Is the FJ Cuiser a Land Cruiser-FACTS

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THe BJ question was posed with tongue in cheek...

So was the VJ....although it could be a possibility.

Remember Athena? How she called her's her VaJayJay?

I had no clue what that even meant until long after her departure ( I don't watch Oprah ), but can only imagine the ridicule an owner of a VJ Cruiser would face. Bahaha.
 
Little less bling, SA, and we have what the FJC could've been, right here...

image-4163281237.webp

image-4163281237.webp
 
Posted by Marshall, owner of Trollhole

Straight from Toyota. End of conversation.



Corporate Archive: TOYOTA LAND CRUISER TIMELINE


1935 – Toyoda initiates manufacturer of trucks with the G1
1937 – Toyota Motor Co. founded from its roots in Toyoda Automatic Loom Works
1939 – G1 becomes the GB, with 75-hp Type B engine
1950 – Development begins on 4x4 AK10 utility vehicle using the Type B engine
1951 – BJ sold to Japan’s National Police Agency
1953 – Large-scale BJ production begins
1954 – BJ named Land Cruiser
1955 – F-Series 3.8L Six adopted, FJ25 introduced
1955 – BJ discontinued
1958 – Land Cruiser introduced to the U.S. in September
1960 – 40 Series introduced, replaces 20 Series
1961-1965 – Land Cruiser 40 Series is the best-selling Toyota in the U.S.
1967 – 55 Series station wagon introduced
1968 – 100,000th Land Cruiser sold
1972 – 200,000th Land Cruiser sold
1973 – 300,000th Land Cruiser sold
1975 – 4.2L engine, four-speed transmission introduced
1979 – 55 Series production ends
1980 – 60 Series, second-generation wagon, introduced
1980 – Millionth Land Cruiser sold
1983 – Final year of 40 Series sales in the U.S.
1984 – 40 Series production ends
1984 – 70 Series introduced
1989 – 60 Series production ends
1990 – 2-millionth Land Cruiser sold
1990 – 80 Series, third-generation wagon, introduced
1991 – Full-time four-wheel drive introduced
1993 – 4.5L DOHC six-cylinder engine introduced
1993 – 90 Series introduced
1997 – 80 Series production ends
1998 – 100 Series, fourth-generation wagon, introduced
1998 – 4.7L i-Force V8 introduced
2002 – 120 Series (current Prado, Lexus GX 470) introduced
2003 – 4-millionth Land Cruiser sold
2007 – FJ Cruiser introduced

You sure this is "straight from toyota"? This list implies that there was a 1990 fj80 with part time 4wd.
 
I deleted that same sentiment from my post....

80 was the last that our market saw that stayed true to the roots and the 70 is the last true LC in production, in my opinion.

I agree with you there. If it has IFS it ain't a real Cruiser.
 
I agree with you there. If it has IFS it ain't a real Cruiser.

Whoa. So my 100 series with the word Land Cruiser on the back -- isn't?.
 
Whoa. So my 100 series with the word Land Cruiser on the back -- isn't?.

Apparently the same goes for my 200 ....

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD
 
Whoa. So my 100 series with the word Land Cruiser on the back -- isn't?.

then what the hell does LX470 mean???
 
I agree with you there. If it has IFS it ain't a real Cruiser.

I used to think that "real" land cruisers had to have a manual transmission and a solid front axle, meaning that the FJ60 was the last "real" LC shipped to the US, but the FZJ80s changed my opinion on the manual thing, and the hundo / double-hundo owners in this club have changed my mind on the solid axle thing.

Stan's comment earlier still stands true. If the make is Toyota and the model is Land Cruiser, then it's a REAL Land Cruiser.
 
My daughter says her FJC is a Landcruiser and being an 18 year old female arguing with her is an exercise in futility. Sitting beside my 60 it definitely has Landcruiserish cues. It came from the factory probably more offroad capable than my 60 with locking rear and larger tires. It is mighty wide for a 2 door though and you can tell it on trails. I would consider it part of the lineage from styling and capability but not a Landcruiser.
 
I lived in Los Angeles when Toyota unveiled the 5oth anniversary Land Cruiser and had a special event at the Museum in Torrance California.

Local Cruiser heads were invited to come and see the new 200 series.

Toyota put on the event, served a 7 course meal, gave out a bunch of freebies. Mark Algazy and I went, it was very cool.

One point was made very clear by the representatives at Toyota. The FJC was not a Land Cruiser, just like the RAV 4 "Fun Cruiser" is not Land Cruiser. I was kind of surprised by this.

He had a projector with slides of parts that showed how Tacoma/4Runner/FJC parts were much smaller and lighter duty than were the parts used in a Land Cruiser. Examples of these parts were tie rods, body mounts and body bolts, etc.

This demonstration was very similar to what they have in the Toyota dealerships that shows the size of Tundra parts compared to a F150 or a Chevy Silverado.

It was clear that they were not trying to say anything bad about the FJC or Tacoma but only to show how much engineering went into the 200 to make it robust. Clearly to justify the cost.

He said something to effect of this, I am paraphrasing:

"The FJC is a great truck, so is the Tacoma and the 4Runner but the Land Cruiser is our premier product with a no expenses spared sort of build quality, if we put that kind of build quality into those trucks, they would not be affordable to as many people"

Seems reasonable to me.

In my opinion the IFS Cruisers are still Cruisers. I also think there is a lot of Land Cruiser DNA in any mini truck, the Tundra, Hilux, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser and 4Runner. All are outstanding trucks.
 
Whoa. So my 100 series with the word Land Cruiser on the back -- isn't?.

Well, in real life it is, just in my mind it isn't.

I used to think that "real" land cruisers had to have a manual transmission and a solid front axle, meaning that the FJ60 was the last "real" LC shipped to the US, but the FZJ80s changed my opinion on the manual thing, and the hundo / double-hundo owners in this club have changed my mind on the solid axle thing.

Stan's comment earlier still stands true. If the make is Toyota and the model is Land Cruiser, then it's a REAL Land Cruiser.
I can live with autos (still take a manual any day) but it's gotta have that solid axle. I suppose eventually I'll have to move on though. Does Toyota even sell anything with a solid front in US these days?
 
Haven't heard this string in a while. Wish I had popcorn. :popcorn::doh:
When I bought mine I never thought I was buying a Land Cruiser. I wanted a short awd suv with good heritage so I bought Bonnie.
I got way more than I expected and for that and for you guys I met through it I"m very grateful.
I'm not sure anything for me past the 40s could be considered a REAL Land Cruiser although the Prado is as close an evolution as I see. I'm basing that on a precis of the various arguments 'for' and 'against' over the years. It's surely an evolutionary process.
The physical genealogy I recall is Prado frame shortened, beefed up and wheel-base stretched; Tundra V6 engine slightly re-tuned for torque, Tundra and 4R running gear, retro body from the LA design studios meant as a concept car (no concern for utility, all feel).
Then they got a team of off-road guys, I'll look it up who later, to go through the parts bin and see what they could use, and spec a chassis that was sturdy and up-gradeable. And also spec the other physical aspects and options accordingly.
Came out pretty good for a ~$23K base.
But I wouldn't call it a Land Cruiser any more than I would call a Blazer a Suburban. It's an FJ Cruiser and it still makes sense for my needs.
 
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