Has it ever been determined why the U.S. Market 62 was so basic?

[Lead Head]

This has always intrigued me - why is the U.S. model 62 series so basic? I mean I guess some markets didn't even get a heater, but still, we basically only had power windows, locks and AC. I found some early U.S. market brochure literature and parts diagram listings for the U.S. that said the U.S. 62 series would have available lockers, but it seems Toyota changed their minds at the last minute?

As far as I can tell, we missed the following options:
- headlight washers
- overhead console/map lights
- outdoor temperature readout/altimeter
- locking differentials
- rear jump seats
- rear AC
- high roof
- sunroof
- barn doors
- sliding rear glass
- refrigerated center console + icemaker
- winch
- split rear seat
- Diesel
- Manual
- full floating axle

Now, I know some of these options are very rare, but it just seems strange we got none of them.

 

[Dirt Boy]

Ha! My FJ62 has manual windows and locks and no A/C! I do wish some of those non-us market options were available for retrofit though.

 

[klip]

Maybe it was a US thing and not a Toyota thing?

 

[Coolcruiserfj402]

Maybe it was a US thing and not a Toyota thing?

I could see that with emissions with the diesels and high tops maybe they didn't want them to be us approved where other countries said who cares

 

[NYNick]

I purchased my 1988 FJ62 in Oct. 1987. There were two on the lot. One was a dark gray with electric locks and power windows. The other was two tone blue/gray with manual locks and windows. I purchased the latter. Electric stuff breaks and manual windows and locks don't. Unfortunately I was too late to the party for the manual transmission but we love our LC.

Still, I'd like to have those barn doors and rear sliding quarter panel windows, but you can keep all the other stuff.

 

[MWM1]

This has always intrigued me - why is the U.S. model 62 series so basic? I mean I guess some markets didn't even get a heater, but still, we basically only had power windows, locks and AC. I found some early U.S. market brochure literature and parts diagram listings for the U.S. that said the U.S. 62 series would have available lockers, but it seems Toyota changed their minds at the last minute?

As far as I can tell, we missed the following options:
- headlight washers
- overhead console/map lights
- outdoor temperature readout/altimeter
- locking differentials
- rear jump seats
- rear AC
- high roof
- sunroof
- barn doors
- sliding rear glass
- refrigerated center console + icemaker
- winch
- split rear seat
- Diesel
- Manual
- full floating axle

Now, I know some of these options are very rare, but it just seems strange we got none of them.

Just curious if anyone has retrofitted these options to an existing FJ62? Such as a refrigerated console, barn doors or rear A/C? Headlight washers on square bulbs may be a challenge. Perhaps the FJ62 was stripped down due to price point in comparison to other 4x vehicles of the time? Rear A/C would be a plus for family, dogs, etc.

 

[Lead Head]

The

Just curious if anyone has retrofitted these options to an existing FJ62? Such as a refrigerated console, barn doors or rear A/C? Headlight washers on square bulbs may be a challenge. Perhaps the FJ62 was stripped down due to price point in comparison to other 4x vehicles of the time? Rear A/C would be a plus for family, dogs, etc.

The U.S. 62 harness has a lot of spare plugs that are unused. While looking for a source for power, I found the plug inside that goes to the headlight washer pump control relay (according to the service manual).

 

[Devils Paw 80]

The options are like market driven. Hot places like Middle East would get rear AC and locations where the 62 is used as a work truck would get the barn doors.
I prefer the tailgate and lift gate myself.
Barn doors would be preferable on the FJ55 to avoid the problematic electric window.
That was one of the worst features in the old Iron Pig.

 

[3_puppies]

this question is not unlike the,
why did the US never get H55's in late 40's and 60 series?

 

[lcwizard]

Toyota built reliable trucks not fancy trucks. The 40 was far more basic than the 60. For relatively little work you can get a 40 back on the road
60 years after it left the dealer. How many 80s or 100s will be on the road in 2040 or 2050? If Toyota built exact duplicates of all the cruisers it ever built,
I would buy a 1978 40 series before all others because it would still be hitting the trails 50 years from now unless the government outlaws them

 

[NYNick]

There weren't many comparable 4x4's to choose from back in the mid-late 80's. Don't forget, SUV's hadn't even been invented yet. There were Broncos, Wagoneers, Suburbans, Land Rovers, Scouts...all pretty basic, purpose built 4x4 vehicles except for the ridiculously unreliable Range Rovers and Wagoneers. IMO, only the Bronco and Scout deserved consideration back then, but weren't big enough for me and my family.

Look at the market today. The Land Cruiser is on top of the world, at or above MSRP with a waiting list. I think the GX550 is a better vehicle, but too foofie for me.

 

[toy_tek]

Agree on the market driven comment. My take is that the 62 was pretty much optioned to compete w the 80s domestic US SUVs. My dad has been a Blazer guy since 71 and we had at least 5 including a 1989, my recollection of it was fairly equivalent to the FJ62 from an option standpoint. Most of those options mentioned in the first post were not available (diesel was, but very rare).

 

[Spike Strip]

Between 1988 and 1990 only about 17000 FJ62s were sold in the USA.

They were about $25K new - adjusted for inflation, that's about $75,000 today. Probably more because of hyperinflation. A friend's neighbor in L.A. bought one new off the lot and still has it and he often jokes, at the time, the truck cost more than he paid for his house in Van Nuys, in the 60s. Truck has been garaged the whole time and I've offered to buy so many times it's now a joke because he says he wants to be buried in it. Not a bad way to go.

It's all market and/or Gov't regulation driven.

 

[NYNick]

I paid $18,500 for my new FJ62 in 1988. MSRP was $21K.
Still have it and the window sticker!

 

[Spike Strip]

That's not bad. I guess they were trying to get the price down by no AC and power windows etc.

 

[NYNick]

That's not bad. I guess they were trying to get the price down by no AC and power windows etc.

Nope, still came with A/C, electric antenna and a very basic AM/FM radio which I still have.

 

[desmocruiser]

Cool thread!

Is an interesting question, it seems the 60 Series Land Cruisers were still outdoor hobby and ranch vehicles for the most part and were mild utilitarian in the US, pretty pricey and made to endure rough conditions and last forever, kind of mid point of 60 Series spec. We notice them now, but they were very slow selling vehicles across the country, if you knew of anyone that had one back in the day, there was usually a cool story why.

In other Land Cruiser friendly countries they served as either the primary family vehicle and Toyota felt the need for a little more comfort/luxury or they were pure Utility trucks for very tough conditions and working situations and optioned accordingly.

The US SUV market is interesting in the US, they were just becoming a thing here in the late 1980’s with the Grand Wagoneer, some Blazers/Jimmy’s, the upper trim Bronco’s, even Range Rover started to be talked about etc., however they were still truck based through the 90’s and then companies started making the Uni Body construction glorified station wagons and they now dominate the market and are nothing but slightly heavier cars with a little more ground clearance and even our beloved Land Cruiser has been neutered significantly!

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

Coming from a non-US perspective, I would say that the US FJ62 is a mid-spec vehicle. I have a General Market 1989 BJ60 which was of the absolute lowest spec, so no AC, no heater, no radio or aerial, no tachometer, no cigarette lighter socket, no clock, front drum brakes, bench seats with no headrests and no reclining hinges, vinyl interior, barn doors, third row troop carrier seats.

Diesels were out as the US market and regulation was not keen.

Most global FJ62s in e.g. Australia or the Middle East still had the non EFI 3F, and could also be as basic as my BJ60. So having the 3F-E is certianly not a 'basic' spec.

I would guess that while the US consumer had deep pockets, it was not one of those markets like Australia where the LC brand was king, so Toyota limited the number of models they sold there. Was there not also a good bit of resentment from certain consumers, and industry towards Japanese vehicle imports in the 1980s?

Consider the time also; the 1980s were Japan's economic miracle, so the gadget loving Japanese market got all the good stuff; factory winches, differential locks, seat heaters (none of which were offered in the Australian market, for example).

All the stuff is out there if you have the cash, so a basic model makes a good starting platform. I could add the stuff I liked to my BJ60 like disc brakes, PTO winch, AC and heating, and not have the things I would not want such as a sunroof (very prone to rust), electric windows and dual AC.

 

[MWM1]

Rear B Pillar Grab Handles, should be a standard! Helps with family members!

Interior Grab Handles 60/62 Series

Handles are sold in eaches. If you want two handles for the front, order two, same for the back as they fit both sides. Our handles come with hardware and covers (for the front). These are OEM Toyota Parts.

www.therustfarmers.com

 

[lcwizard]

Rear B Pillar Grab Handles, should be a standard! Helps with family members!

Interior Grab Handles 60/62 Series

Handles are sold in eaches. If you want two handles for the front, order two, same for the back as they fit both sides. Our handles come with hardware and covers (for the front). These are OEM Toyota Parts.

www.therustfarmers.com

The only family member I have that uses the back seat has no thumbs so the grab handles are wasted on her