1994 Toyota LAND CRUISER

‘I was looking for one of these - a good one - for three years,’ says Martin, the Land Cruiser’s owner. ‘We had someone in Japan to look at them for us, and he found this one. It had only done a verified 44,000 miles.’

It’s Important at this point to get a measure of Martin’s standards - he has restored several concours-level Jaguars and the workshop he runs carries out specialist transmission work for many other dealers/garages in the area - as well as the Ambulance Service.

But as good as it was, the Toyota wasn’t up to the spec/standard he wanted when it came.

‘We fitted a new chrome front bumper - genuine Toyota,’ he explains. ‘The original had been drilled for fitment of a bull bar.’ New rubber seals were also fitted to the rear quarter bumpers. ‘We also fitted a pair of (also genuine Toyota) door mirrors.’

The chromed 20in wheels the Land Cruiser landed with were dispatched and the original type wheels - with five new BF Goodrich all terrain tyres and locking wheel nuts - were fitted. Four new brake discs were installed behind them and side steps fitted below the sills. All these too were genuine OEM parts.

The electronically controlled, locking front hubs were rebuilt, and a Facet diesel lift pump (an extra to prevent fuel waxing in very cold weather) was installed. To keep guard over this now super-tasty Land Cruiser, an Autowatch alarm with perimeter sensor was professionally installed.

In all, Martin has spent in excess of £5000 making an already excellent wagon even nicer.

‘We really just use it as a Sunday car,’ he says with a quiet smile. In four years of use, the mileage now sits at just shy of 67,000 miles.

This big station wagon gives a very good impression when you meet it. Its angles and size have an air of the (Mercedes) G-Wagen, and the Japanese truck’s build quality has to be similar, if not better, to that of the German.

The black paint work retains a very deep gloss, which is consistent all around the Land Cruiser - no polishing swirls and no dull patches. It is set off so nicely by the silver-grey panels of the lower body and wheel arches. These too are clean, almost scuff-free and retain a good shine. The sealing strips between the mudguards and the bodywork are new - a nice detail - and make for a good snug fit.

Panel fit is excellent across the whole of the vehicle. Shut lines are narrow and even, and all doors shut easily and flush to the sides, the folds in the metal lining up perfectly front to back.

The chrome work too - as stated, new at the front - maintains a beautiful shine, though it’s a credit to the (original) rear that it matches the front so closely in condition. The new grill assembly and mirrors give the truck’s look a freshness making it look younger than its 26 years. Here again, it’s important to note how the Toyota’s build quality and upkeep allow old and new parts to blend into a pleasing and uniform appearance.

There are flaws of course - but you have to look very close. There is a very tiny bubble of rust near the rear corner of the rear near-side door cavity (door open) and a short, very thin line of light corrosion (each side) just below the window trims as they curves around to the back of the vehicle.

Rubbers and window seals look very solid; colour and joins in the bright metal retain their shape and shine - similarly the chromed rain gutter edging of the roof. The bottom near-side corner of windscreen surround and rubber show a tiny bit more wear and discolouration. There is a slight discolouration at the bottoms of the headlights.

A very smart and good-looking wagon.

The inside of the Toyota is trimmed in velour; a material (especially in Japanese vehicles) almost always far tougher than it looks… And these stripes, often in these sort of shades became quite a defining look of the period - one wonders if they might become sought after as these trucks become more collectable.

The velour is certainly still looking good. The design remains bold with no stains or fading, and the colours are good across the whole interior. There are a couple of light scuffs to the passenger head rest (of all places), and, more predictably, to the side of the driver’s seat cushion. There is the very slightest wear to seat edges - the seams are very good, and no sagging in cushions or bolsters. The seat rails, so often rusty on older four-by-fours retail all of their black paint, and the carpets around and below them are clean.

Carpets generally are in excellent condition (far more so than they have a right to be in a vehicle where wellies could be de rigueur), and almost look like they’ve been vacuumed every day. The mats - more vivid diagonals - retain all of their colour and remain a good shape. It’s almost heartening to find that there is wear to the driver’s floor mat as your reviewer (who also took the photos) was starting to get the impression no one had ever been allowed to wear shoes in this thing.

Plastics retain their light grey colour - none of the yellowing you sometimes see. Nor are there any cracks to brackets, panels and lever sockets so often found in well-used examples. The rear heater facia (centre console) isn’t even kicked.

There are a few marks; there are scuffs to the top of the central storage box/arm rest, and the top of gear lever is faded. The steering wheel however is in excellent condition and the fascia looks very tidy. The radio is new and to UK spec.

The load area/deck in the rear can of course get a lot of abuse in a station wagon, but nope; clean carpets, and no stains or tears in the seat backs.

You’d be as happy to drive/ride this truck in your Sunday best as you would your walking gear. (Actually, there’s probably a sign somewhere saying ‘no muddy boots’).

It’s when you get underneath it that you realise just how good this wagon is. Everything looks straight; chassis rails, brackets, suspension arms and assemblies. Everything has been cleaned and wax-treated. All bolts look like they’ll easily accept a wrench without the aid of a blow torch, big hammer or any expletives, and everything can be identified without having to scrub off grease or grime.

There is a dab of surface rust on one or two bolts, and a light dusting of the same on parts of the prop shaft and exhaust, but very superficial.

Looking up into deeper cavities and up in front of the radiator, everything looks clean, no dirt (or road salt) appears to have been thrown up into these areas.

Cabling, hoses and brake assemblies appear very healthy and joints are greased. Springs and dampers look good. (Yes; the Prado had coil springs at each corner where some models retained elliptical springs. Some may take the opportunity to hold forth about the virtues of the latter when you’re going off-road, but you ain’t going rock crawling with this one, it’s just too damn nice.)

In the engine bay, as with the underside, one is impressed with just how clean, straight - and standard - the Diesal motor and ancillaries are. There is the gentle weathering of the years - slightly faded writing, the odd chip, but no signs of harsh treatment - no rounded bolt edges, bent brackets, rust or stains from leaks. This engine is just so clean, so servicable. No matter how deeply into the machine you look, everything appears to be in very good order. It’s the small things that make the biggest impression, the totally intact tiny plastic clips, springs, neat hose ends and joins in the wiring - every item as per the handbook and all looking like it’s got years of life left in it.

The paperwork tells you all the kinds of things you want to hear - though seldom do - about a classic four-by-four’s servicing. As well as the receipts for all the new parts, there are plenty of oil and lube changes; 2017 - transmission oils, front and rear diff oils, front hub lube (and cam belt); 2018 - transfer box oil; 2019 - front hub lube - plus engine oil change every year.

What also needs to be emphasised is the constant care by the staff - a highly-skilled staff - at the workshop. The Toyota would often be ‘stood about’ in the garage, so any small jobs it needed were attended to. And most of those won’t have raised an invoice, though they, of course extend the lifespan of the vehicle and make it that much more robust.

Update:

Message from the seller: "I would like to clarify that the odometer is and has always measured Km, and the speedometer has had an overlay to display the speed in miles rather than Km."

By the time four-by-fours reach this kind of age, they are dividing up into perhaps three groups - the ‘convert to off-roaders’, the towing mules and the ‘nice ones’ - the latter heading for proper classic status. It isn’t hard to see which way this example is going.

And talking of ‘classic status’, the Land Cruiser in all its forms, at least up to the 90 Series, has become a legend in its own lifetime. FJ40 values are heading north as we speak and the rest are slowly following.

This example has everything on its side; a smart colour scheme & specification, informed ownership - and the resource to expertly maintain the truck - and all the abilities and features you’d expect in a classic Toyota station wagon.

Every defect noted has been qualified by the words slight, small, tiny. None are in any serious danger of getting worse, nor of the slightest worry to anyone using the truck as Martin has - as a Sunday car - or probably on a few more days in good weather.

Putting all the above considerations together, we think that this Toyota Land Cruiser Prado can easily command a value of between £7,000 and £10,000. Finding a better one won’t be easy.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is in Barnsley; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.