Stock #6821
Exterior Overview
Above all else, you know you can trust a Land Cruiser. With a seven decade long track record to fawn over, these rigs are as capable and reliable as they come. This 1996 Prado is one heck of a truck, and is finished in a handsome Dark Green Mica (6P3). Aside from a few light dings, chips, and scuffs associated with normal use, this paint is in good nick, and this terrific truck is adorned with a rear hitch receiver and refinished gunmetal 16″ alloy wheels. Fresh off a recent service, this turn key example is offered with only 143k verified and documented miles on the clock. Perfect as a year round daily driver, this 4WD monster can also pull double duty at Moab or on the soft sand of the beach. Safe, easy to service, and refined over the tarmac, this is a true Japanese Classic.
Interior Overview
The cabin is spacious and includes several safety and power amenities. Dual SRS airbags are standard and the driver and passenger have easy access to the center stack. A BOSS USDM radio was installed by one of our team, The headunit looks modern, includes Bluetooth integration, and pumps tunes through the cabin with the best of them. Below the automatic climate control unit resides. It’s intuitive to operate and pipes in cold A/C and piping hot heat through the cabin. For those who prefer more natural ventilation, the side glass powers down, the large power moonroof can tilt or retract, and the rear quarter glass pops outward. The dashboard lacks any cracking or fading and is in good shape. The upholstery is in good nick and lacks any major rips, stains or tears. The blue and gray material is also utilized in the door cards which are in good shape, too. The headliner and carpets have withstood the past 25 years without sustaining major abuse and as a whole it appears the cabin was looked after in Japan. The most notable imperfections are scratches on many of the interior plastics. On the positive side, it does have the OEM owners manuals in the glovebox, which is included with the purchase of this vehicle.
Mechanical Overview
Underpinned by a sturdy body on frame chassis, the 5VZ-FE powerplant is legendary in its own right. This engine powers our domestic 4Runners, so parts are readily available and can be had on the cheap. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.4L churns to life care of a new 12v battery. It sounds good, as the old muffler was replaced with a new one. A new fuel filter keeps unwanted contaminants out of the engine, and a new engine air filter and spark plugs are on hand to ensure the fuel is properly atomized. To make sure the V6 keeps cool, a fresh coolant flush was performed, which doesn’t need to be done for another four years. One of our trained techs also rehabbed the quad cam mill with new valve cover gaskets and new half moon seals. The 5VZ is linked to a stout automatic gearbox. Shifts feel reassured, and torque is filtered through a FullTime 4WD system. A center locker and low range can be engaged when traction is nonexistent, and these trucks are overly capable on less than ideal road surfaces. While we wanted to note the tach no longer operates, it shouldn’t be an issue as you don’t need to row your own gears in this thing. It gets up to highway speeds with ease, and slowing down is a stress-free affair courtesy of standard ABS. The ride quality is smooth yet predictable. New rear shocks have been installed and we also replaced the rear upper and lower control arms while we were in there. The front sway bar links also got replaced for state inspection. Lastly we mounted and balanced four new 31″ Falken Tires. Freshly aligned, this truck tracks straight as an arrow and the power steering is light and easy to articulate. These rigs are skyrocketing in popularity in the US, and it doesn’t take a hard look to see why!
*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.
