Land Cruiser

Make
Toyota
Segment
SUV

A pristine example of the 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80 recently sold on Bring a Trailer for an almost unbelievable $136,000.

This comes mere days after Toyota unveiled the 2022 Land Cruiser, which will no longer use the naturally-aspirated 5.7-liter V8 engine. Instead, Toyota will be using a new twin-turbocharged V6 gas engine and a 3.3-liter diesel. Both engines will be mated to a ten-speed automatic. The new turbocharged gas engine produces more power than the old V8 and will undoubtedly be more efficient.

Still, loyalists aren't convinced of this newfangled turbocharged engine. The skepticism is rife on social media, wondering whether a turbocharged Land Cruiser could ever be as reliable as the old car. So we'll let you in on a little secret. The Land Cruiser has been turbocharged for nearly a decade now. African models are available with a twin-turbo V8 diesel, tuned to run on dirty diesel.

It may seem like a silly price, but it does make sense when you consider Land Cruiser sales figures and the condition of this particular model. The Land Cruiser has never been a volume model for the USA. Lexus sells more LX models, in fact. The Land Cruiser is a niche vehicle aimed at a very particular crowd. Overlanders love these things because of their simplicity and robust nature. Toyota's tolerance levels for the Land Cruiser are known for being extremely high, which makes them hard to kill.

This 1994 model that sold for $136,000 makes us sad in a way. It only has 1,000 miles on the clock.

The original owner purchased it and locked it away in a garage. The second owner purchased it in October 2020, gave it a thorough service, and here we are. A Land Cruiser that spent its whole life locked up. We can only hope that the new owner uses it to its full potential.

Exterior-wise, it's pure '90s perfection. It's finished in metallic green with gray bumpers. Standard features include a power sunroof, split tailgate, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a power antenna.

It's even better on the inside, where it boasts air conditioning, a factory-fitted CD and cassette player, and a three-spoke steering wheel. And unlike modern Land Cruisers, this model still has a second shifter for the transfer case.

This generation Land Cruiser was powered by a 4.5-liter naturally-aspirated straight-six producing 212 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to a permanent four-wheel-drive system via a four-speed automatic transmission. It also came standard with locking differentials front and rear, which means it will most likely give the modern Land Cruiser a spanking in the off-road department.