Proffitt Sharing - Ultimate Long-Haul Toyota

WHILE TOYOTA IMPORTed the 60 Series and 80 Series wagons to the U.S., the 70 Series was never offered stateside.

- Harry Wagner

These no-nonsense vehicles were put in service around the world in heavy use like mining operations and U.N. peacekeeping missions. And naturally, human nature being what it is, that is the model Toyota enthusiasts in the States have an unhealthy obsession for. The 79 Series pickup was the last and best of the 70 Series, and Proffitt’s Restoration Land Cruisers has built one with a dream list of components that you don’t have be a Toyota fan to appreciate.

Jeremiah Proffitt has been building and restoring Land Cruisers for decades, 38 JANUARY 2020 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD making contacts near and far along the way. This particular vehicle started with a cab and bed imported from an armored car company in the Middle East. The sheet metal was grafted onto an 80 Series chassis, which is readily available and comes with coil suspension front and rear, not to mention beefy full-floating axles with selectable lockers straight from the factory.

Proffitt didn’t use the 1FZ-FE engine and automatic transmission that came standard in the 80 Series. Instead he retrofit a Cummins R2.8 turbodiesel engine and backed it with an Aisin H55F five-speed manual transmission. Combined with a 60-gallon fuel capacity, this effectively gives him a range of 1,500 miles or more. Imagine driving all the way across the United States while only having to stop once for fuel! If the pristine 79 Series didn’t already make other Land Cruiser enthusiasts green with envy, that fuel economy and range certainly will.