TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 4.2 TD VX MANUAL 80-SERIES 1993

Rather reluctantly, the time has come for us to put our Landcruiser 80 up for sale. We bought the car last year, preparing it for a big round the world trip next year. Sadly, our “big trip” plans have been sidelined for now, and having just returned from a 3,500 mile expedition around south east Europe, the car is reluctantly being sold.

I was specifically looking for a manual, 12-valve diesel model for several reasons, and when this one-lady-owner-from-new example popped up, I had to have it. A completely standard car, with stacks of invoices and service history and genuinely one lady owner, it was a chance not to be missed.

A visit to Julian Voeckers @ Overland Cruisers confirmed it was "one of the best standard cars he’d seen in recent years" with very little work required to baseline the vehicle. We gave it a little tune up so there is virtually no turbo lag, and the engine now pulls strongly through all the gears from as little as 1,000rpm (coming on boost around 1,500rpm). Being the 12 valve model, it has plenty of low down torque, too, and is surprisingly economical.

So, a bit about the base vehicle:

- One previous lady owner from new

- Genuine UK car (not an import), top of the range VX spec

- 1993 model with the desirable 12-valve engine and manual gearbox

- Front, centre and rear locking diffs, all in working order.

- Electric front and rear (middle row) windows and sunroof, sliding rear windows (for the third row seats)

- Heated front seats

- Electric lumbar support on the drivers seat

- Rear heating control

Everything works as it should, right down to the headlamp washers! The car has now covered 149,000 miles and I would imagine will cover at least that mileage again with no issues.

In terms of spec, it benefits from the following upgrades, specifically chosen for our intended use:

- 5x BF Goodrich A/T tyres (including the spare), less than 5,000 miles old

- EFS suspension kit imported from Chris @ FNB 4x4 in Australia, including: 4x XTR (top of the range) shocks, 4x +50mm springs (linear front, progressive rears), 2x Polyair rear helper springs and 1x XTR steering damper. The airbag helpers springs in the rear independently plumbed in, to take into account additional weight when loaded up for travel.

- Pioneer headunit, with full iPhone/iPod control via a USB slot, USB memory stick playback, 3.5mm headphone-jack playback and of course a radio. It also has Bluetooth, which can be used for music, handsfree phone calls and sat nav instructions

- 4" Vibe front speakers to improve sound quality for those long days in the vehicle.

- Cobra 75 CB radio with remote handset that sits nicely in the glovebox, hidden away when not in use.

- Sirio CB aerial (top of the range item) and mag mount. This unit works really nicely, and can be easily hidden away if required within minutes (e.g. for entry into Morocco!).

- Additional switched-live 12V socket to the front cabin (next to the gearstick)

- 2x permanent-live 12V sockets in the rear to power our fridge/freezer, and supply power to the rooftent.

- Rear storage system (in place of the third row seats, which I have and come with the car of course). For me, it holds my toolbox, socket set, torx set, camping tables (x2), jump leads, 240V extension lead, 12V TMAX air compressor, warning triangle, fire extinguisher, shovel, cooking stove, etc.). Please note, this equipment is not included, just gives you an example of what can be fitted in there! It is also lockable, and has a hinged front and lid for easy access.

- Front recovery points which replace the standard towing eyes and are bolted to the front chassis members, as much to help others as for our own needs!

I also corrected a few “common faults” with this model of Landcruiser:

– All the electric window mechanisms were stripped down, the fronts were replaced with new parts and new window rubbers, the rears (which were OK) were regreased and reassembled

- Replaced both rear tailgate struts, so this now opens fully and stays up!

As you can see, this has been a carefully thought-out build, based on one of the few really solid, reliable 80-Series Landcruiser’s left. Yes, there are many cheaper examples around (and I looked at several myself), but none are as solid underneath, nor as mechanically sound as this one. We have just completed a 3,500 mile on-road/off-road trip covering France, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia without a single issue, which is testament to the maintenance by the previous owner and the preparation by us in advance of the trip.

Option 1: base vehicle with full suspension kit inc. Polyair bags, Pioneer headunit, uprated speakers, additional power sockets, recovery points, etc. and all the work already mentioned. £POA

Option 2: including the Maggiolina Safari rooftent (£2,080 new), Rhinorack awning inc. 3x side panels (£600 new), 3x Toyota/Thule roofbars, storage unit (around £100 in materials), CB radio (£200 inc. aerial and mount), etc. all fitted to the vehicle. £POA