This old Toyota Land Cruiser pickup caught me slightly off guard, as I was a bit surprised at just how big it was, next to the Tundra there. Of course it’s sitting a bit tall, but still, it’s a good sized truck.
To the best of my knowledge, the LC pickup was not sold in the US. But I could be wrong. If so, they were extremely rare.
That looks like a later GM steering column and an aftermarket wheel, so most likely the venerable Chevy-inspired six has given way to a genuine Chevy V8.
So it’s appropriate that it’s sitting next to a Chevy pickup too.
Ah, the Toyota HJ-45. Not sure of the year but, here are some more pics from a 1977. https://www.mecum.com/lots/HA0418-324935/1977-toyota-hj-45-land-cruiser-pickup/
Don’t ever recall seeing one of these. Just looks like a tough truck!
The shop I worked at when I was in college had been the original Toyota dealership in that town. One time when it was slow the boss decided to clean out the attic and besides the stuff he had stuck up there through the years there was a box or two of stuff that had been there from the days of it being a Toyota Dealership. In those boxes were a number of the 1-page spec sheets for some of the different Land Cruiser models including the short and long wheelbase pickups. I hadn’t ever seen one at that point so it surprised me. Since there were several of each I took one of each. I unfortunately don’t know where they are now but I believe they are in a box around here somewhere. I’m guessing that they were a special order if someone was willing to spend the money and wait for it.
Interestingly while looking at some Matt’s Off Road videos one came up from Fab Rats where he picked up a short bed version to build.
I think the Fab Rats guy said that these FJ pick ups were imported just two years 66 and 67. Super cool truck though.
When Toyota introduced the T-100 they were criticized for it not being as large as a full sized American truck was.
Judging by this article’s picture, the Tundra has removed that criticism?
T-100 (we owned one) was along the lines of the Dodge Dakota mid-size pickup. My definition of “full size” is simply if 4×8 foot sheets of building materials will fit flat on the bed between the wheel wells, preferably with the tailgate up.
I found the T-100 the perfectly sized pick up truck for me. Bigger than a S-10, smaller than a Silverado.
I looked a long time for the right used T-100 for me (V6, automatic, 2 wheel drive, not beat ta hale and back); never did find it.
That’s correct; the T-100 was initially marketed as a full-size because it had an 8′ bed, but it was closer in size and capacity to the Dakota. The T-100 could hold its materials between the wheel wells, while the narrower Dakota had to place them on top like a compact.
The slightly bigger first-gen Tundra was still a bit small by American full-size pickup standards, but the 2007 model was almost identical in all dimensions to an F-150.
T-100 was too narrow, which is why I got a 1st gen Tundra. But, the big complaint, according to the marketing folks, was lack of a V-8 and towing capacity that went with a bigger engine. Dakota had a V-8 option.
Those Landcruiser utes were awesome, best with the 4.2 diesel 6, rust was their only failing and the steering gets pretty loose with age, genuine no frills workhorse.
The old smoker’s cough six originally in this is a considerably lesser device than an SBC, except in one regard – even when dead and buried after 1 million miles, it is well-known that one can run a battery lead into the soil and hear it start from six feet under.
These LWB utes were common-enough here, and they’re fun to drive, if you like emerging four inches shorter after each trip. And that’s after a trip on the highway….
Handsome devil that any HJ-45 might be, I’d take the Tundra, shit, given the option, I’d MOVE to the tundra rather than be tortured by one daily.
Looks like a solid old work horse .
My son used to work at an equipment dealer and they got in a new T-100, IIRC it had a V8 engine (?) .
He used to drive it to on location jobs and towed big brush bandit shippers with it, he’s a rough driver and _much_ faster than I and said he liked the then new T-100 .
Now, please do an article about the Toyota Stout pickup, I never did quite get one .
-Nate
I’m not sure this a real LC pickup. I’m not saying it’s not real, but the weld and stamping quality on the bed and especially the rear bumper look homemade. The taillights look like generic white box aftermarket. And why “upgrade” the genuine Toyota parts with 80’s vintage GM parts?
If this is a real LC pick-up, then Toyota has come a long way in assembly quality.
The steering column is held together by an exhaust clamp.