As a typical model of medium and large SUVs, Toyota Land Cruiser has always been loved by consumers, especially those with off-road feelings. From the original Jeep to the Land Cruiser that appeared on the auto market today, it has always been known for its solidity and durability. If the prototype is counted, the Land Cruiser has a history of 68 years. There are many off-road vehicles of different ages. Everyone is willing to empty their wallets for it. Some people say that looking at a thing, first understanding its history can naturally explain its present, so now let’s take a look at the past and present of this model.
Land Cruiser Prototype: Toyota BJ
It can be said that this model was born in troubled times, that is, World War II. As the most historic model in the Toyota family, the Land Cruiser car series began in 1941, when the Japanese army occupied the Philippine Islands and discovered An American-made Dodge Bantam Mk II off-road vehicle and quickly brought it back to China. Maybe it was to create advanced mechanized infantry, or maybe it was the need to continue other wars. In short, the Japanese government at that time handed over this “baby” to Toyota Motor Corporation, and the soldiers ordered it to be imitated quickly and mass-produced as soon as possible.
The code name of this car in Toyota is named AK10. The AK10 uses the C-series 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine of the Toyota AE model. The reason, and the time is indeed relatively short, AK10 still looks like a copycat version of JEEP.
Then, from the defeat of Japan in 1945 to 1950, it was because of the needs of the war. What war? Of course, everyone knows that it is the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. At that time, the US government commissioned the Japanese government to produce 100 Willys (Willis) off-road vehicles, because Toyota had experience in producing off-road vehicles during World War II. The Japanese authorities handed over this task. Toyota.
Based on the previous research and production of the Bantam off-road vehicle, Toyota happily accepted this task and quickly mastered the core technology of off-road vehicle manufacturing. It can be said that the previous accumulation and persistence will become a generation of Land Cruiser series models in the future. Dirt bike legends laid a solid foundation. In January 1951, the Toyota version of the Jeep BJ was born. This military off-road vehicle looks very much like a Land Rover series produced in 1948. It is larger in size than the American Jeep, and its power has also been upgraded. Because of the use of Toyota B-type engine and J-type chassis, it is named BJ; do you think this name is too simple? Do you think it is low? In short, the Japanese technical director at the time thought so, and also said that we still have a strong opponent in the UK, Land Rover, and I have to give our car a name that does not sound inferior to the opponent. , So, I called it “Land Cruiser” (Land Cruiser), so in 1954 the BJ series was changed to the Land Cruiser series.
With the experience of mass-producing BJ series off-road vehicles, Toyota quickly mastered the core technology and links of off-road vehicle manufacturing. But frankly speaking, this generation of models is mainly suitable for military use. At that time, off-road vehicles had not yet entered the common Common people’s home.
