TOYOTA MARKS 70 YEARS WITH A SPECIAL 70

TOYOTA is celebrating 70 years of four-wheel drive vehicles in 2021 and is marking the occasion with a run of commemorative 70 Series Landcruisers.

The 70th Anniversary edition 70 Series will be based on the GXL model available in single-cab 79 pick-up (200 units), double-cab 79 pick-up (320 units) and 76 Series wagon (80 vehicles) variants. They will be priced from $78,500 for the 76 Series wagon to $80,050 for the single-cab 79 and $82,600 for the double-cab 79.

The special edition models will feature a black heritage grille with ‘TOYOTA’ lettering, surrounded by darkened headlight bezels and LED fog lights and DRLS. A black front bumper and wheelarch flares continue the dark look as are darkened alloy wheels. A ‘Heritage’ Landcruiser badge is applied on the front ’guard, along with a ‘70th Anniversary’ emblem.

The interior of the 70 Series Cruisers remain quite Spartan in keeping with their commercial use, but the Anniversary edition gets dolled up with black seats, black leather-accented door trims and black leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob. Faux woodgrain trim and instrument panel, silver accents for the air vents and black treatment for the switch trims on the doors complete the look.

A new centre console with two additional 2.1-amp Type A USB outlets and a pair of cup holders surrounds the gear shifter. Traditional 70 series owners will wonder what the world in coming to with such luxuries.

All 70 Series Land Cruisers retain the 1VD-FTE 4.5 litre single turbo V8 diesel engine backed by a five-speed manual gearbox and dual-range, part time four-wheel drive. The 70th Anniversary 70 Series Land Cruisers will only be available in Sandy Taupe, Merlot Red and French Vanilla and are due in Toyota dealerships in September.