Two fresh import Toyota Land Cruiser 70s. Both from the limited 30th anniversary run. Both five speed manuals and both under 20,000 miles. That's not the kind of pairing you see turn up together very often, and before they headed off to their new homes we couldn't resist getting them side by side for a shoot.
The Land Cruiser Toyota Brought Back
The Land Cruiser 70 has been a symbol of rugged dependability since 1984, built to shrug off extreme conditions on heavy duty underpinnings and serious off road hardware. Japanese sales ended in 2004, but demand for its return never really went away. To mark the model's 30th anniversary, Toyota brought the 70 back for a strictly limited run through 2014 and 2015. Then it was gone again.
That short window is the only place these later JDM examples come from. It's exactly why they've become such sought after imports. Under the bonnet sits a 4.0 litre 1GR V6 making 231 horsepower and 360Nm of torque, paired with a five speed manual and part time 4WD. Switch to two wheel drive for fuel economy or lock into four wheel drive when the terrain gets serious. Front and rear diff locks come as standard on the anniversary cars, and the ladder frame underneath is the same recipe that has kept 70s working across deserts, farms and mine sites for four decades.
This Pair in Particular
Both of these are 2015 examples. Both five speed manuals. Both graded 4.5 at auction in Japan. Each one was found for a Personal Import customer who came to us with a spec in mind and let us go hunting through the Japanese auctions on their behalf.
The grey metallic car has that slightly more modern, purposeful look. The beige example is about as classic Land Cruiser as it gets. Beige on a 70 is the spec you picture the moment someone says the words Land Cruiser, and parking it next to the grey car during the shoot made a strong case for both.
Inside, each car carries the retro inspired cloth interior and the simple, utilitarian cockpit Toyota designed for proper off roading rather than comfort. The 30th anniversary emblems sit on both flanks as a reminder that these aren't just late model 70s. They're part of a one off production run Toyota will never repeat.
Why These Two Are Worth Chasing
Auction grade 4.5 sits just below near new and tells you a car has been looked after properly, with only the lightest signs of use. Pair that with sub 20,000 mile odometers on eleven year old vehicles and you get two Land Cruisers that have led remarkably easy lives. For a model built on a reputation for surviving abuse, finding examples that have never actually been abused is the sweet spot for usability and long term value alike.
The market has caught on. Clean anniversary 70s are climbing steadily in Japan and supply is fixed at whatever Toyota built during that single run. Low mileage manual examples in original condition are the ones collectors and users alike are chasing, and they don't hang around for long.
Fancy One of Your Own?
Neither of these was ever sat on a forecourt. Both customers came to us with a brief, we found the right cars at auction in Japan and handled the grading checks, bidding, shipping and UK registration from there. That's exactly what our Personal Import Service does.
No stress. No guesswork. Just the exact car you want, sourced properly. Anniversary 70 or any other JDM icon, if it exists in Japan we can find it.
