Toyota Land Cruiser VDJ V8 79 TD The Legend Lives On

The Land Cruiser brand consists of a series of pick-ups, vans and station wagons built by Japanese manufacturer Toyota since 1941.

It is renowned as one the most capable off-roaders ever built. It stands on a strong reputation of strength and reliability and is a massive success; so much so that it is an icon of the rugged and has developed into a sub brand.

Land Cruiser gave birth to a lineage of station wagons (GX and VX), light-duty vehicles such as the Prado, heavy-duty pick-ups and vans (the VDJ series) and then there’s the rowdy FJ Cruiser, the Toyota Land Cruiser 60th anniversary celebration model.

Land Cruiser dates back to 1941 when the Japanese army, moved by the Bantam MK II, ordered Toyota to make the AK model. Later in 1941, Toyota was further instructed to produce a light truck and they developed the AK 10 by reverse engineering the Bantam GP. The AK 10 was renamed the Land Cruiser in 1954 as Toyota responded to claims of a trademark violation by the original Jeep. And as the saying goes, the rest is history. However, it’s important to note that the post-war Toyota Jeep BJ is completely different from the AK 10 that inspired it and inherits no mechanisms from it.

The BJ series led to the 20 series, and then the famous FJ40 of 1963 to 1983 which is still on our roads, synonymous with the Australian outback and the African landscapes – mainly in safari related transportation.

The FJ40 is so tough it’s also famous for doing the work of a tractor. I vividly recall the old faithful FJ40 picking me up from school as a small boy. I also recall its air vents placed between the dashboard and windscreen which I used to think were small windows.

The FJ40 gave way to the J70 in 1984, on which our feature VDJ series is based. In 1999, the pick-up version became known as the 79 series, the troop carrier became the 78 series and the short wheel base version was phased out of most markets. The VDJ’s styling was carried forward from the J70 but it’s a little more angular with larger headlamps. Further upgrades were made in 2007 and 2014 such as eliminating the flat fenders at the front end and adding a host of modern goodies.

Classified as an off-road vehicle, the Toyota Land Cruiser competes punch for punch against the hardcore legend and safari transporter, the Land Rover Defender. Though notably heavier than the Defender, the Land Cruiser makes up for its bulk with more vigour, rendering the Defender much tamer.

The VDJ series is somewhat basic and purpose built. You can tell it’s modern though deliberately basic to keep its workhorse nature. Materials, build quality and engine will tell you it’s no old car, but a new car based on an old one. The upgraded Land Cruisers have also seen a host of comfort and safety features never seen before on commercial series Land Cruisers such as sat nav, USB, motorised aerials and exterior temperature reading, to name a few. Analysts say it’s deliberately made to feel old school as that’s a cardinal part of its charisma.

Our featured VDJ is driven by an African specification 1HZ engine, churning a raw 146 kW or 198 HP turbo diesel engine via a five-speed manual gearbox, accelerating from

0 to100 km/h in about 13 seconds. You will be wrong to judge it for acceleration, because on the highway, it’s a real kilometre eater and will give you nothing to fault.

Wherever you are, you will feel its power in its deep growl, but take it off-road and you know that this is the king of the rugged terrain as it tackles all forms of surface with raw power, giving a sensation that can only be felt behind the wheel of the Land Cruiser.

One of my favourite features is the air intake snorkel, it speaks volumes of the car; depicting its unlimited range and coverage, basically saying it’s an amphibian or some kind of swimmer. Placed next to the driver, it also brings the nostalgic sound of the Land Cruiser right to the ear.

Reputation, strength, reliability, utility, durability, coverage and economy; no car combines these aspects so well. The Land Cruiser VDJ series pick-up is certainly the toughest set of wheels you can find in a showroom today and is a wise investment.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.