Oh what a feeling! I have proudly owned 6 Toyota Land Cruisers from 1980 onwards. The first and very basic model was a FJ55 ex-Telstra 4 door wagon. No air, quarter vents, not dustproof, basic truck suspension, very basic but bulletproof. We fitted it out for specialist radio contact during the 1982 Australian Safari Rally and did live broadcasts to Channel 9 “Wide World of Sports” in Melbourne and did the first live TV broadcast from the Gulf of Carpentaria in Arnhem Land.
From there we owned a gradual progression through the 60 Series to the 80 Series then the 100 Series and now have a 200 Series 2014 GXL Turbo Diesel with all the bells and whistles. Each and every one of them showing a gradual improvement as time marches on.
Toyota engineers have done a fantastic job and this is evidenced by the number of outback farmers who, almost all, without exception, find the ever reliable Toyota Landcruiser as the “gold standard” for outback roads and bush tracks.
The model I drive now is a 200 Series 2014 Landcruiser and it has towed my Off Road Kedron Caravan twice around Australia, across the Nullabor, from Cape York to Cape Leveque to Wilsons Promontory and Bunbury. Mechanically as reliable as it gets!
A big shout out to my favourite off road vehicle company.