Next time you hear somebody complain that "they don't make 'em like they used to,â make sure to point out that Toyota can be considered an exception. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Toyota Land Cruiser 70, the Japanese automaker will re-release the classic off-roader to the Japanese market for a period of one year. Although it never came to the U.S. market, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is considered the world over as one of the most reliable and capable all-terrain vehicles ever built.
The special-edition Toyota Land Cruiser 70 will be largely identical to the well-loved model which ended sales in Japan in 2004, after 20 years of production. Introduced after the Land Cruiser 40, the Land Cruiser 70 took over as Toyotaâs top-shelf off-roader. Toyota anticipates about 200 deliveries per month of the special-edition Land Cruiser 70, which will be offered as a classic SUV and, for the first time in Japan, as a double-cab pickup.
For traversing any and all off-road challenges, the Land Cruiser 70 will return triumphant from the great beyond with the same heavy duty ladder-frame construction, solid leaf-spring rear suspension, and solid-axle coil-spring front suspension. Powering all four wheels through a partial four-wheel-drive system is a new emissions-abiding 4.0-liter V-6 engine with variable valve timing, which produces 228 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Land Cruiser 70 uses a five-speed manual transmission as well as a selectable two- or four-wheel transfer case, with rugged options including electric front and rear differential locks, and an electric winch for when you get in over your head.
Visually, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 looks cherry-picked out of a mid-1980s TV commercial. Save for a slightly updated grille, hood, and headlights with turn signals, it wouldnât look out of place in a Toyota museum. Special badging on either side of the old-school off-roader commemorates the 30 years since the Land Cruiser 70 went into production, and modern safety equipment like airbags and ABS is also included. Inside the nostalgic atmosphere is continued, with a bare-bones horizontal design and 80âs aesthetic that speaks to Toyotaâs respect for tradition and the Land Cruiser 70âs worldwide fan base.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 enthusiasts the world over continue to use these heavy-duty off-roaders, and will find a lot to love in the modern, limited-edition versions. Though they might lack the beat-up charm and rugged wear of an old Land Cruiser, something tells us it wonât take long for buyers to break in their new 70 Series. Starting price for the Japan-only Toyota Land Cruiser 70 is approximately $34,638 for the SUV, and $33,676 for the pickup (3,600,000 and 3,500,000 Japanese yen, respectively).
