The Land Cruiser turns 70 years old, Australians can celebrate with this special Land Cruiser 70 Series.
The legendary off-roader from Japan, the Land Cruiser, has just turned 70 years old! On this special anniversary of the nameplate, not only have Toyota decided to launch a new 300-Series model, but they’ve also decided to give the long-running 70-Series model a special edition. However, this model is for Australia only.
What is the LandCruiser 70?
The Land Cruiser 70 was introduced back in the mid-1980s and has been in production ever since. It is still in relatively high demand in certain markets where agricultural, humanitarian, and hobbyist use is still high. One of these markets is Australia, where the Land Cruiser has sold more than 1.14 million units in its entire lifetime. It’s no surprise that only this market is getting the 70th Anniversary special!
70th Anniversary LandCruiser 70 Series Basis
Only 600 units of the LandCruiser 70th Anniversary special-edition will be made in wagon, single-cab pickup and double-cab pickup bodies. It builds on the equipment and trim of the flagship “GXL” grade for all three body styles.
There will be 320 double-cab pickups, 200 single-cab pickups and just 80 wagons. 3 colours will be available, French Vanilla, Merlot Red and Sandy Taupe.
Every unit is powered by a 4.5L V8 turbodiesel with 430Nm of torque, has a 5-speed manual transmission with low-range gearing, front and rear differential locks, a raised air intake, and 130L fuel tank.
What Is New On the 70th Anniversary Edition
- A black heritage grille with “TOYOTA” lettering
- A black front bumper and wheelarch flares
- darkened 16″ alloy wheels and headlamp bezels
- LED front foglamps and daytime running lights
- “Heritage” and “70th Anniversary” badging on the front wheelarch
- premium black upholstery
- black leather-accented trim on steering wheel and gear shifter
- woodgrain-look trim and instrument panel
- silver accents for air vents
- black treatment for switch trims on the doors
- Newly designed black centre console
- 2 additional 2.1-amp Type A USB chargers
- 2 new cupholders
Having Trouble Understanding Land Cruiser Geneology?
It can be a bit confusing, but a simple way to understand the Land Cruiser can be found in the video below.
An easy way to think of it is like this:
Every generation of Land Cruiser has an assigned number. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200 and now 300 Series.
The 70 Series was significant because it was a return to a simple, ‘working man’s’ Land Cruiser. Toyota also experimented with a luxury trim 70 Series called the Land Cruiser Prado.
In the subsequent 80 Series, the Land Cruiser became much larger and more luxurious and a seperate 90 Series Land Cruiser Prado was sold alongside as a narrow body baby brother for certain markets. The 70 Series continued to be sold as a workhorse.
The Land Cruiser Prado went on to spawn its own successive generations from 90, to 120 to 150 while the Land Cruiser 80 evolved into the 100 and 200 and now 300. All the while, the workhorse Land Cruiser 70 remained on sale in some markets as the Land Cruiser 70. The FJ Cruiser is built on the parts from the 3-door Land Cruiser Prado 120 Series.
