We all know that the Toyota Land Cruiser is practically unbeatable in terms of resale value. If anything, the prices just keep on going up for this SUV. And if you think you’ll find one for ‘cheap’, that opportunity has long passed.
Now it seems that the Land Cruiser market has gone way, way up, and we’re not talking about second-hand 200 Series models here. Recently, someone just plopped a whole lot of money on an 80 Series.
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How much you ask? Try $170,000. Converted to local currency, that’s about 9,927,000 at exchange rates at the time of writing. That’s around two all-new Prados and just shy of a brand-new Lexus LX600.
So, what makes this particular Toyota Land Cruiser 80 on Bring A Trailer so special? Truth be told, almost nothing. It looks like any other North American spec model with its amber corner lights and all. If anything, it’s a rather standard model save for some gold badges which were in fashion in the ‘90s.
The spec is nothing too outstanding, but one can say that it’s the mileage that well and truly drove up the price and the bidding frenzy. Per the seller, this 1997 model just clocked 4,700 miles or almost 7,600km. Safe to say that it barely moved in 27 years.
It also helps that it practically looks brand new. Whoever the first owner was kept it as pristine as possible until 2021 when the seller/dealer acquired it. From then on, it was given a service and a general cleanup. It’s worth pointing out that the seller was also honest enough to mention there are some blemishes on the bumper. The interior is spotless, though.
Curious about the engine? As it’s a US version, there’s no diesel under the hood. Instead, it’s a gas-fed 4.5-liter inline-six, and it’s not exactly a powerhouse compared to the Land Cruiser of today. Still, 212hp and 373Nm of torque isn’t bad for a large-ish straight six engine that was first made in the early ‘90s. Other hardware highlights include a four-speed automatic, a dual-range transfer case, and a center differential lock.
Obviously, the person who bought this particular 80 Series wasn’t looking for a bargain. But do you think that era of Land Cruiser commands that price now?
Locally, we’re seeing pristine 80 Series models easily blow past the P1.5-M mark. If it’s an original local example, prices are closer to P2-M. But at nearly P10-M, you can say it’s too much money for a 30+ year old design, but it’s totally worth it for the one who bought it.
