ROTW: "Elsie" full stock Middle East specs

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:40 AM

Elsie
1994 Land Cruiser VXR

Firstly, apologies for not having modified my rig – she performs splendidly in all regards and therefore remains stock.

However, Middle Eastern specs make her quite different from US 80s, so I hope a pristine stock 80 will not disappoint ROTW fans.

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:41 AM

In the interior of the UAE, where I live, right on the edge of the Rub al Khali desert, I drive four kinds of terrain: long highway drives at incredibly hot temperatures, harsh washboard dusty tracks, gravel mountain tracks, but mainly soft dune sands.

Elsie is without any doubt the best-suited vehicle of its age for these conditions – in fact, Land Cruiser is king out here, and the 80 series in particular made Toyota famous.

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:46 AM

Like a VIP 4x4 limo on tarmac, other minor cars make way; tough as old bedouin sandals on hard tracks, nothing has fallen off yet; and powerful enough on sand to climb even high dunes. Wish she were SWB for cresting over, but you can’t have everything!

Bought in very good condition at 200,000 km from an expat who was leaving, she is my main family car.

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:47 AM

Front and rear factory lockers, dual A/C front and rear, ice-maker cool box, fuel sub-tank, CD-player, sunroof, rear barn doors, 4x4 dash button, and just plain good-looking all around!

Auto gearbox Dexol DE604964, assembled in UAE, so this must have been rebuilt at some point.

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:48 AM

Rear jump seats are really handy, as they fold up and down easily – but no seatbelts!

The only thing I’ve changed from stock are the tires – Sumitomo Shaheen sand service in stock size.

No cruise control!!! What were they thinking???

She was factory-fitted with a winch, but to my great sadness the winch is missing. I have the remote controller, and the bumper is ready to accept one as soon as I find it!

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:50 AM

First thing I did, was give her a good cleaning…

VIN FZJ80L-GCPEKV

Second thing was check out the flex… not bad for full stock!

Frame: FZJ80-0065482, Color: 6MI, Trim: FJ10, Trans/Axle: A442F K294, Plant/Built: A11

Third thing – let’s see how she performs on the sands… excellent!

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:55 AM

Engine’s a beauty – even without cruise control, a few misplaced wires, and some funky air filter monitors with a dash warning light if it clogs up.

prossett · 04-14-07, 09:56 AM

Rear pintle hook is great for towing out others, and I also have a tow-hook to pull a quad trailer – to this day never got stuck, not even once! Whenever the desert catches me out, Elsie’s diff locks take control of the situation and I’m out.

Overall one of the great trucks in history – LC80 owners will know what I mean, and if you don’t I suggest you buy one.

Let me close with a note of appreciation for the IH8MUD forum – you guys are my link to civilization as I know it. Thanks all, keep on posting, ‘coz you are read daily from halfway around the world! Cheers

NaterGator · 04-14-07, 10:02 AM

prossett, you know I love that truck

Congrats on ROTW and nice writeup about your truck and how you use it in the UAE... I can never get enough pics or details of it

ERG80 · 04-14-07, 10:08 AM

Awesome Cruiser,writeup, and great pics of the scenery!!

prossett · 04-14-07, 10:18 AM

WOW, you guys are fast!

Thanks, let me add a few pics about what can go wrong.

photo taken by a buddy, Prasad.

photo taken by a buddy, nameless (Daddy's car!!!

)

why you need lockers!

ERG80 · 04-14-07, 10:57 AM

poor little 100's all stuck.

jditom · 04-14-07, 11:06 AM

Beutiful truck, you have some nice OEM stuff we dream about in the US.

It looks like a left hand drive? Thought you all were right hand drivers?

faylo · 04-14-07, 11:21 AM

Man, I dig those rear doors! I've always preferred the 40's that had 'em and now I have something else to be jealous about.

Real nice rig you got there!

-jim

SpikeDogg · 04-14-07, 02:59 PM

Yeah, I love those rear doors and third row seats - easily accessable.

MTNRAT · 04-14-07, 03:13 PM

Just one comment. WOW!

LX_TREME · 04-14-07, 03:23 PM

Hey you got too much sand out there

please ship one full '53 container to U.S, by the way nice pic's that she can play in the sand all day long

4x4CPOSEADOG · 04-14-07, 04:11 PM

prossett,

Your Land Cruiser is one of the best rig in a stock form equipped with all the bells and whistles straight from the factory that is designed for an expedition and on long haul. With few modifications, you can go anywhere anytime. Who needs road when you have the 80 series Land Cruiser?

OBTW, I have been to the Camel Rock and seen those beautiful red sand dunes.

Let's go dogging at junkyards in UAE.

FL80ADDICT · 04-14-07, 05:01 PM

Great rig and awesome pics Thanks for a great write up!

More pics wouldnt bother me one bit

Those dunes are unbelievable!

nmostofi · 04-14-07, 06:27 PM

prossett,
thanks for sharing I agree the Land Cruiser 80 series is a legend, especially the middle east spec. ones with all the goodies. I like your hood ornament I've been looking for one like it. Nice write up, Can you take some pics of the cooler box.

trevdawg · 04-14-07, 06:45 PM

Nice write up!

Those photos of you in the sand look professional,

They look like they came from an ad for the Cruiser.

overall, love your rig!

sseaman · 04-14-07, 08:28 PM

nice ride, i think i like your rear seats better for occasional use then what we get here in the US

Romer · 04-14-07, 09:11 PM

Nice write-up. Thats a great rig.

GAS-A-LOT! · 04-14-07, 09:39 PM

you know you can probably change a chassy/frame and a few parts and presto.... you UAE 80 is now an american sold 80 all along with mods that well came with it.

not that I am implying anything illegal. Oh no that would be a big no-no.

Any way... just thoughts.....guy and gals

thoughts.

: grinpimp: mmm.. I think I will be shopping over at the UAE in a couple of years....

jfz80 · 04-14-07, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERG80

poor little 100's all stuck.

ya beat me too it,and no bites yet

awesome truck prossett, definately a unique addition to our group! love those desert pics

tech_dog · 04-15-07, 12:37 AM

Is that H4 button stock? What does it do?

I notice that there's no resonator on the air intake. That's a surprising subtle difference from North American stock.

Nice truck! Thanks for the writeup.

Ting · 04-15-07, 01:14 AM

Nice rig! More pictures please...

You don't have to worry about rust under. Way too dry.

prossett · 04-15-07, 04:36 AM

Thanks guys, I'll try answer all.

All vehicles are LHD in the Middle East.

H4 button on the dash engages 4x4. AFAIK, Elsie runs in 2WD and runs auto locking hubs up front since if you jack up the front, wheels spin independently. The transfer case lever is always in H position, then you go down to N and then L4. This to me also means there's no need for CDL switch as x-case should lock power 50/50 whenever in 4WD. I'm open to comments on this as I might be wrong.

Hood ornaments not found in scraps. Toyota is plagued by imitation parts here, though I use the OEM stuff, which actually is very competitive anyways. So the only hood ornaments I've come across are knock-offs. The dealer might have the originals.

Emissions stuff is quite different for all cars.

Photos of cooler console won't show much, unless I take it out again. What is it specifically you wanted to see? AFAIK, it is powered by the A/C compressor since it only works when the A/C is on. It has three buttons on the front top: off, cool and ice. And it does make ice, and even comes with a little (useless) cube tray! I don't use it since we carry a full-size coolbox when we go out.

No rust at all, so old cars are in good supply! Mostly top-end, too. Many get exported to Russia. I suppose you could transfer the good parts over to a US-spec truck, why not?

As for the stucks, yeah, I chose my pics carefully!

Funny thing is the old 80 often out-runs the newer 100s, especially the V8s which are too heavy.

Glad you liked the pics! Let me find a few more bloopers...

hobbes · 04-15-07, 07:12 AM

The only thing 80s don't have there are diesels. I don't remember seeing anything but gassers in that neck of the woods (due to obvious reasons).

Cattledog · 04-15-07, 07:37 AM

One of my favorite rigs currently. The fact that is stock really make no diff for me. I like the fact that in stock form it meets all of your needs. The third row seats are cool! Great writeup too. Really like seeing the 80 in use.

BTW, how did the kid explain to his dad that in the middle of a desert he found to only water hole around then was able to get stuck in. Wow...

Very clean! Thanks for posting!