I remember talking to some NGO people based in the DRC, and they were saying the life expectancy of an NGO Land Cruiser is around 20,000-50,000km. For perspective: Mine, which has only ever seen the roads of Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and parts of Zimbabwe, is pushing 400,000km and seems to be doing A-OK.

Mine is not bone stock anymore – the previous owner added a winch, I added a rear locker and an upgraded radiator. There is also in excess of 200 liters of diesel capacity. It’s got OME Heavy suspension, and it’s in the process of being fitted with better lights.

As an owner of a 70-series Land Cruiser in Africa, I can say: This. There are tons of places where the travelers made decisions that, to me, make no sense, but then I’ve not been in their situation, and I’m certain I’d make my own set of weird mistakes. And to those haters who thing “well my Jeep/Land Rover/Mercedes…

So basically, a 3-wheeled T2b, yeah?

I’m in Germany right now. I’m guessing that the pilot landed that plane during the severe-ish windstorms that swept northern Germany a few days ago; sustained 40-60mph winds, gusting 80-100mph. While that’s no hurricane, that’s a heck of a crosswind.

Bu Jove you’re right – I hadn’t even thought of that!

Old Land Cruisers – 1970s era and earlier – had a sort of socket on the front of the crankshaft that would let you use the crank from the spare tyre winch to hand-crank the engine in an emergency. Killer feature. :)

The FJ62 was the last station wagon that still had the same diff assembly front and back; and in this case both full-floating. The reason I didn’t want to drive out on front wheel drive was because of lots of stuff in the back; and because I didn’t want to stress the front driveline over-much. :)

All of these are magnificent.

Various Land Cruisers in Namibia...

Volkswagen’s Commercial Vehicles division has a factory restoration program to restore T1 and T2 Transporters and Buses to factory condition out of their factory in Hannover, Germany. What I wouldn’t give to be able to just drop off my T2 single cab rebuilt! Alas, Hannover is a little far away from Windhoek, Namibia...

For my sins: As a white European guy living in Africa, I find articles which talk about race relations – and racial disparities – and how they impact stuff I take for granted absolutely fascinating. I don’t think of it as propaganda – why should I?

The beautiful, sunny Republic of Namibia.

Hey if you ever wanna drive a 70 series in its natural environment, hit me up. :)

One of the awesome things about Land Cruisers – and this is little under-appreciated by those not in the scene, I think – is that so much stuff between model years is interchangeable.

That is a 70-series bed on the back of that there FJ45. I’m delighted to see that it fits. Only looks a little weird. :)

Came here to say something related. The 40 series, in terms of off-road performance, easily measures up to the 70 series – especially in stock form. Once you start modifying either, all bets are off. Where the newer heavy-duty Cruisers have gained is on-road driveability.

If you were driving an old Land Cruiser, and you were heading to Cruise Moab, you would almost certainly walk away with the prestigious Iron Butt award, which is awarded to people who most impressively brave adversity and discomfort to drive their trail rig from great distances to Moab, without resorting to weak…

I live in Namibia and I have a VWT2 single cab. I’ll ask my old Kombi people if they’ve ever heard of this thing. But it might be interesting to note that the front numberplate of the “SUV” shaped thing is British.

I’m in Namibia, the land of “70 series Cruisers are mainstream”.