We’ve featured most every shade of 4x4 here, from the mighty little Lada Niva to the massive and luxurious Earthroamer XV–But never a fire truck, at least until right now. Fresh off the boat from Japan, check out this 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser fire truck for sale from the fine folks at Vans from Japan in Sacramento, CA for just $13,000. It served as a small town fire truck in Japan, which explains the ultra-low mileage of only 6,560 miles as well as the awesome patina. And if patina isn’t your thing, this would also make a heck of a candidate for a full restoration.
Either way, you win.
ABOUT THE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER
The Toyota Land Cruiser, often called TLC for short, is an iconic series of four-wheel drive body-on-frame vehicles produced by the Japanese automaker. It’s Toyota's longest running series of models, beginning production in 1951 and continuing to this day. Because of its popularity, it has sold well over 10 million TLCs worldwide in a variety of body styles, including convertible, cab chassis and station wagon body styles. Sadly, its run finally came to an end in North America in 2021, at least for now, as the all new Sequoia hits the market occupying roughly the same market as the TLC.
This particular model is a 6th generation Land Cruiser, known as the J60, produced from 1981 to 1990. Although it had rugged off-road chops, it was considered a model more oriented for comfort than for off-road utility–Toyota had started to drift in this direction as a reaction to the emerging SUV craze. To that end the 60 came from the factory with a larger cabin that featured creature comforts such as air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. 60-series Land Cruisers were also the first to have fuel injection, power windows, and automatic transmissions.
The Land Cruiser's insane reliability and longevity have led to huge popularity, including for interesting customizations like this fire truck. To achieve this, Toyota is said to test the Land Cruiser in some of the most brutal operating environments in terms of temperature, terrain and precipitation–including the Australian outback, where the Land Cruiser is immensely popular.
The Specs.
This Land Cruiser has recently been retired from service as a firetruck in Japan, and shipped out to California to the Vans from Japan team. After landing stateside, they gave it a good once over, replacing the air filter, fuel filter and giving it some brand new BFGoodrich rubber. They didn't touch the paint, which we kind of like--there's just something about that old school gold-leaf lettering and hand-painted pinstripes.
Highlights for this heroic rig include the highly sought-after and not available in America H55F 5-speed manual transmission and the “3F” 4.0 Liter motor. The successor of the “2F” engine, it included a modified cylinder head, electronic fuel injection (in some markets), a vastly improved emissions system, and a smaller displacement (4.0 from 4.2 Liter). Engine power increased by 20 hp to 155 hp and torque increased 10 lb⋅ft for a total of an impressive 220.
Here are all the goodies that come with this rig, and a recap of the overall condition and known flaws below:
FIRE TRUCK STUFF:
- PTO hydraulic pump
- Fire department pinstriping and decals (hand painted)
- Fire lights, beacon, sirens, and PA system
- Dual rear spot lights
- Dual intake hoses
- Two exterior mounted fire extinguishers
MECHANICAL & DRIVE:
- 3F 4.0 liter gasoline engine
- H55F 5-speed manual transmission
- 4wd with transfer case and high/low range
- Dual batteries
SUSPENSION:
- Solid front and rear axles
- Leaf spring suspension at all 4 corners
INTERIOR:
- Manual windows and door locks
- Front bucket seats
- Rear bench seat
- Factory floor mats with Land Cruiser branding
- Original Toyota stereo block off plate
- Original jack
- Original accessory plug in light
BODY & EXTERIOR:
- Fender mounted mirrors
- Diamond plate running boards
- Diamond plate rear step
- Fog lights
- Brand new BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires in LT 31x10.5R15
- Alloy wheels (Original red 16" steel split rim wheels included if desired)
- Front and rear mud flaps
- Rear storage compartment with two wooden shelves
OVERALL CONDITION AND KNOWN FLAWS:
This rig is in good condition, but isn’t perfect, and could certainly benefit from a full restoration. Its imperfections and flaws are commensurate with its age, mileage and usage. We like to call it patina. Known flaws include:
- Control unit for lights and sirens has been removed
- There is a slight residue around some of the decals
- It has some scratches, dents, and dings as is consistent with the age of the vehicle
- Minor oil leak from area of front main seal
- Tear on driver seat side
READ MORE FEATURES.
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