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Cars > Auction

Someone paid $136,000 for this 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser

Aging Japanese SUV is more expensive than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Thirty years ago, no one could've predicted that LC80s would sell for really good money. PHOTO FROM BRING A TRAILER

Do a quick search on Toyota Land Cruisers and you’ll find that these vehicles still fetch a hefty premium in the secondhand market. The version doesn’t seem to matter as even restored 40-series units cost as much as a brand-new Hilux. One example is the stunning LC80 that you see here, which was recently auctioned off. The highest bidder parted with $136,000 (P6.52 million).

The original retail price of the Land Cruiser 80 was around $37,000. PHOTOS FROM BRING A TRAILER

There is no denying that people love the LC80, which is evident in the number of good-condition examples sold online. But this particular vehicle takes the cake as the finish of the Dark Emerald Pearl paint job looks absolutely flawless. Even the plastic trim that is notorious for easily fading on 1990s cars appears to be in really good nick—like brand-new.

Whoever preserved this vehicle must've kept it in a dry environment. PHOTOS FROM BRING A TRAILER

The same story goes for the gray leather interior, which looks like it was never used at all. Again, all trim pieces seem to be undamaged, and that this Land Cruiser still has the original head unit with cassette and CD players. Speaking of features, the car has the desirable differential lock, but given how absolutely mint it looks, we don’t think this Toyota has gone near an off-road trail in its entire life.

When was the last time you saw a 1990s Toyota double-DIN radio with the tape deck and the CD player? PHOTOS FROM BRING A TRAILER

But despite its appearance, you might be wondering why this almost 30-year-old SUV costs more than a brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (in US prices). That’s because this Land Cruiser only has 1,000 miles (1,610km) on its odometer. This listing claims that the mileage is genuine and matches the Carfax report. It also says that time-sensitive maintenance items have been replaced, with the vehicle’s last service seeing an oil change and the fitting of a new battery and drive belts.

The 1FZ-FE engine's low-revving, unstressed nature makes it extremely reliable. PHOTOS FROM BRING A TRAILER

It’s safe to say that the 1FZ-FE six-cylinder that powers this Land Cruiser still produces its factory rating of 212hp and 373Nm. And considering the legendary reliability and ruggedness that Toyota’s iconic SUV is known for, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this LC80 still running for another 30 years.



Miggi Solidum

Professionally speaking, Miggi is a software engineering dude who happens to like cars a lot. And as an automotive enthusiast, he wants a platform from which he can share his motoring thoughts with fellow petrolheads. He pens the column ‘G-Force’.



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