The Toyota Land Cruiser is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. Development of the first generation Land Cruiser began in 1951 as Toyota's version of a Jeep-like vehicle and production started in 1954. The Land Cruiser has been produced in convertible, hardtop, station wagon, and utility truck versions, and it is currently Toyota's flagship 4WD vehicle. The Land Cruiser's reliability and longevity has led to huge popularity, especially in Australia where it is the best-selling full-size, body-on-frame, four-wheel drive vehicle.Toyota also extensively tests the Land Cruiser in the Australian outback—considered to be one of the toughest operating environments in terms of both temperature and terrain.

20 Series

20 Series Production 1955-1960
Assembly ARACO
Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s) 2-door Softtop
2-door Hardtop
2-door pickup truck
4-door Station wagon
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 3.9 L I6 F petrol
Wheelbase 2,710 mm (106.7 in)

* 1955 - The Second generation, 20 Series was introduced. It was designed to have more civilian appeal than the BJ for export reasons. It also had more stylish bodywork and a better ride thanks to longer four-plate leaf springs which had been adapted from the Toyota Light Truck. It had a more powerful 3.9-liter six-cylinder Type F gasoline engine. The interior of the vehicles were made more comfortable by moving the engine 120 mm (4.7 in) forward. The 20 Series still had no low range, but it had synchromesh on the third and fourth gears.
* 1958 - The first Station wagon Land Cruiser was introduced with an even longer 2,650 mm (104.3 in) wheelbase (the FJ35V; wagon and van). The FJ25 production started in Brazil being the first Toyota vehicle built outside Japan.
* 1957 - A 4-door Station Wagon was added as the FJ35V. Land Cruisers were first imported into Australia by B&D Motors as FJ25/28 cab chassis with Australian made bodies.[6] They were the first Japanese cars to be regularly exported to the country[7] and were initially used in the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme.[8]

40 Series
40 Series Toyota Land Cruiser (BJ40LV)
Also called Toyota Macho (Venezuela)
Production 1960-1984
Assembly ARACO
Yoshiwara,Aichi, Japan
Body style(s) 2-door Softtop
2-door Hardtop
2-door pickup truck
4-door Station wagon
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 3.0 L I4 B diesel[9]
3.9 L I6 F petrol[9]
4.2 L I6 2F petrol[9]
3.6 L I6 H diesel[9]
Wheelbase 90 in (2286 mm)
Length 151.2 in (3840.5 mm)
Width 65.6 in (1666.2 mm)
Height Softtop 76.8 in (1950.7 mm)
Hardtop 78.8 in (2001.5 mm)
Curb weight Softtop 3,263 lb (1,480 kg)
Hardtop 3,427 lb (1,554 kg)
Fuel capacity 18.5 US gallons
Main article: Toyota FJ40

* 1960 - The 20 Series was upgraded to the now classic 40. Toyota made many production changes by buying new steel presses. Mechanically, the FJ40 was given a new 125 hp, 3.9 liter F engine and the Land Cruiser finally received low-range gearing. The Brazilian model was rebadged the Bandeirante and received a Mercedes-Benz built Diesel engine generating 78 hp.
* 1965 - Global production surpassed 50,000 vehicles.
The Land Cruiser was the best selling Toyota in the United States.
* 1968 - The 100,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.
* 1972 - The 200,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.
* 1973 - The 300,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.
The first diesel Land Cruiser was introduced for export on long wheelbase models with a six-cylinder H engine[citation needed].
* 1974 - A four-cylinder 3.0-liter B diesel was offered. The introduction of this engine boosted sales in Japan by putting the Land Cruiser in a lower tax compact Freight-car category than its 3.9-liter gasoline version. Note: the new B diesel engine was different from the B gasoline engine used in the original BJ.
* 1975 - The 3.9-liter gasoline engine was replaced by a larger, more powerful 4.2-liter 2F unit.
The FJ55 received front disc brakes.
* 1976 - United States-version FJ40 Land Cruisers received front disc brakes like the FJ55.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Association was founded in California.
* 1977 - The Irish Army took delivery of the first of 77 FJ45 Land Cruisers. Although fast, reliable and with good off-road performance the type tended to rust excessively in the wet Irish climate. A few which did not succumb to the effects of weather were repainted in gloss olive green and survive as ceremonial gun tractors at military funerals.
* 1978 - The first BJ / FJ40 and FJ55 models were officially sold in West Germany with both diesel (BJ40) and petrol engines (FJ40 /55).
* 1979 - United States-version FJ40s were updated this year with a new wider, square bezel surrounding the headlights.
Power steering and cooler were offered in FJ40s for the first time.
The diesel engine was improved, evolving into the 3.2-liter 2B only in Japan.
The 3.6-liter H diesel engine was optional in some markets.
* 1981 - the Diesel version received front disc brakes and the more powerful 3.4-liter 3B engine.

50 Series
50 Series Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ55LG)
Production 1967-1980
Assembly ARACO
Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s) 4-door station wagon
Layout Front engine four-wheel drive
Engine(s) 3.9 L I6 F[9] petrol
4.2 L I6 2F[9] petrol
Transmission(s) 3 or 4-speed manual (J30, H41 or H42)
Wheelbase 2,710 mm (106.7 in)
Length 4,673 mm (184.0 in)
Width 1,710 mm (67.3 in)
Height 1,864 mm (73.4 in)

* 1967 - Production of the FJ55 began. The FJ55 was a 4-door station wagon version based on the FJ40's Drive-train, replacing the 4-Door FJ45V (I). It was colloquially known as the "Moose". It has also been referred to as a pig or an iron pig. The FJ55 had a longer wheelbase 2710 mm and was designed to be sold in North America and Australia.
* Jan 1975 saw the F engine replaced by the 2F engine.[9] Unusually for Toyota, the model (e.g. FJ55) did not change.
* Model 56 is in Japan only, with 2F engine ( Jan. 1975 - Jul. 1980 ).

60 Series
60 Series
Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ62LG)
Also called Toyota Samurai (Venezuela)
Production 1980-1990
Assembly ARACO
Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s) 4-door station wagon
Layout Front engine, four-wheel drive
Engine(s) 3.4 L I4 3B diesel
3.4 L I4 13B-T diesel turbo
4.2 L I6 2F petrol
4.0 L I6 3F petrol
4.0 L I6 2H diesel
4.0 L I6 12H-T diesel turbo
4.2 L I6 1HZ diesel
4.2 L I6 1HD-T diesel turbo
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual H41F or H42F
4-speed automatic A440F
5-speed manual H55F (non-US)
Wheelbase 2,730 mm (107.5 in)
Length 4,675 mm (184.1 in)
Width 1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Height 1,750 mm (68.9 in)

The original Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 60 was available for purchase from 1981 through 1987. It is a front engine four door wagon which has available seating of five to seven. It is well known in the off-roading community for its tremendous 4X4 capabilities, despite being somewhat limited by its poor departure angle. The FJ 60 was offered in the following solid exterior colors: Alpine White, Brown, Desert Beige, Freeborn Red, Royal Blue; and in the following metallic exterior colors: Charcoal Gray, Cognac, Gray-Blue, Rootbeer, Sky Blue, Stardust Silver. In contrast to the FJ 62, the FJ 60 exhibits the classic round Land Cruiser headlights which are replicated now on the retro-style FJ Cruiser.

* 1980 - The 60 series was introduced. While still retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, the 60 was designed to better compete in the emerging sport utility vehicle market. The 60 was given a variety of comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. The FJ60's "2F" petrol engine was left unchanged from the "40" series while six-cylinder 4.0 litre 2H and four-cylinder 3.4 litre 3B diesel engines were added to the product line.
* 1981 - Land Cruiser sales surpassed 1 million and a high-roof version was introduced. The 60 was introduced to South Africa when a stock Land Cruiser competed in the Toyota 1000 km Desert Race in the punishing wilds of Botswana.
* 1984 - This was the final year for the 40. Specialist suppliers of aftermarket parts and restorers who return old FJ40s to better-than-new condition replace Toyota dealers as the main source of Land Cruiser expertise.
* 1984 - Alongside the 60, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series were introduced.
* 1985 - The Direct-injection 12H-T and 13B-T turbodiesel engine were introduced.
* 1988 - The petrol engine was upgraded to a 4.0-litre 3F-E EFI engine. The FJ62G VX-Series was introduced allowing the Land Cruiser to be sold in Japan as a passenger vehicle.
* 1990 - The 80 series station wagon was introduced, replacing the 60. The 80 was initially offered with a choice of three engines; the 3F-E six-cylinder petrol engine, a six-cylinder the 1HZ diesel and 1HD-T direct injection turbodiesel.
* 1990 - All 80s sold in North America and Europe now have a full-time four-wheel drive system. In Japan, Africa and Australia, a part-time system was still available. 80s produced between 1990 and 1991 had an open centre differential which was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO. From 1992 onward, vehicles with anti-lock brakes had a viscous coupling that sent a maximum of 30% torque to the non-slipping axle. The differential was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO.