Toyota is set to celebrate seven decades of its LandCruiser with a limited-edition model. Based on the rugged 70-series four-wheel-drive, the new 70th Anniversary LandCruiser brings cosmetic changes to a car with a cult following rival automotive landmarks such as the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911, and Mini Cooper.
The anniversary model benefits from a retro-inspired grille, dark silver wheels, special badges, and black exterior elements. Black leather seats join faux wood trim, two extra USB ports, and cup holders on the inside. But modern amenities such as climate control, satellite navigation, or Apple CarPlay remain off-limits.
The 70 Series went viral in Australia this year when a TikTok video lampooned the car for having little in the way of creature comforts. Toyota insists many of its customers prefer the machine’s Spartan approach to the motor, leaving aside frills in favor of proven hardware.
As such, the 70th Anniversary LandCruiser has the same 4.5-litre turbo diesel V8 as regular models, sending 151kW/430Nm to all four wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.
That engine is unavailable in the far more comfortable LandCruiser 300 Series due locally in coming months, prompting speculation that the 70 Series may also ditch V8 power in favour of a more efficient six-cylinder engine.
LandCruiser 200 Series prices exploded in 2021 as customers paid up to $50,000 more than the model’s retail price to get hold of the last V8 examples.
Real-world prices for the workmanlike 70 Series have also increased in the past 12 months following increased demand for off-road machines. The latest model starts at $78,500 plus on-road costs for a wagon, running to $80,050 for the single cab and $82,600 for double cab models.
Only 600 examples will arrive from September, which could see the machine change hands privately for six figures before Christmas. While the LandCruiser is one of the most respected names in motoring, Toyota’s rugged wagon debuted under a different name.
The manufacturer says its anniversary “marks the 1951 Japanese debut of the Toyota BJ, which three years later was renamed LandCruiser – a brand that has been proudly displayed on more than 10 million vehicles sold worldwide”.
