The 80 Series is a popular choice on the forum, with recent examples including this 1993 VX Limited, 1994 FZJ80, and 1997 FZJ80. It was arguably the first Land Cruiser built with luxury in mind but was simultaneously engineered to be even more durable than its predecessor. Automotive expert Matt Scott states, “The Land Cruiser 80 was intentionally overbuilt, with thicker sheet metal than I’ve ever seen on another car, and a massively overbuilt, near-commercial drivetrain. In an age where off-road vehicles commonly saw massive drivetrain failures when pushed to their limit, the 80 Series is still strong by today’s standards. Even when modified with larger tires, you’ll seldom hear of anything breaking.” It was for these reasons and more that he opted for this HDJ81 Toyota Land Cruiser Overland Project, which was later showcased on the Expedition Portal YouTube channel. Cue today’s triple-locked 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ81 VX Limited, which has been meticulously maintained and showcases a long list of upgrades (I recommend watching the full video tour here). If you’d like to better understand the realities of domestic and international travel with this platform, then check out features on Michael Clark and Dirt Sunrise.
From the Seller:
“Here’s my HDJ81, which I imported from Japan in 2008. I’ve always had it in a garage since then. I have only insured it for summers for the past seven years, and last year, it only got driven 1,500 miles. It’s been to Moab several times, the Kokopelli, Death Valley, Calico, and all over Western Canada and Western USA. I got stuck in the Black Rock Desert, too! I’m not using it enough. It had a full engine rebuild 50,000 miles ago and runs great. I have a mountain of receipts, likely over $40,000 for parts and services. The truck is remarkably rust-free, but not cosmetically perfect, as there is a bit of clear coat off the fender tops and roof. I made a long YouTube video that shows everything: a test drive, some wheeling, and all my spare parts that go with it.”
1991 Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ81 VX Limited
The Land Cruiser is fitted with a 4.2-liter turbo-diesel motor that produces 168 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. A dependable engine and drivetrain are matched with legendary capability thanks to 4WD; front, rear, and center locking differentials; high and low range; manual locking hubs, and it has been configured with a front swaybar disconnect. These rugged credentials are combined with a well-equipped interior with driver comforts that include:
- Air-conditioning
- Center console fridge
- Power steering, windows, locks, and mirrors
- Sunroof
- Aftermarket stereo
Distinguishing Features
- TGM XGS Gold 4-inch lift
- Cruisin Off Road sliders
- Big brakes
- BFGoodrich KO2 tires
- Labs rear bumper and ECB front bumper with winch
- Rear tire carrier
This 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ81 VX Limited is listed for $30,000 OBO and is currently located in Vancouver, Canada. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
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