Toyota : Land Cruiser VX

Holsinger's exceptional 1987 LJ70vx Toyota LandCruiser

This truck won't sell cheap but worth every dollar and far less than you would pay to duplicate it assuming you could find one in the first place. We are returning to Geneva to work at the United Nations (Human Rights Council) and I am not inclined to store this vehicle for three years. It is truly unique and I think my price expectations are fair. I will lose money on this but it has also brought me a lot of satisfaction and it will to its new owner. I have never owned a car. among several dozen specialty cars. that attracts as much attention as this one.

I imported this vehicle into the U. S. from dry southern Italy (Siderno) when I lived in Geneva. Switzerland two years ago. It was the most expensive LJ70 I could find on AutoScout24 and in Europe one gets what one pays for—not sure about the U. S. auto market anymore. It cost me $5. 28 to ship it from Italy to central Utah. It entered the U. S. without problems of any sort and is currently registered and licensed in the U. S. State of Utah. I have clear Utah title. As you might guess. there is no rust on this car except very light surface rust on the undercarriage. I don't have easy access to a lift so I have not included photos of the underside but can arrange to take some if you are interested.

Very few of these cars came equipped from the factory with air conditioning. This one has AC. five speed manual transmission. sunroof. power windows and great looking factory upholstery. I didn't see the truck in person until I was back in the States. I was immediately struck by how clean it was despite the transatlantic journey. The original paint had a clean high gloss shine to it and the interior was immaculate. The major defects were that the steering wheel had lost its rubbery feeling and acquired a shine and the shift boots had minor tears in them. I replaced these and the handle for the hand brake from a parts supplier in Australia.

These trucks came from the factory with very low (high numerical) rear end ratios— 4. 78:1. With tall tires and city or exclusively country back roads that was just fine and the 5th (overdrive) gear made it quite drivable under those circumstances. Although this had been a city car and obviously never worked for a living. I needed something that could occasionally be driven on Interstate 15. In the high mountain area of central Utah where I live. you really can't get anywhere along the Wasatch front without spending a little time on I-15. So I took the truck to Six States and had them install new ring and pinion gears. front and back. with a 4. 11:1 ratio. Now I can cruise at 65 mph with the engine turning over at approximately 2300 rpm. Joe installed a new air to water inner cooler and the AEM methanol/water injector. Now it actually goes up sustained-grade inclines faster and at lower coolant. EGT and oil temperatures than before.

Let me address here the biggest problem with the LJ70—the 2. 4L diesel engine's head failure issue. There has been a lot written about this. One of the reasons that I bought this particular truck in the first place was that it had the new replacement head (from Spain) upgrade already done. It is likely that the Italian owner had experienced the commonplace head crack at some point and bought the new Spanish head that is a superior design. But I decided I would take this one step further and asked my friend and talented racing mechanic (Joe Sim at Joe's Turbo Lab in Orem. Utah) to remove the head. take it to his favorite machine shop and check it out completely. They put it on their new milling machine to see if the surface was completely flat and square. They reported that only a small amount of material was removed to make it perfect. But when Joe and his talented team reassembled the engine they did two other things. First they used new ARP head bolts and second they installed a very expensive (sourced from Australia) MLS or multi-layer steel head gasket. These are very trick items. It cost a bundle but problem solved.

A final word about the wheels. I tried several OEM Toyota wheels and liked the way the looked on the car. It had come with some steel wheels that were beginning to show wear. The Toyota rims required the use of spacers. The more I thought and studied what others had said about spacers the more concerned I became. The problem was I could not find a replacement wheel from Toyota with the required zero offset. In the end I turned to Marsh Racing wheels (MRW) for a custom set of five 17 inch wheels (17X7. 5 6X5. 5 bolt pattern) with zero offset. They are steel. five of them. black powder coated with thin red stripes. and cost a small fortune. But with the five new BF Goodrich MT tires (LT255/75R17) the truck looks good and performs well. Incidentally these tires. despite their aggressive tread. are exceptionally quiet.

Other items of interest:

As you know there is no warranty of any kind on eBay used vehicles and that applies to this vehicle. This truck is sold as is where is--no warranty expressed or implied. You are encouraged to come and see it for yourself and to ask as many questions as possible prior to purchase. Although knowledgeable generally. I cannot warrant the accuracy of the description—we all use words differently. This is an extraordinary. rare. vehicle. But you must make the final determination based on your own research. needs and knowledge. I will ship anywhere. at your expense. and be as helpful as possible but you. the buyer. must make the shipping arrangements. Ask for additional photos.

This is not a restored truck and therefore there are minor scratches. blemished and so forth as expected in a vehicle manufactured in 1987. But it is original and in wonderful condition--I could say "marvelous" simply because that is exactly how so many people describe it. But it isn't new and you should not expect new. If you want new Toyota is still in business.  

The VIN number is:  JT1VOLJ70009025707

A non-refundable deposit of U. S. $1. 00 must be made within 48 hours of auction end.  

On Nov-02-14 at 18:31:26 PST. seller added the following information:

Thank you all for your interest in this fine LJ70vx.  It has been brought to my attention that in some countries this vehicle might not be considered a 1987 model. I am not a expert in this matter but can assure you of several points: (1) the truck was inspected at port of entry by the United States Department of Transportation and Homeland Security and entered the U. S. legally and officially as a 1987 Toyota; (2) I have the original registration from the Automobile Club of Italy that gives both the VIN number (therefore this vehicle and no other) and the year of first registration as 1987; (3) the truck was advertised by D&V Motors of Siderno. Italy in AutoScout24 as a 1987 model and a copy of their advertisement is in my possession; (4) the clear Utah title lists it as a 1987 with the VIN I have provided above. I understand that there are a few knowledgeable people who may still claim that it is a 1991. So be it. I have no desire to debate the point. There is simply an enormous amount of information in my possession that the date of first registration in Italy was 1987.  If this vehicle is sold to a U. S. buyer and remains in the U. S. . the Utah title will simply transfer to your state with no questions asked. I am not a car dealer and never have been (I am a retired University Professor) and was a legal resident of Geneva. Switzerland. working at the United Nations. when I purchased the LandCruiser and had it exported to the U. S.  

Also published at eBay.ca

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