Builds ROTW: "Elsie" full stock Middle East specs (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Nov 25, 2006
Threads
41
Messages
257
Location
Al Ain, UAE
I'm an expat working in the UAE, and lucky to have tracked two FZJ-80s in excellent shape.

The specs are GCC, and quite different from the vehicles we get in North America.

Presenting,

Elsie, light blue 1994 Land Cruiser VXR fully automatic; and El So, white 1993 same specs but with manual gears.

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The trucks perform splendidly in all regards over here and therefore remain mostly stock. In the interior of the UAE, where I live, right on the edge of the Rub al Khali desert, I drive four kinds of terrain: long highway drives at incredibly hot temperatures, harsh washboard dusty tracks, gravel mountain tracks, but mainly soft dune sands.

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The FZJ-80 is without any doubt the best-suited vehicle of its age for these conditions – in fact, Land Cruiser is king out here, and the 80 series in particular made Toyota famous. Nissan Patrol is the closest competitor, but the early 90s models were still a bit on the rough side.

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Like a VIP 4x4 limo on tarmac, other minor cars make way; tough as old bedouin sandals on hard tracks; and powerful enough on sand to climb even high dunes! The 93 has 230,000km and the 94 has 100k more.

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Front and rear factory lockers, factory winch with remote (missing on the 94), dual A/C front and rear, ice-maker cool box, fuel sub-tank, CD-player, sunroof, rear barn doors, 4x4 dash button (for 94), compass, stopwatch, alarm clock, etc., etc., and just plain good-looking all around!

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Rear jump seats are really handy, as they fold up and down easily – but no seatbelts! And no cruise control :(

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Rear pintle hook is great for towing out others, and I also have a tow-hook to pull a quad trailer – to this day never got stuck, not even once! Whenever the desert catches me out, the diff locks take control of the situation and I’m out.

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1994 automatic gears model
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1993 manual gears model
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Overall one of the great trucks in history – LC80 owners will know what I mean, and if you don’t I suggest you buy one.

Let me close with a note of appreciation for the IH8MUD forum – you guys are my link to civilization as I know it. Thanks all, keep on posting, ‘coz you are read daily from halfway around the world! Cheers

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1994 was originally a dark colour, so had it stripped and re-painted.

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Engine after a good wash:

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Here's the 94 in action (previous paint) in the dunes.

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Check out the other cars I drive as part of my job! (motoring writer 8) http://weekenduae.com
 
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More info on the 1993:

1FZ-F engine, carburetted.

Manual gears, with part-time 4x4 system (H2 only rear-wheel drive, H4 and L4 are locked).

Electric winch.

Dual A/C, with refrigerated console (ice-maker).

Front and rear differential lockers.
 
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Some pics of the terrain out here in the UAE:

Nice beaches in both the Gulf and the Indian Ocean off the Omani coast:

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and desert:

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and mountains:

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Animals to see, and stuff to find:

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Dudes to meet:

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prossett, you know I love that truck :D

Congrats on ROTW and nice writeup about your truck and how you use it in the UAE... I can never get enough pics or details of it :cheers:
 
Awesome Cruiser,writeup, and great pics of the scenery!!
 
WOW, you guys are fast!

Thanks, let me add a few pics about what can go wrong.

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photo taken by a buddy, Prasad.

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photo taken by a buddy, nameless (Daddy's car!!! :grinpimp: )

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why you need lockers!

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poor little 100's all stuck.:rolleyes:
 
Beutiful truck, you have some nice OEM stuff we dream about in the US.

It looks like a left hand drive? Thought you all were right hand drivers?

:beer:
 
Man, I dig those rear doors! I've always preferred the 40's that had 'em and now I have something else to be jealous about.:flipoff2: Real nice rig you got there!
:cheers:
-jim
 
Yeah, I love those rear doors and third row seats - easily accessable.
 
Just one comment. WOW!
 
prossett,

Your Land Cruiser is one of the best rig in a stock form equipped with all the bells and whistles straight from the factory that is designed for an expedition and on long haul. With few modifications, you can go anywhere anytime. Who needs road when you have the 80 series Land Cruiser? :beer: :cheers:

OBTW, I have been to the Camel Rock and seen those beautiful red sand dunes. :D

Let's go dogging at junkyards in UAE.
 
Great rig and awesome pics Thanks for a great write up!:cheers:

More pics wouldnt bother me one bit:D Those dunes are unbelievable!
 
prossett,
thanks for sharing I agree the Land Cruiser 80 series is a legend, especially the middle east spec. ones with all the goodies. I like your hood ornament I've been looking for one like it. Nice write up, Can you take some pics of the cooler box.
 
Nice write up!

Those photos of you in the sand look professional,

They look like they came from an ad for the Cruiser.

overall, love your rig!:D
 
nice ride, i think i like your rear seats better for occasional use then what we get here in the US
 

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