Want a Land Cruiser 70? Be Prepared to Wait
The Land Cruiser 70 is as basic as new cars come — and fans are waiting forever to score them.
Ever catch yourself saying that they don’t build trucks like they used to? I sure have. But while there are plenty of examples — think comfort, reliability, safety, fuel economy — of why progress has been great for the automotive industry, it’s hard to beat the rugged appeal of an old-school rig. Fortunately, if you live in a market outside of the United States, and you’re a Toyota fan, you can actually purchase a virtual time capsule in the form of a Toyota 70.
Over the last three decades, the change to the legendary off-roader have been minimal, and the boxy body lines somehow manage to be both classic and timeless. That said, if you’re itching to pull the trigger on one of these bad boys, you’re going to have to wait a little bit. Or rather, you’re going to have to wait quite a while. Because according to our friends at Australia’s Drive, buyers looking to bring one home are facing a wait of up to two and a half years.
Now, even during a period where vehicle production is facing unprecedented hurdles, that’s one heck of a stretch. It also says something about just how desirable these old machines, with their stone-age simplicity and incredible off-road capabilities, remain to their legions of fans. Given how the prices of classic Land Cruisers have spiked in recent years, I can only imagine the waiting period would spiral into the to the stratosphere if they were legal on American shores.
If you’re like me, and beyond curious about what it’s like to drive one of these modern retro rigs, make sure to check out Michele Lupini’s excellent piece about doing just that. As part of the Land Cruiser 70’s 70th birthday celebration, YotaTech’s South African correspondent got to sample the anniversary edition — and it looks like he had a great time. As he points out, while everything about it feels old and dated, that’s the entire point of the model!
Photos: Michele Lupini