NEVER SAY DIE

PERHAPS THE MOST ICONIC VEHICLE STILL FOUND IN THE AUSSIE BUSH, DOES THIS LIMITED EDITION 70TH ANNIVERSARY 79 SERIES LANDCRUISER MAKE A GOOD THING EVEN BETTER?

- EVAN SPENCE

THE TOYOTA Land Cruiser has been with us for 70 years. Seventy years of hard work, off-road holidays, mud, snow, sand, and memories that have changed lives. While designed and manufactured in Japan, this iconic 79 Series seen here in 70th Anniversary trim, is as Australian as cold beer and a warm pie. One of the first things you'll see driving in to any country town, is a 79 Series Land Cruiser. Same goes for any mine site, farm, or four-wheel drive destination. They aren't just popular in Australia because they look cool (Instagram users might disagree), they are popular because they just work in harsh Australian conditions.

To celebrate the milestone, Toyota has released a very limited run of 70th Anniversary Land Cruisers, with only 200 of the single cabs, as tested, being sold. The additions are largely cosmetic, with items such as historic retro badging, upgraded seats, and a lovely centre console with additional cupholders. While that might not sound like much, when you're starting with such a basic vehicle, the 70th Anniversary model is the best 79 Series Cruiser ever released. We spent the week ploughing through mud, over corrugations, and cruising the highway to see what all the fuss is about.

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL?

AS PER the 76 Series Land Cruiser we reviewed in the May 22 issue of 4X4 Australia, this 79 Series 70th Anniversary model receives a swag of goodies that are exclusive to this range. Considering there are only 200 utes available in this limited-edition run, it's safe to say they will sell quickly, if there's even any left at this stage.