Stock# 5249

The Land Cruiser is known globally for its ruggedness, durability, and ease of ownership. The iconic model has been built for nearly seven decades and this 1991 certainly looks the part too. Finished in Cedarwood over Light Beige, this diesel-powered J78 is accessorized with an aluminum roof ladder, factory spare tire cover, polished brush guard, and OEM raingaurds. The vintage feeling color combo is reminiscent of something you'd see on a safari roaming South African terrain. Aside from some light scuffs and dings the body is in good shape and turns more than a few heads. Best of all, enthusiasts will love that this big, body-on-frame truck is equipped with a manual gearbox and selective 4WD. Offered with a mere 102k verified and documented miles, recently serviced and legally imported, this classic Prado would make for a fun trail rig, weekend toy, or daily driver.

The cabin is spacious and includes a surprising amount of options for a vehicle whose roots date back to 1984. The view of the road ahead is clear and commanding, and this tall truck rides far above traffic. The dash lacks any cracking or distortion and includes a field monitor to keep an eye on exterior temperature and altitude. The climate system is simple to use and intuitive, and this one also boasts cold A/C. The headroom is impressive and the passenger gets a dash-mounted grab handle and a sizable glovebox. Open it up and you'll notice the original owners manuals which is a neat item to have! Power equipment includes electric windows, door locks, and mirrors. They all work well and for additional ventilation and light in the cabin, an option sunroof sits overhead and is ready to rock when called upon. The headliner and door cards have been well cared for as have the seats and carpet. The upholstery is soft to the touch and lacks any major rips, stains, or tears. If you have a bunch of friends or little ones running around the desirable third row is available to accommodate two extra bodies. It can also be folded up and into the D-pillar for more storage. That's not to say the cabin is perfect as we wanted to note some cracking shifter trim and nonfunctional OEM audio. Still, at 30 years old this truck looks decent inside and was cared for in a prior life for sure.

What is great about owning a vintage Land Cruiser is the simplicity of the mechanicals and a wide array of available parts. This 78 is no exception and is fresh off an oil and filter service. The 2L-TE starts promptly with the twist of the key, aided by a new 12v battery. The 2.4L idles confidently and breathes better thanks to a new engine air filter. A manual transmission sends power through a selective transfer case. Shifting is a blast in something this big and the gearbox lacks any grinding or hitches. The driver can choose 2WD or 4WD based on the road conditions and the hubs can be electronically locked from inside the cabin. Acceleration is acceptable and the Prado can get up to highway speeds without the need to fret. Sustained highway cruising is relatively comfortable too, and the long-wheelbase delivers a decent ride quality for a truck. The TEMS adjustable dampers happily take large and small road imperfections with ease and feel predictable. The brakes are confident and the OEM alloys are wrapped in new 31" Falken tires. They look mean and will deliver tens of thousands of miles of year-round grip to come. Overall this Prado EX is an easy one to fall in love with. Its striking styling, tough persona, and Toyota reliability make this an ideal JDM investment.

*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.