| Series 75, 76 and 77 |
| The Landcruiser 75 series replaced the aging 45 series long wheelbase models in 1984. While a more modern design, it retained and improved every off road quality of the prior 40 series. As a result it has become one of the best off road vehicles ever produced. |
| The 70-series of today contains, according to Mr. Osamu Shinodu, chief engineer of the LC70 Product Planning Division, "all of the threads of history." The biggest change was made in the transition from the 40-series to the 70-series. The market still demanded heavy-duty vehicles, but RV-type users were increasing and both had to be satisfied. While some people in Japan thought that the Land Cruiser was still too heavy and overbuilt in terms of quality, people in Arab countries complained that the Land Cruiser was becoming too soft. It was thanks to these competing needs, however, that the Land Cruiser was able to diversify in the directions it has today. There were limits to what could be done to modernise the old design of the 40-series. The chief engineer at the time, Mr. Masaomi Yoshii, therefore introduced a complete overhaul in the design. In November of 1984, a new 70-series was born, bringing to a close a 29-year era during which the 40-series (and the 20-series) remained unchanged. Although it should be noted that the 40 series did continue in production for the limited market of Brazil, through 2001. The first requirement for the new series was that the new Land Cruiser should not sacrifice any of its toughness, so a strong ladder frame was outfitted with rigid leaf springs. The body plates were thickened by 1mm for added strength. While leaving something of the image of the 40-series, such as externally added fenders, it was also given modern features such as curved glass. As before, there were three body types available, the short 70 (soft top and van). the middle wheelbase 73 (FRP top) and the long wheelbase 75. |
| Technical Specs and Pictures Click on images for larger view |
| Interior and Dash Pictures Click on images for larger view |
| Pictures of the Troop Carrier (Troopie) and Wagon Click on images for larger view |
| Pictures of the pick-up and cab-chassis models Click on images for larger view |
| This pictures is German Landcruiser 75 tow truck. A very interesting Landcruiser variation. Click on image for larger view |
| Military Landcruiser series 75s (mid-wheelbase models) Click on images for larger view |
| Landcruisers are even used as military vehicles around the world. Landcruisers are tough, very off road capable, and compared to brand new military vehicles, such as Humvees, they are cheap and plentiful. Military cruisers are most commonly found in the Middle East and South America. |
| More military Landcruiser models can be found on my Military Land Cruiser pages. |
| Ex-USMC Airfield Crash Truck, 1990 Land Cruiser 75 Pictures courtisy of Dave Stedman Click on images for larger view |
| Dave Stedman was kind enough to send me these pictures. He currenly lives in Japan, but he purchased this 1990 Land Cruiser 75 from the U.S. Marine Corp. It was original donated to the U.S. military by Japan for the Gulf War and spent some time in the Middle East. It was later transfered to the Iwakuni Marine Corps Station in Japan and used as a crash/fire truck before being surplussed. |
| Dave then swapped out the non-locker axles for a set of cable locking units and repainted it. It has 3F petrol engine engine and H55F transmission. The front end has a PTO winch driven by a PTO box off of a BJ44 Land Cruiser. |
| This is how it looks now with the new Canadian paint job and custom rear flatbed. It's currently undergoing even more mods, including adding a rear winch and an extra fuel tank from an HJ73 Land Cruiser. |
| Pictures of highly modified Landcuiser 75s Click on images for larger view |
| LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES |
| Long wheelbase 1984-1998 |
| An LC77 from Japan. |
| The 75 through 77 series is the original long wheelbase version of the 70 series Landcruiser. Built from 1984 through 1998 and destined for most markets, it was the most popular models. In 1999, the 78 and 79 series replaced it, but the overall design was retained. Most 75 through 77 series models used leaf springs at all four corners, but there were a few light duty models produced which used Hilux axles, Hilux engines and coil springs at all four corners. These light duty Landcruisers were common in the shorter wheelbases, but are fairly rare in this longer wheelbase form. Most Landcruiser 75s were produced in either a cab chassis pick up model or in a 2 door troop carrier. These two body styles remain today as the exclusive models of the 78/79 series Landcruisers. Used primarily by commercial and government agencies, they have seen some extremely heavy duty use in some very remote areas. Proving the worth of Toyota durability. |
| A 70 series shorty frame. This is actually a Landcruiser 70 shorty frame, but the long wheelbase suspension layout is very similier, but with an extended frame |
| Troopie (wagon) seating options |
| Pick-up seating options |