1996 Toyota LC Prado TZ

Stock #6986

Perfect as a year-round family hauler, competent campsite companion, or wild weekend warrior, this terrific Toyota is up to the task.

Exterior Overview

The Prado J95 is the medium-duty Land Cruiser. It’s refined, easy to service, good on fuel, and reliable as the day is long. This 1996 is a killer example of the platform, and is finished in a classic Desert Dune metallic over Gray (K03). Adorned by refinished OEM 16″ wheels, OEM rainguards, and an OEM bashbar, the paint is in fine shape aside from some light dings, chips, and scuffs. Built atop a rugged ladder chassis, the 1KZ-TE engine is a perfect match for this ride. Fresh off a recent service, this turn-key TZ is offered with only 126k verified and documented miles on the ticker. Perfect as a year-round family hauler, competent campsite companion, or wild weekend wonder, this terrific Toyota is up to the task. A Japanese Classic to stand the test of time, it’s hard to deny this model’s greatness!

Interior Overview

The cabin is nicely equipped and spacious. Dual SRS airbags are standard and the dashboard lacks any cracking or fading. Centrally mounted, an OEM Field Monitor displays info about the outside conditions in case you lose cell service. The center stack is close by and easy to reach. The OEM TV/radio is cooler than the other side of the pillow and works like a charm, delivering tunes to all those within the cockpit. Below is a simple to use automatic climate system. A new compressor was installed to keep the AC cool, and the heat is piping hot for next year’s winter. If you prefer more natural ventilation, power windows are standard and this Prado was spec’d with an optional panoramic moonroof that tilts and retracts. The pilot can find the ideal seating position with a standard tilt-adjustable steering column and optional manual lumbar support adjustment. Power mirror and electric locks make daily use more enjoyable. The seats are trimmed in a gray and blue cloth. The material is durable and lacks any major rips, holes or tears. The same material can be found in the door cards. The headliner is held taut to the roof and the carpets have withstood the past 25 years just fine. Aside from a non-operational power folding mirror on the driver’s side and some light stains on the carpets and seats, it’s hard to complain about the cabin. Even the owner’s manuals, maintenance booklets and a spare key are included with the purchase of this fine.

Mechanical Overview

This body-on-frame beast is one tough cookie, and the same can be said for the powerplant, the intercooled 1KZ-TE. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.0L jolts to life courtesy of two new 12v batteries. It sounds great thanks to a new muffler, and we also performed a proper tune up. A new engine air filter, a new fuel filter, and a set of accessory belts were installed to keep things on the up and up. To keep all that fresh oil internal to the four-banger, one of our trained technicians installed a new valve cover gasket. We also performed a coolant flush so that the 1K would be up to regulating thermal efficiency. The four cylinder makes gobs of torque and is mated to a stout automatic gearbox. It shifts like a champ and feeds torque through a full-time 4WD system. The off-road crowd loves the fact that a center locker is standard and a low range 4WD keeps momentum moving forward when you need it most. To slow down, ABS is standard, and new rear brake pads, new front brake hoses, and a brake fluid flush keep stopping distances short. The ride quality is refined and the long wheelbase distributes bumps large and small. We have refreshed the system with new rear shocks, rear upper control arms, front lower ball joints, front sway bar links, and front lower control arms. The power steering system was also rehabbed. The rack was rebuilt, the fluid flushed, and new rack bushings and boots installed. We also replaced the inner and outer tie rods so we could dial in a proper alignment. The OEM wheels were then wrapped in new 31″ rubber. The new tires look mean, reduce road noise, and will last for tens of thousands of miles to come!

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.