Stories
Land Cruiser history, told properly.
Land Cruiser history, stories and engineering. From the vehicles that built the reputation to the people who took them around the world.
Back to the homepage
History
The FJ25: The Land Cruiser Everyone Forgot
Most people think the 40 Series was the first Land Cruiser. Yes and no.
History
Why the Land Cruiser Even Exists
Long before it became a familiar sight with aid convoys, overlanders and remote work crews, the Land Cruiser began with an urgent request for a military-style four-wheel-drive truck.
Stories
The BJ45 That Travelled the World for 21 Years
Some Land Cruisers become famous on rally stages, in films or because they sit immaculate in collections.
Stories
Old on Purpose: How the 70 Series Keeps Dodging Extinction
In November 2023, Toyota put a brand new Land Cruiser 70 back on sale in Japan. That would have been unremarkable if the vehicle in question had not first appeared in 1984.
History
Was the 80 Series Peak Land Cruiser?
When Toyota developed the Land Cruiser 300, chief engineer Takami Yokoo looked back beyond the outgoing 200 Series. "We actually used the LandCruiser 80 as a guidepost," he said in 2021. In his view, the 80 remained the benchmark for rough-road performance, even three decades after its debut.
Guides
FJ, HZJ, VDJ: What Land Cruiser Model Codes Actually Mean
Codes such as FZJ80, HDJ81 and VDJ79 contain decades of Toyota engineering history. Read them carefully and apparently similar Land Cruisers begin to reveal their differences.