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The 'Toyota Land Cruiser' is a series of popular four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese based carmaker Toyota Motor Corporation. The Land Cruiser, along with the Hilux utility, has been used in the world's most grueling terrains and climates. Design of the Land Cruiser began in 1951 as a Toyota Jeep-like vehicle and production began in 1954. The Land Cruiser has been produced in many different versions (convertible, hardtop, station wagon and utility). In many places, the term Land Cruiser has become a generic term for an off-road vehicle.
A Toyota designer explained the origin of the Land Cruiser, "Growing up after the war, I was really impressed by the US Army personnel's Jeeps... and how they could climb up and over obstacles. We have many classic shrines with stairs leading up to them, and these cars simply climbed up those steps. I decided that one day I would make a similar kind of 'mobile', something more like an animal or insect than a car, which could do even better".
The Toyota Land Cruiser was used as a technical by the Darfur Liberation Front during the Darfur Conflict.

Contents
Chronology
1940-1949
1950-1959
1960-1969
1970-1983
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-present
Future
See also
External links

Chronology

1940-1949

★ 1941 - The Japanese government asked Toyota to produce a light truck for Japan military campaign. Toyota developed a 1/2 ton prototype called the AK10 in 1942. The AK10 was built using reverse-engineering from the Bantam GP prototype. It was unsuccessful and production went to Nissan instead. There are no known surviving photographs of the AK10. The only known pictorial representations are some rough sketches. The truck featured an upright front grille, flat front wheel arches that angled down and back like the FJ40 and headlights that were mounted above the wheel arches on either side of the radiator. It also had a folding windshield. The US Army Jeep arrived in the Pacific in May 1943.

1950-1959

★ 1950 - The Korean War created demand for a military light utility vehicle. The war put a Jeep on Japan's doorstep. The United States government ordered 100 vehicles with the new Willys specs and Toyota was asked to build them.

★ 1951 - The 'Toyota Jeep BJ' prototype was born in January 1951. This came from the demand for military-type utility vehicles, much like the British Land Rover Series 1 that appeared in 1948. The Jeep BJ was larger than the original U.S. Jeep and more powerful thanks to its Model 'B' 3.4-liter six-cylinder OHV Gasoline engine generated 85 hp at 3600 rpm and 215 Nm torque at 1600 rpm. It had a part-time four-wheel drive system like the Jeep. Unlike the Jeep, however, the Jeep BJ had no low-range transfer case.

★ 1951 - In July 1951, Toyota's test driver Ichiro Taira drove the next generation of the Jeep BJ prototype up to the sixth stage of Mt. Fuji, the first vehicle to climb that high. The test was overseen by the National Police Agency (NPA). Impressed by this feat, the NPA quickly placed an order for 289 of these offroad vehicles, making the Jeep BJ their official patrol car.

★ 1953 - Regular production of the Jeep BJ began at Toyota Honsya Plant (Rolling chassis assembly), and body assembly and painting was done at Arakawa Bankin Kogyo KK, later known as ARACO (now an affiliate of Toyota Auto Body Co.).

★ 1954 - The name "Land Cruiser" was created by the technical director Hanji Umehara. "In England we had another competitor - Land Rover. I had to come up with a name for our car that would not sound less dignified than those of our competitors. That is why I decided to call it 'Land Cruiser'," he recalls.

★ 1955 - The original 85 hp 'B' gasoline engine was replaced with a 125 hp, 3.9-liter 'F' gasoline engine (additional).

★ 1955 - The 20 Series was introduced alongside the BJ-T (Touring), BJ-R ( Radio ), BJ-J (Cowl-chasi for A fire-engine with Model B gasoline engine), and FJ-J (Cowl-chasi for A fire-engine with Model F gasoline engine). It was designed to have more civilian appeal than the BJ for export reasons. It also had more stylish bodywork and a better ride thanks to longer four-plate leaf springs which had been adapted from the Toyota Light Truck. Under the hood it sported a more powerful 3.9-liter six-cylinder 'F' gasoline engine. The interior of the vehicles were made more comfortable by moving the engine 120 mm forward. The 20 Series still had no low range but it had synchromesh on the third and fourth gears.

★ 1958 - The first Station wagon Land Cruiser was introduced with an even longer 2650 mm wheelbase (the FJ35V; wagon and van). The FJ-25 production started in Brazil being the first Toyota vehicle built outside Japan.

★ 1959 - The first Toyota vehicles were exported to Australia initially for use in mines, dam construction spot, and snowy areas.

1960-1969

★ 1960 - The 20 Series was upgraded to the now classic 40. Toyota made many production changes by buying new steel presses. Mechanically, the FJ40 was given a new 125 hp, 3.9-liter and the Land Cruiser finally received low-range gearing. The Brazilian model was rebadged the Bandeirante and received a Mercedes-Benz built Diesel engine generating 78 hp.

★ 1965 - Global production surpassed 50,000 vehicles. The Land Cruiser was the best selling Toyota in the United States.


★ 1967 - Production of the FJ55 began. The FJ55 was a 4-door station wagon version based on the FJ40's Drive-train, replaced 4-Door FJ45V (I). It was colloquially known as the "Moose". The FJ55 had a longer wheelbase 2710 mm and was designed to be sold in North America and Australia.

★ 1968 - The 100,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.

1970-1983

★ 1972 - The 200,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.

★ 1973 - The 300,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide. The first diesel Land Cruiser was introduced for export on long wheelbase models and it had a six-cylinder 'H' engine.

★ 1974 - A four-cylinder 3.0-liter 'B' diesel was offered. The introduction of this engine boosted sales in Japan by putting the Land Cruiser in a lower tax compact Freight-car category than it's 3.9-liter gasoline version.

★ 1975 - The 3.9-liter gasoline engine was replaced by a larger, more powerful 4.2-liter '2F' unit. The FJ55 received front disc brakes.


★ 1976 - United States-version FJ40 Land Cruisers received front disc brakes like the FJ55. The Toyota Land Cruiser Association was founded in California.

★ 1977 - The Irish Army took delivery of the first of 77 FJ45 Land Cruisers. Although fast, reliable and with good off-road performance the type tended to rust excessively in the wet Irish climate. A few which did not succumb to the effects of weather were repainted in gloss olive green and survive as ceremonial gun tractors at military funerals.

★ 1978 - The first BJ / FJ40 and FJ55 models were officially sold in Germany with both diesel (BJ40) petrol engines (FJ40 /55).

★ 1979 - United States-version FJ40's were updated this year with a new wider, square bezel surrounding the headlights. Power steering and cooler were offered in FJ40s for the first time. The diesel engine was improved, evolving into the 3.2-liter '2B' only in Japan.

1980-1989

★ 1980 - The 4th generation '60' series was introduced. While still retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, the 60 was designed to better compete in the emerging sport utility vehicle market. The 60 was given a variety of comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. The FJ60's petrol engine was left unredeemed and were added six-cylinder 4.0 litre '2H' and four-cylinder 3.4 litre '3B' diesel engines.

★ 1981 - Land Cruiser sales surpassed 1 million and a high-roof version was introduced. The 60 was introduced to South Africa when a stock Land Cruiser competed in the Toyota 1000km Desert Race in the punishing wilds of Botswana.

★ 1984 - This was the final year for the 40. Specialist suppliers of aftermarket parts and restorers who return old FJ40s to better-than-new condition replace Toyota dealers as the main source of Land Cruiser expertise.

★ 1984 - Alongside the 60, the 'Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series' were introduced. 70Heavy as a soft-top, hard-top, FRPtop, utility, cab-chassis, and Troop Carrier (inward facing rear seats).The petrol engine was replaced with a 4.0-litre '3F' engine. The 70 Light had a four-wheel coil spring solid-axle suspension for better ride quality. This lighter duty version of the Land Cruiser had the '22R' 2.4-litre gasoline engine, '2L' and '2L-T' ( turbo ) 2.4-litre diesel engines. The 70 Light was sold in some markets as the 'Landcruiser II', later called '70 Prado'. The 70 Prado eventually became popular and evolved into the '90'. An automatic transmission (A440F) was introduced making it the first four-wheel drive Japanese vehicle with an automatic transmission.

★ 1985 - The Direct-injection '12H-T' and '13B-T' turbo diesel engine were introduced.

★ 1988 - The petrol engine was upgraded to a 4.0-litre '3F-E' engine. The FJ62G VX-Series was introduced allowing the Land Cruiser to be sold in Japan as a passenger vehicle.

★ 1990 - The '80' series station wagon was introduced, replacing the 60. The 80 was initially offered with a choice of three engines; the '3F-E' six-cylinder petrol engine, a six-cylinder the '1HZ' diesel and '1HD-T' direct injection turbo-diesel.

★ 1990 - All 80s sold in North America and Europe now have a full-time four-wheel drive system. In Japan, Africa and Australia, a part-time system was still available. 80s produced between 1990 and 1991 had an open centre differential which was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO. From 1992 onward, vehicles with anti-lock brakes had a viscous coupling that sent a maximum of 30% torque to the non-slipping axle. The differential was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO.

1990-1999

★ 1990 - New-generation diesel engines were introduced including a five-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated motor (1PZ), a six-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated motor (1HZ) , and a six-cylinder SOHC turbo-charged engine (1HD-T). Land Cruiser sales reached 2 million vehicles. The 80 was introduced to the Australian market with two diesel and four litre inline six-cylinder petrol carb engine. (derived from the eairler 2F petrol motor from the 60 series.)

★ 1993 - An advanced 24-valve, 4.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, '1FZ-FE' was introduced. Larger brakes were added and the total wheelbase was made slightly longer.

★ 1995 - Driver and passenger airbags were introduced as were adjustable shoulder-belt anchors and an anti-lock braking system. The Land Cruiser was withdrawn from Canada this year and was replaced by the Lexus LX. The "T O Y O T A" badge was replaced with the modern Toyota logo (which is sometimes described as a "bean with a hat" aka "the sombrero").


★ 1996 - In the Dakar Rally, a pair of Land Cruisers finished first and second in the unmodified production class.
All American and British 80s adopted anti-lock brakes and airbags as standard equipment. alongside the 70, the '90 Prado' was added. The 90 Prado was available as a 3-door short wheelbase and 5-door long wheelbase version with either the '5VZ-FE' petrol engine (24-valve six-cylinder, 3.4-litre), the '3RZ-FS' (four-cylinder 2.7-litre) petrol engine or the '1KZ-TE' turbo-diesel (four-cylinder 3.0-litre) and 5L diesel(four-cylinder 3.0-litre).

★ 1998 - Toyota introduced the '100' Land Cruiser to replace the 80. At launch the UZJ100 featured the first eight-cylinder engine (4.7-litre 32-valve '2UZ-FE' petrol engine) in a Toyota four wheel drive. The Land Cruiser won Australian 4WD Monthly's "4x4 Of The Year" award for the third time in a row.

★ 1999 - Toyota updated the 70 with a coil-spring front solid-axle.

2000-present

★ 2000 - 50th Anniversary of the Land Cruiser. Total global production to date is 3.72 million vehicles. 90 Prados get active traction control (Active TRAC), vehicle skid control equipment (VSC), and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) systems as standard equipment in some markets.

★ 2002 - HDJ79 is introduced to Australia with the '1HD-FTE' 4.2-litre six-cylinder 24-valve turbo-diesel EFI engine. And all new '120 Prado' is released and the 100 is restyled. The centre of gravity was reduced by 30 mm, ensuring better stability and dual fuel tanks with a total capacity of 180 L in the new 120 Prado. Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control enhance the vehicle's stability under difficult off-road conditions.

★ 2007 - Toyota unveils the Lexus LX570 URJ-200 at the 2007 New York Auto Show. Toyota's first turbo-diesel V8 engine, the 1VD-FTV was released for the new 70-series Land Cruiser in Australia.

Future

The Toyota Land Cruiser will be redesigned for the 2008 model year. It will share the 2008 Lexus LX's platform and overall design.

See also

★ Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

★ Toyota FJ Cruiser

★ Lexus LX

External links

★ Official Toyota Website

★ Toyota Land Cruiser Association (TLCA)

★ Land Cruiser Heritage

★ A history of the Toyota Land Cruiser

★ Toyota Land Cruiser Reviews | Specs | Images

★ German Website with much information

★ IH8MUD.com- International Land Cruiser web site...

★ LCCSA - Land Cruiser Club Southern Africa

★ TOYOTA Truck Club - Forums and More.

★ Offroad80's Australian based 80 series forums