Over 60 Years of History of the Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota’s Land Cruiser, one of the brand’s most popular vehicles, has a rich history of struggle, war, and innovation. What began as a police patrol vehicle has become one of the few vehicles that can conquer both the asphalt and the off-road. Here’s a taste of the Toyota Land Cruiser’s history.

Post-War Struggle

The heritage of the Land Cruiser takes us back to the harrowing conclusion to World War II. Following the war, inflation in Japan skyrocketed. To assist with the dangerous consequences of high inflation, the Allied Powers implemented the “Dodge line” economic stabilization policy in 1949. While the policy helped stabilize Japan’s inflation, the restrictions of the policy caused industrial production to slow down, sending many Japanese businesses into further struggle. Then, at the end of a month of heavy labor strikes against Toyota, an army from North Korea invaded its neighbors to the south, starting the Korean War.

The Toyota Prototype

Since the United States held considerable influence over Japan as the Korean War took off, the U.S. military began using Japan as a central supply base and relied on the island nation for significant military production. Japanese automakers were asked to develop prototypes for compact 4×4 trucks. By August, Toyota was designing something special: the Toyota Jeep BJ. Toyota created the vehicle by taking a water-cooled in-line six-cylinder engine and throwing it on an SB-type truck chassis.

The Toyota Jeep BJ was first rejected by the National Police Reserve Force in favor of the Willys Jeep. But Toyota didn’t give up. Months after the Jeep BJ’s rejection, Ichiro Taira, a test driver for Toyota, took the vehicle on a drive up Mount Fuji as officials from the National Police Agency watched on. The Toyota Jeep BJ managed to make its way to the No. 6 checkpoint on the mountain, the greatest height any land vehicle had ever reached. The test won over the officials, and the agency brought on the Jeep BJ as its official patrol car.

From Jeep to Land Cruiser

After two years of price negotiation and deliberation on vehicle specs, the Toyota Jeep BJ entered large-scale production. In 1953, 298 Jeep BJs made their way onto the streets. At first, only the National Police Agency used the vehicles, but then Toyota began receiving production orders from electric power companies and the Forestry and Agricultural Agency.

The following year, Toyota faced claims of trademark violation from the Willys Company, which had created the original Jeep. In response, Director of Technology Hanji Umehara dubbed Toyota’s 4×4 truck the Land Cruiser. Since its birth as the Land Cruiser, Toyota’s truck has established its place as one of the most versatile vehicles on the market. Over the years, drivers have proven the vehicle in snow, swamps, sand, and in the most isolated areas of the world.

Today, Toyota’s evolved Land Cruiser continues to conquer every terrain. Test drive one today and see what the heritage of the Land Cruiser has led to.

Image via DealerOn

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