70 Series (70/71/73/74/75/76/77/78/79)

Nov 1984 – present · Heavy-duty (plus early light-duty "Bundera/Prado")

The 70 Series replaced the 40. Japanese sales ended in 2004, but it carried on as an export-only model.^[1] It came back to Japan in 2014 and again in 2023.^[2]

Key facts

Launched	2 November 1984^[3]
Wheelbases	Five, from 2,310 to 3,180 mm^[3]
Key diesels	3B, 2H, 1PZ, 1HZ, 1HD-FTE, 1VD-FTV 4.5 V8 (2007–), 1GD-FTV 2.8 I4 (2023–)^[4]
Front suspension	Leaf springs until 1999, then coil springs^[3]
BJ70 (JDM, factory spec)	3.4 L 3B, 98 PS, 1,750 kg, wheelbase 2,310 mm^[3]

Timeline

1984: launched as the successor to the 40 Series.^[3]
1985: the light-duty 70 (later called the Prado) was added.^[5]
1999: coil-sprung front axle; the long-wheelbase models became the 78 (Troop Carrier) and 79 (pickup).^[4]
2004: sales in Japan ended.^[1]
2007: facelift with a wider front end for the 1VD-FTV V8; the 76 wagon was added.^[4]
2012: 79 double-cab.^[4]
2023: 1GD 2.8 L with an automatic; relaunched in Japan.^[4]^[2]

Where it was sold

Japan: 1984–2004, 2014–15 (30th anniversary), 2023 on^[4]
USA: Never sold in the US^[4]
Canada: BJ70 1984–87; later mining-only via Toyota Industrial Sales^[4]
Australia: 1VD-FTV V8 was the only engine from 2007^[4]
Middle East / GCC: 2- and 4-door SUV and pickup^[4]
Europe / UK: Portuguese-built units go to Africa; engines not EU-certified^[4]
South Africa / Africa: 79 double-cab from 2012 (4.2 D / 4.0 P)^[4]
Latin America: Venezuela to 2008; Colombia (SOFASA); Bolivia^[4]

Any market not listed is unverified. See the full markets matrix.

WHERE IT WAS SOLD

Markets matrix

SoldLimited / other nameNot sold newUnverified

Model	Japan	USA	Canada	Australia	New Zealand	Middle East / GCC	Europe / UK	South Africa / Africa	Latin America	Other Asia / Russia
70 Series Nov 1984 – present	1984–2004, 2014–15 (30th anniversary), 2023 on^[4]	Never sold in the US^[4]	BJ70 1984–87; later mining-only via Toyota Industrial Sales^[4]	1VD-FTV V8 was the only engine from 2007^[4]	Unverified	2- and 4-door SUV and pickup^[4]	Portuguese-built units go to Africa; engines not EU-certified^[4]	79 double-cab from 2012 (4.2 D / 4.0 P)^[4]	Venezuela to 2008; Colombia (SOFASA); Bolivia^[4]	Unverified

Source note: each cell is cited individually. "Unverified" means we haven't yet found a source confirming or ruling out sales in that market. It is not a claim that the model wasn't sold there. NZ was a major used-import market for JDM Land Cruisers, but new-vehicle NZ sales are mostly unverified here. Market names and years cover new-vehicle sales by Toyota/Lexus distributors.

Buying notes

Owner-reported V8 Troop Carriers, wagons and single-cabs have a rear track narrower than the front. Owners use wheels with offset, spacers, or a full axle replacement to even it out.^[6]
Owner-reported 1VD-FTV oil consumption, mainly in early engines. Toyota changed the vacuum pump, oil return and piston design around 2010 and revised its oil recommendation. Toyota bulletins also cover piezo injector failures.^[7]^[8]^[9]

INTERACTIVE TOOL

Model code decoder

Type a Land Cruiser model code from the build plate or a parts catalogue, e.g.

Source note: segment meanings follow the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum Model Decoder v2 (2020). The GD (1GD-FTV) engine code is from the J70 lineage^[10]^[4]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]. Suffix letters were not used consistently across every market and era, so treat results as a guide and confirm against your frame number.

Sources

Owner-reported issues are marked as such: they are community experience, not factory data. Specs vary by market and model year. Corrections are welcome.