The Toyota 60 Series Land Cruiser
Not only are we spotlighting our latest Short Run shirts in our lookbook, From the Water to Work, we managed to sneak in our co-founder/CFO Paul Watson’s rad 1990 Toyota Land Cruiser. Here, we take a brief look into the history of the iconic utility vehicle and Paul Watson’s faithful ride.
Production of the first generation of Land Cruisers began in 1951 as Toyota’s version of a Jeep-like vehicle, which was originally produced for the United States Army during the Korean War. But it wasn’t until Toyota’s 1980 launch of the 60 Series that the Land Cruiser perfected its boxy shape and became a serious competitor in the emerging SUV market.
The Land Cruiser quickly gained a reputation as a dependable off-road vehicle and the 60 Series was no exception. Spanning the gap between luxury and utility, the FJ60 measured 15 feet long and 5.8 feet wide. This impressive size naturally lead to the capability of hauling impressive loads, whether it be livestock, equipment, or seven additional passengers.
In 1988, the FJ62 was introduced and was even more prestigious than its predecessors in both power and style. For those of you interested in what came under the hood: a 4.0-liter inline six cylinder engine rated at 155 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque.
Worldwide Land Cruiser sales topped one million units in 1981 -- an achievement three decades in the making, but it only took another ten years to exceed 2 million sold. Although other Land Cruiser models were available during this time, the 60 Series significantly contributed to this milestone.
To make room for the production of the larger, and noticeably rounder 80 Series, Toyota ceased production of the 60 Series in 1990. During the decade of production, a total of seven variations within the series were produced, the most of any Toyota Land Cruiser.
The 60 Series marked the beginning of the Land Cruiser’s transition from utility to more of a luxury-oriented 4x4. Despite its grandeur, the vehicle was more than capable of cruising on any terrain... a true adventure mobile at its finest.
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