Presumably you're thinking of an 80 series Amazon, yes probably the best LC ever made, very simple vehicle, live axles front and rear, full time 4WD with lockable centre and rear diff, not sure if the front diff locks as standard.

Either manual or very tough auto transmission.

Around 97/98 the 100 series (up to about 07) replaced it, much more refined vehicle but that refinement has brought with it increased complexity leading to some seriously eye watering bills...HJ's reviews give some of the problems ie early auto torque converters gave problems (should by now have been fixed) but its the air suspension that gives the most headaches and the now IRS front drive isn't as indestructible as the old live axles.

Oddly enough good 80 series are now fetching more than newer 100 series, don't get me wrong the 100 is a fantastic vehicle and is a better vehicle to drive.

I've had a 70 series, superb vehicle completely trouble free.

I now have a year 2000 90 series Colorado, 3.4 litre V6 petrol with auto box, its the natural heir to the 70 series, as in the 100 its no longer a live front axle, lockable centre and rear diffs.

LC's of these years will happily cruise at 80 all day long for you, but they are not economical at that speed obviously, once you get used to the handling you can chuck them about quite happily but tyre choice is important, in the dry any old tyre will do but in the wet all terrain tyres can be skittish, the height of the vehicle gives a false impression of the speed you are going so you can be travelling faster than you would be otherwise.

I like them a lot and always have, insurance is surprisingly cheap but then i'm getting on a bit.

80/100 series are lower than 70/90 series, you'd have to be a competent and confident driver to take an 80 up some multi storeys, however the footprint of the vehicle is probably on a par with latest Mondeo or Audi A6 barges, and arguably the steering lock is better than either , without a doubt the mirrors are in a different league but then you're used to proper mirrors on the Berlie.

Good to work on, these vehicles are designed to be fixed in the field, chassis rust can look bad but they are of heavy gauge (double skinned in places), weak point for rust is the rear live axle and on 80/100 check the bottom edge of the upper tailgate, certainly a vehicle worth investing some time and effort into good rustproofing.

What have i done to my 90 since i bought it in February...

oil change x 2 plus air filter, doddle. autobox drain refill x 3, doddle. drain and refill both axles, doddle. Strip clean front brakes, New rear discs/pads (£80 odd Mintex), doddle. Full rustproofing with Bilt Hambers finest, many hours approx £200 this is worth doing. Cambelt done at Toyota main dealer £290. aircon sprung a leak, specialist repiping @ £200 all in. no problem starting but didn't trun over fast enough for me so new Yuasa 5 year battery £60...Diesels have twin batteries on LC's. 4 new tyres @ £75 each (found age cracking on the old ones, tyres usually last around 50k on these).

I had toyed with LPG converting it, but on the 90 series (and 120 known as LC3/4/5), its not that easy unless you want the tank in the boot, i don't so probably not worth it...80/100 series are easier conversions just relocate the under boot spare...NB Japanese engines can suffer with valve seat recession, so flashlube is a must and in that context be very careful if considering a used petrol already converted, there are 32 valves in a V8!

Two Landcruiser forums out there for UK users, both easily found, well worth lots of research...couse what you really want is a 105 series, basically its what the UN and Taliban use, its a 100 series body sitting on an 80 series steel suspension and two live axles, rare as hens teeth here.

Edited by gordonbennet on 19/09/2015 at 18:17

I run a pair of cars as my 'forever' vehicles. One is a 120-series landcruiser.

If we ignore the early ones, Landcruisers come in two sizes. The big ones were the 80-series (4.2 diesel or 4.5 petrol), then the 100-series (4.2 diesel, 4.7 petrol) and finally the 200-series (only 4.5 v8 diesel in the UK). Toyota have only just stopped selling the 200 in the UK - you can still find new ones at about £65k.

The 'baby' landcruiser were the 90-series (also called the Colorado - 3.0 diesel or 3.4 petrol), then the 120-series (3.0 diesel or 4.0 petrol) and now the 150-series (still sold). The 'Baby' LCs are called Prado in much of the world and are especially popular in australia and the middle east.

The 80 series is arguably one of the best 4x4s ever made, but it is a bit of a lumbering beast and 20 years old now. The final ones gained 24 valves (12 was normal) and are reckoned to be rather better.

If you're in the market for one I'd talk to a specialist. I use Overland cruisers (Hereford area), but hear good things of Westcoast too.

I had overland give my 120 a thorough going over at the beginning of the year, including a dinitol treating.

I recommend www.tlocuk.co.uk's forum.