Tough Toyota: 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser
While it is hard to imagine today, Toyota’s success in the US market was hard won. Early Toyotas were as different from American cars as can be imagined. However, two things worked in the company’s favor: a gas crisis that forced customers to consider smaller automobiles and Toyota’s relentless dedication to producing quality automobiles. One of these successes was the Land Cruiser. If you are looking for a tough as nails vintage Toyota, then feast your eyes on this 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser for sale on craigslist in the community of Corona, California. While rare as hen’s teeth, is this Toyota worth the $19,500 asking price? Thanks to T.J. for this interesting off road find!
The Land Cruiser has been around for over 70 years. Introduced in 1951 and called the BJ, it was renamed the Land Cruiser in 1954. These rugged vehicles quickly became as ubiquitous in the back country as the Land Rover it competed against. The model has seen service on every continent except for maybe Antarctica and has been steadily revised over the years. In the American market, it lives on today only as the Lexus 600.
Teh vehicle we see here is pretty far from a Lexus but is a great example of a seventies Toyota product sold in the United States. At that time, the SUV hadn’t become the dominant body style in the market. These vehicles were very truck like in the way they were built, drove, and handled. What set the Toyota’s apart is they were built for rugged use. Land Cruisers had been sold all over the world for a long time, and these beasts could be counted on when the road was rough. The paved surfaces of America’s interstates and highways were not their forte.
The ad tells us that this Land Cruiser has only 111,000 original miles and still wears its original paint. The ad does not say of the red on the top is red oxide primer or if the vehicle was painted that way from the factory. It also has minimal rust. This may be due to the fact that it was a California truck all of its life, as the seller tells us that it is from Riverside, California.
The interior looks to be the original vinyl and the pictures show it being free of rips or tears. The padding on the dash also appears to be in great shape. One interesting note is that the pictures show the cabin as less roomy than what we are used to. While I never sat in one of these trucks, I remember my brother’s Toyota pickup of the same vintage. These could be rather tight when sitting in the driver’s seat. People must have been a bit smaller back then.
The second interior photo shows the door panels and rear seat to be in excellent shape as well. Other photos in the ad hint to the headliner falling down. This shouldn’t be a big problem to fix. We also see that the wheels are the standard steel off road type sold in every auto parts store in America during that time. There is no mention of the original wheels in the ad.
Above is the original 2F 4.3 liter inline six engine in original condition. It was coupled with a four-speed transmission and a very rugged four-wheel drive system. The seller tells us that it runs and drives great and that you could drive it home with no problem.
All and all, this is a very unique and original vehicle that is just not a common sight in America anymore. Toyota’s early years saw many more vehicles sold on the west coast than the east, so some of you may have never even seen one of these in the wild. Hopefully this one will be polished up or restored and shown off a bit.
Have you ever seen or driven a Land Cruiser of this vintage? Do you have any good Land Cruiser stories? Please share with us in the comments.
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Comments
Arrrgggghh, I don’t know about anyone else, but, to mimic a worn out phrase, BFs is like a box of chocolates, you never know what’s going to come up. In my case, it’s always a treat to see a vehicle from the dusty archives that I had. This is no exception. I had a 1970 FJ55. To be honest, I didn’t think they made this until 1980. Mine was the same color combination,,,originally, but was mostly rust colored, and eventually, the body separated from the frame, and that was it. This truck is a far cry from mine, but still one tough son of a gun, before they went all cushy and soft, this was still a Toyota trucks original intention. Probably the best example of an “Iron PIg” you’re going to find. As tough as they were, t’was no match for the tin worm. FJ40 shown, but this is what mine, and many others looked like.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/773563673484247176/
I have heard people say there is absolutely no way to keep rust at bay with this chassis. Too bad because I think they are one of the most cool of all the land cruiser models.
Remember a few of these now and then many moons ago. Looks like this one made through the years quite well. This was a big Toyota back in the day, not so much now.
This truck is what Japanese designer’s thought a big American SUV looked like. I guess they never saw a Suburban.
Sold these in the early 80s … they were still very rugged but basic … no auto – all manual, no AC, no power amenities, and, as we liked to say, they had “square wheels” … but we sold every one we got with an added mark-up as they had no real sticker price – the days before Monroney – and no one complained … the Lexus 600 is a “wussy” – no comparison … give me the old monster any day …
There are still quite a few around here in the “high desert” of California, being used as daily drivers, or at least frequent off-road drivers, most look reasonably beat, certainly not museum pieces, but intact due to dry climate.
Good to see one of these still going. I own a 72 Pig in similar outside condition, but needs full upholstery inside. I am looking forward to putting mine back on the road, but it is still a couple of years down the road based on a few other cars I am working on. Still, great to see others of these around!
I think you’ll find that is some”rust stop” paint on the roof. My good buddy has the exact copy of this and his roof, on a Ca truck, rusted all the way around the gutter..bizarre..he welded on a roof from a donor…but great trucks!
Awesome looking Land Cruiser. This has always been my favourite generation for the Toyota Land Cruiser, along with the FJ60 and FJ62. Given its condition, I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay $19,500 for it. I’d pay between $10,000 and $15,000. I’d want to make sure everything works like they should. That’s gonna cost some money, maybe do some upgrades here and there.
Riverside County is as dry as it gets, if it’s truly been there its whole life, there will be no systemic rust.
My friends identical truck has lived its life in Sonoma,Ca and his roof literally rusted off.If this roof has no rust why is it covered in Rust O Leum?
“ Very unique” is redundant. A thing is either unique or it’s not.
Oops, not “redundant”.
On my FJ55 the sun had worked a number on the paint on the roof to where there was little left, and surface rust was starting to take over. I repainted the roof just to interrupt that process. I used white paint, but I am sure this one was doing the same thing, only using primer or sealer. I think the uniqueness of this one is its originality, as I have not seen one this clean prior to restoration in a long time. I think his price is ok.
My Dad’s mate bought a new FJ55 in 1969 and 26ft caravan and went all over Australia for six months the Toyota handled it well but the caravan turned into a wobbly jelly form all of the rough roads including the Gun Barrel Hwy across central Australia look it up it isn’t really a hwy in the true sense
The only mechanical upgrade would be 3.0 litre Toyota built turbo diesel engine and 5spd manual gearbox. You can get a Chevy/GMC Suburban with a 6.5 Diesel engine, so why not a Toyota Land Cruiser.
When the Landcrusier was first imported into Australia they had to change the sun visor. They were too long and covered to much of the windscreen when pulled down.
I understand it had something to do with a taller population,
been owned / watchin / servicin this class vehicle since near Mr. HA’s ownership (mid/late ’60s). I remember the early models (FJ, Jimney, etc) as pretty rugged. Even more than the army jeep they copied. It was not till the merican explosion (mid ’60s) of multi’s (could get up to interstate speed AND off rd some) that they picked up the idea (or may B just started shippin here). This model 1st came here in ’74 asa diesel but was way above the predecessor FJ. I see the J50, 60 70, etc as the Japanese answ to the scout, scout II, bronco, etc. Like our own, they are great (body on chassy) to mod for ur own particular need B it HP, clearance, mud v rocks, tq, etc
Even used in Antarctica.
Couldn’t help myself, I had to check it out. Those Kiwi’s took a few down there and they proved themselves.
Cheers from down under