Stock Number: 4271

There are very few JDM imports that offer the convenience of ownership that an 80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser can. This generation of Toyota's fabled truck was sold here stateside, utilizing the same bulletproof 1FZ-FE powerplant and tenacious 4WD system. For that reason, parts are easy to find and many owners even service at the dealer. This 1993 example if offered with only 51K verified miles, and includes some desirable options and a slate of recent maintenance. Finished in Silver Metallic (20R), the body is in good shape other than a few small scuffs, dings, and chips associated with normal use. Its lifted right height, oversized rubber, and subtle touches such as the OEM rainguards, give an imposing yet classy aesthetic backed up by Toyota's legendary reputation for quality.

The cabin in this Land Cruiser is about as voluminous as it gets from a Japanese export. SUVs are often much smaller found in Japan, in contrast to many stateside trucks. The front occupants have tons of headroom, legroom, and shoulder room to get comfortable. The driver has a fantastic command of the road, and the increased ride height, skinny A-pillars and low-slung dash provide copies amounts of visibility. An OEM leather-wrapped wheel is easy to grip and matches the rest of the interior in with its gray hue. The wear on the wheel, like the rest of the interior, is much less than you'd expect on a 26-year-old car. The gauge cluster is all done in large letters and numbers and is easy to read and fully functional. The climate system, which is upgraded for third-row equipped models also has large buttons, that are clearly legible and can be pressed even with winter gloves on. If your eyes wander upward, a factory sunroof with UV shade is operational and provides increased ventilation and natural light for those on board. The A/C system does a decent job of cooling all the rows down, although, for most of our clients, the heat will likely be on full blast for a few more months. Besides the sunroof, keen eyes will also see a roof-mounted off-road gauge suite, which even includes an altimeter. The second trick interior option is the factory Cool-Box. This center console doubles as in ice maker and cooler should you see a need to truck around a bunch of wine coolers for everyone to indulge in. If you don't prefer the purr of that sweet six, the Bose speakers pipe in tons of tunes through the Pioneer, Bluetooth capable head unit. The antenna is no longer functional, but all the same, the radio still gets fine reception. The rear seats, trimmed in the same blue/gray Alcantara combo as the front look great as well. There are a few missing stitches on the seat bottom, but even still look hardly used. They, like the front, provide great supports for long drives. The rear row and cargo area are shielded from the rays of the sun by reflective privacy tint, and keeps prying eyes away.

Mechanically, this 1993 is everything you look for in an import. Fresh off a recent service, the 4476cc mill happily fires to life with a turn of the key. Knows for its longevity, durability, and low cost of ownership the 1FZ-FE mill regularly chalks up a half-million miles in various examples around the globe. Its low vibration characteristics make for a more refined ride, and the gasoline mill makes plenty of power. Acceleration up to and above highway speeds isn't an issue, even in a four-thousand pound plus vehicle. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly up and down the gears, and neither clunks or hesitates during routine use. Slowing this behemoth down might seem like a huge task, but the factory disc brakes are well up to the task. After a road test, we can confirm that this particular 80 stops quicker than our average 80 series. This VX Limited also benefits from a three-inch suspension lift to give it a bit more ground clearance in case you need to ford a river or take an off-road excursion. The front and rear limited-slip differentials, and driver actuated center differential lock offers a few mechanical upgrades over the standard version of the car to help to get the Cruiser out of a sticky situation. Mounted at all four corners, the new 33" Falken rubber provides plenty of grip in the snow, sleet or sand should you encounter any. As a final touch, the trunk-mounted spare had a new tire thrown on it as well to complete the look.

The gold standard of SUVs, these Land Cruisers provide unbeatable value. US versions regularly sell for similar money in worse condition with triple the miles, so in that sense, these are a steal. Better equipped, and fully legal, this Lan Cruiser VX is an instant Japanese Classic.

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB complaint 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.