70-Series: What Did Toyota Get Wrong?

[roscoFJ73]

The Australian models have always been a bit more advanced than most other markets and similar to JDM models. The JDM models got more luxurious examples but the Australian models were more unique and designed for this market. Things like dual fuel tanks, dust sensors on the filter, dual fuel filtration, troopys with forward facing rear seats and the best feature of all, turbo 6 cyl engines. Later on they were the were the first to get the V8 and then airbags.

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

Suspension, windshield weatherstrips/seals, more differential locks than cup holders. All three can be dealt with.

On newer models, there are not many complaints about the shorter rear axle outside Australia, at least none that I have found.

I guess Toyota stayed with leaf springs because they are easy to repair with limited resources at hand.

As Charles / @Gun Runner 5 has mentioned before, frequent stops to stretch the legs make the seats bearable. So does a lumbar pillow.

Aside from limited sales in Canada, 70 Series were not sold in North America because they were (and remain) too spartan by American standards. Furthermore, there were other models already filling that niche, such as the 4Runner.





Juan

 

[thebill]

I think cost was a big reason they did not sell well in Canada. I read somewhere that in the mid/late 80's in you could get a BJ70 for something like $12-13k, while a CJ started at 7 or 8k. That's a huge difference!

This is something else I’ve been wondering and casually searching. What did the 90’s 70-series cost when new?
My dad had an ‘88 Wangler until it started to fall apart a few years later which he replaced with a ‘91 Toyota Pickup. I remember standing with him in the showroom marveling at the Cygnus White 80 series and then seeing the sticker. Weren’t they $43k or something?

 

[roscoFJ73]

What did the 90’s 70-series cost when new?

In Australia around 94 my then boss bought a HZJ75 for $30000 AUD . He then bought another not long after but the new one was an updated model with dual tanks as standard for $35000AUD.

The newer one lost the seal in the transfer case towing a small excavator and the t/case was destroyed. Big s***fight to get Toyota to fix it but I think he won in the end. The guy who drove it most of the time abused it when the boss wasn't around. I often wondered if the abuse cause the seal to go.

 

[joekatana]

This is something else I’ve been wondering and casually searching. What did the 90’s 70-series cost when new?
My dad had an ‘88 Wangler until it started to fall apart a few years later which he replaced with a ‘91 Toyota Pickup. I remember standing with him in the showroom marveling at the Cygnus White 80 series and then seeing the sticker. Weren’t they $43k or something?

In 2002 I walked in to my local toyota dealership and priced out a "fully loaded" HZJ74 , fully loaded meaning it had lockers , aluminum wheels and fender flares and it came out around 30K euro tax included .......as we where in the midst of restoring a 19th century house for ourselves I promised my wife I would wait another year untill we had the most expenses done on the house ..............little did we know then that toyota was about to cancel the HZJ74 later in that same year and it dissapeared without anyone really noticing it .

 

[LCReunion]

This is something else I’ve been wondering and casually searching. What did the 90’s 70-series cost when new?
My dad had an ‘88 Wangler until it started to fall apart a few years later which he replaced with a ‘91 Toyota Pickup. I remember standing with him in the showroom marveling at the Cygnus White 80 series and then seeing the sticker. Weren’t they $43k or something?

I was a new and used Toyota salesman in the early 90's. In 91 and 92 you could buy a 80 series for 31k USD. That was the 4.0 3F-E. In 93 the 1FZ-FE came out and many were triple locked. Price was 35k USD. In 93 a similarly optioned 4 runner(but still missing things like 3rd row and triple locks) was 27k USD!!! Those were the days to buy a LC!

As a side note: I also personally sold an awesome poverty pack 4 runner. 4cyl, 5spd, vinyl seats and floor. No AC. AM/FM no cassette.
15k !!!

 

[WarDamnEagle]

2021, 4 door, V8 Diesel, 79 series pickup in KSA is $45k.

 

[Troopy Life]

The 70 was used primarily for mining companies, ngo’s etc etc, they were never built for the average consumer with all the mod cons..

The 60/80/100 etc was built for a the average joe.

The 70 was built strong but very basic, they always had a cult following because of their reliability.
But it’s only in recent years with YouTube/Instagram etc that these have blown up and now everyone wants one..

Most people that have never driven one don’t realise it’s a basic farm truck, just it’s hard to kill..

Toyota only widened the front of the V8 because of emissions standards, they didn’t bother doing the rear to save money and doesn’t really need it, if it’s only going to be trashed down a mine site etc.

People that complain that they don’t come with all these mod cons don’t understand that the 70 was never meant to be for them.

 

[pithicus]

IMO toyota stuck with the underpowered inefficient F motors far too long. I wish the 1FZ engine would bolt straight in as an option.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

IMO toyota stuck with the underpowered inefficient F motors far too long. I wish the 1FZ engine would bolt straight in as an option.

Not sure which 70 you are referring to but my 1994 FZJ75 has a 1FZ-F engine.

 

[flx]

And before that a 3F was already more powerful and more torquy than a 1HZ still sold on a 70 series today. Not even comparing it to a 3B that was really the diesel contender of the time.