Vehicle Description
It wasn't the first, but there's certainly an argument to be made
that the Toyota Land Cruiser was among the best 4x4s ever built.
Legendary off-road abilities, lots of interior space, but kind of
slow, right? Well, this 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser neatly remedies
that particular problem with a 6.0 liter Chevy V8, transforming
this into one heck of an off-roader.
This Land Cruiser has been extensively renovated from top to
bottom, including a fresh paint job about six months ago. As a
result, it looks incredible and there are no nasty surprises
waiting underneath thanks to expensive work; just imagine how much
it must have cost to smooth and prep all that sheetmetal! The
bright white bodywork has a utilitarian look that Toyota put to
work as their top-of-the-line model, much the way Range Rover did,
creating the luxury SUV market we enjoy today. This one isn't soft,
however, and its off-roading credentials are rock-solid. A few
custom mods give it a unique look, from the fog lamps neatly faired
into the front bumper and HID headlights, to the discreet 6.0L
badges and blacked-out window surrounds. Overall, this is one
great-looking Land Bruiser that successfully bridges the gap to the
21st century.
You can see the early stages of the Land Cruiser's gentrification
inside, where you have handsome leather bucket seats and all the
creature comforts. The seats, carpets, and door panels are fresh
and custom designed for this truck, giving it a modern look with
custom embroidery on the front seat backs. The dash is typical '80s
Japan, Inc., with lots of gray plastic and angular shapes, but we
dig the big, round gauges and matching air vents. There's an
AM/FM/CD/iPod/Bluetooth stereo in the dash, power windows and
locks, and a tilt steering column with custom steering wheel.
There's a locking center console with two cup holders between the
front seats and heavy-duty floor mats protect the carpets.
Second-row space is impressive and the cargo bay is fully finished,
including a rubber mat for hauling just about anything you can fit
inside. Toyota engineers were nothing if not thoughtful.
Toyota's DOHC 4.2 liter inline-six was adequate, but there's
nothing like the power of a V8. In this case, it's a 6.0 liter
Chevrolet Vortec V8 pulled from a Chevy truck, and it completely
transforms the Land Cruiser. It looks like it was born in that
engine bay and even uses the original Land Cruiser air cleaner
assembly; a nice touch! The installation is quite professional and
very neatly done, with the only notable modification being a set of
MSD coils. It lights off instantly, idles smoothly, and pulls with
considerably more vigor than the original six. On the other hand,
off-road capabilities are uncompromised and when you're pulling
around this much weight, a little extra horsepower never hurts. A
GM 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission was installed at the
same time, and it links to a 2-speed transfer case and the original
Land Cruiser axles at both ends, with the front axle being fitted
with Aisin hubs. The exhaust was custom fabricated and even
includes a pair of mini catalytic converters to help with
emissions. It's extremely clean underneath and the actual
off-roading parts of the Toyota needed no help, so they were
retained front to back. Ride height is stock, but those giant
17-inch wheels and 265/65/17 Michelin radials fill the fenders in a
big way.
This is one awesome Land Cruiser, and for many of us, it offers
exactly the right balance between performance, luxury, and
capability. Call now!