The Toyota Land Cruiser 1 has been a favorite with 4×4 enthusiasts for the longest time. In Borneo it has been ‘king’ of the road’ and elsewhere and here in Peninsular Malaysia we love having one just for its classic looks and the ability to drive it up a curb or take a drive into a secluded fishing spot.
The Land Cruiser began as a prototype in 1951 and has been in production longer than any other vehicle manufactured by Toyota and is commonly known as the Toyota Jeep. The early model had a B-Type, 3.4-liter inline-6 petrol engine and fitted into a SB-Type, 1-ton truck chassis. Full-scale production began for the BJ in August of 1953.
The land Cruiser proved that Toyota was capable of producing more than just economical cars. The Toyota Land Cruiser was produced in many sizes and configurations and enjoyed a long and successful history of reliable service in even the most rugged of conditions.
The FJ40 was introduced in 1960 and its variants remained in production for a quarter century. They came in short, medium, long, and extra-long wheelbase sizes, with a variety of roofs, half cabs, soft tops and doors, with 4 and 6-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
Today a year 1991-1996 Landcruiser II 4-door with a 2.4-liter petrol engine sells for between RM20,000 to RM32,000 depending on how its has been used or abused. However, an early model 1985-1987 Landcruiser I in decent condition will sell from RM35,000 to as high as RM55,000 due to its classic appeal which we think is rather silly money to pay. However, if you could a unit like the one pictured here, then RM55k or even a high RM80k seems like a bargain.
