Marine Cruiser - the 'Toyota Special'

[JohnnyC]

This truck is listed as being in the 1973 Tokyo Motor Show.

All websites that have any sort of information about this truck list it as a one-off prototype by Toyota for this show... notably...

"Water resistant seats, two radios, protective headlights, additional optics, heavy winch, cover for spare wheel, aluminum safety cage, and a mounted spotlight-seaker, interior is wood trimmed as used for fishing boats.

Under the hood was mounted 4-cyl diesel B-series (2977 cm ³, 80 hp). BJ41"

link: marine cruiser

Interestingly the markerlights are of 75 vintage style.... the 1st picture was the only picture i had found for the longest time... found these others later on.

then digging deaper i found another one... "Toyota Land Cruiser Special"

and another with the correct markers with different rims than the first

Any body have any other information on the cruiser?

 

[JohnnyC]

then digging deaper i found another one... "Toyota Land Cruiser Special"

and another with the correct markers with different rims than the first

 

[JohnnyC]

Interestingly this is also from 1973... Prototype Mitsubishi flat fender Pajero.... very similar styling

 

[Rainman]

Dam... that roll bar is ugly...

 

[SteveH]

That proves that ghastly 1970s styling wasn't limited only to special edition Jeeps and AMC Gremlins.

 

[chuckost]

Was this when Battlestar Gallactica was in tv? Think I saw it there!

 

[oldmuddog]

My eyes hurt looking at that, I'd like some dull earth tones.

 

[winnie]

cool tube doors on the one with the orange interior ... ha, ha ... maybe they were trying to mimic the VW dune buggy styling ...

 

[want2wheel]

I wonder if it had a fiberglass body. In the first picture it looks like it has no tailgate either.

 

[Straight to Hell]

I'd love to have a set of those guards for the lights. No bezel either, interestingly enough.

 

[lostmarbles]

That's really interesting Johnny...

But if it was shown in a show in 1973 and was a diesel then I think it must surely have been a "BJ40" rather than a BJ41.

For it to have been a BJ41 it would have to have been running the 2B (3168cc) diesel engine and I think Japanese customers had to wait till 1979 for that to enter production.

AFAIK the BJ40 model (with 2977cc diesel engine) was introduced in February of 1974. And if so, it's quite likely they would want to show off a B-engined prototype in 1973.

Maybe the "MarineCruiser" was just one of the more whacky versions of a whole series of prototypes?

 

[JohnnyC]

Thinking you are correct Tom

These are two distinct different trucks and one was introduced in 1973 tokyo motor show.... But... It wasn't the marine one as three different websites refered to ... I believe it was the yellow 'special' cruiser... I am guessing that the marine cruiser was some time 74

 

[FJ43 1980]

Wonder if the red coating on the frame, bumpers, springs and on the underside of tub and fenders was some attempt at rust prevention.

 

[peteinjp]

Wonder if the red coating on the frame, bumpers, springs and on the underside of tub and fenders was some attempt at rust prevention.

I'm sure that's the case. The made it so ugly that no one would want to drive it- hence it would not rust.

P

 

[FJ43 1980]

Kinda digging those orange water resistant seats though.

 

[darwink1]

Puked in my mouth a little there. Should really post a warning in the title of the thread.

D

 

[JohnnyC]

As much as its an eyesore ... It's still a glimps into the history if the cruisers... I am guessing nobody knows the where abouts if the cruiser today

Got another picture

Used in sales lit

 

[FJ43 1980]

Interesting that Toyota used it in sale literature so many years later. That blue soft top is a '79 or later 40.

 

[FJFOOL]

Thanks so much for posting this up, you are real good at digging into the historical LandCruiser model info. That cruiser would be priceless if you could find it !!

 

[lostmarbles]

Thanks so much for posting this up, you are real good at digging into the historical LandCruiser model info..................

x 2

I'd love to set up camp at your place Johnny and study all the literature/files you've accumulated.