As regards the various comments regarding vintage and modern Toyota 70 series in this thread:
I have driven an 88 LJ70 the last twenty years in France and Italy, 85% off-road, with only a handful of trips on anything considered a “freeway.” Recently I shipped the truck to Scottsdale in Arizona where it will live for awhile. The last fews weeks I have been driving my beloved LJ in congested urban, suburban, rural and off-road environments here in AZ. For suburban, rural and off road use I find the same joy driving as in Europe. But in congested, day to day, commuting, urban traffic maybe typical of American driving, I find the 70 to be a real fish out of water. And so, some of the comments of critics of the 70 made by posters here (though I think very few of them actually have much real experience with 70s) do ring true.
I can only speak to the situation of the urban Arizona traffic environment and elsewhere in the States things might be very different. In AZ, unlike in Europe where traffic laws are over controlled, the speed limits and general traffic laws seem to be almost uncontrolled. On the 101 freeway marked at 65 mph, the traffic flows at 85-100 mph. My 70 huffs and puffs at 60. I drove it about two miles on the 101 before I realized I was a danger to myself and to others. No fault of the car. The environment was wrong.
Likewise, on streets, in stop and go traffic, marked at 35-45 mph, the traffic moves at 55-70 mph. To run through all five gears of a 88 bph horsepower truck to get to 50 mph to stay up with traffic takes time. Other drivers here get impatient, ride your bumper and cut you off. In a series 70, in this aggressive environment, you have to plan your moves well in advance and drive very defensively because you do not have the acceleration and braking to make the emergency maneuvers potentially required. This translates into a pretty stressful driving experience unlike anything I have ever experienced elsewhere.
I have driven many modern 70 series with bigger engines and better braking, but I think that even they would not be entirely satisfactory in the urban AZ traffic reality.
AZ seems to be a kind of libertarian traffic experiment gone mad, but for this European, it is more traffic anarchy and chaos.
So I think many of the comments critics of the 70 series make on this Forum have an element of truth to them. But I think it is not a fault of the car, but more a mismatch with the American urban driving climate. Luckily I live on the border of the urban area, in the suburbs and I am quickly out into more rural roads and trails where the LJ is a blast to drive. I have to take side roads, detours to avoid getting on the 101 freeway but so far I have found myself driving in interesting places, through Indian reservations where I found great little places to eat and beautiful landscapes. So in a way it is a big win….if you have the time.
My 70 is going to enjoy its time here and then get back on a boat and go home where it will continue to give immense pleasure to its happy owner for a few more decades of driving joy…God willing.
So, if you live in the States, and your driving environment sounds like what is described above, and if you would be using a 70 series for any DD urban driving, I cannot in all honesty recommend it. If you live in a suburban, rural environment, on a farm or ranch, you will love it if you can get by its very spartan ride and character. My automotive passion in life is vintage Porsches and I own many of them, it is pretty much the same story with them. If you can accept the compromises to modern cars, you will love both the vintage 70s series, the Porsche 356 and 911. If you have to stay up with mad urban drivers or the Jones family, you would be well to look elsewhere. YMMV
Cheers
