LC is a military vehicle which has list of its own requirements, but it is surelt very well designed and built commercial grade vehicle. It is a true globalist vehicle too. For military usage, I am sure British army land rover is not the same as you can get grom a dealer. Gaz 69 is an excellent military vehicle with all terrain ability unmatched by LC
The Land Cruiser is the modern-day Grand Wagoneer. A large, proven truck largely purchased by old money types who prefer the understated elegance. My favorite generation is the 1998 vintage…absolutely timeless. The Lexus versions have been fairly attractive as well, but this newest refresh with the spindle grill will not age as finely.