The Land Cruiser is a HJ60 model and to quote Chatbot AI: “The Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 is a model of the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser series. The HJ60 was part of the 60 series Land Cruisers produced by Toyota, which were known for their ruggedness, reliability and off road capabilities.”
“The HJ60 specifically was equipped with a 4.0 liter in line-six diesel engine, which was known for its durability and fuel efficiency. It was produced in the 1980s and was popular for its performance both on and off the road. The Land Cruiser HJ60 was well-regarded for its robust build quality, making a favorite among off-road enthusiasts and those looking for a dependable utility vehicle.”
“The Land Cruiser HJ60 has since gained a cult following from its classic design and reputation for being virtually indestructible. It remains a sought-after vehicle for those who appreciate its ruggedness and timeless appeal.”
I bought my HJ60 some 14 years ago wanting to learn more about vehicle mechanics and ended up with a lot more issues than I’d bargained for. It was soon evident that the engine needed a lot of attention so I copied a DIY manual from a friend and got to work. The engine came apart and the block was sent off to have new cylinder liners (the very hard steel tubes that line the cylinders) fitted. The block came back and after putting it all together, it was with a great deal of satisfaction that it all worked, albeit with some minor tuning.
It didn’t last long, about 2,000 km. The engine stopped suddenly and after taking the cylinder head off it was evident that the liners had been badly fitted – number six had broken and been smashed into the crankshaft and all the others had cracks around the top. So the Land Cruiser sat for two years waiting for my sense of humour to recover.
“I have two second-hand engines from Japan sitting in town, do you want one?” Mark said over the phone. “One is regularly aspirated and the other is the turbo-charged 12HT, but it’s a bit more expensive” he added. By the time I’d made up my mind only the turbo-charged model was left so I went for that.
It turned out to be a fortuitous bit of dithering on my part. Mark, who is a 4×4 enthusiast and competent mechanic, fitted the engine and I’ve had a great, powerful, vehicle ever since. She’s been fitted with a long range fuel tank, Honda Fit intimidating bull-bars and a good sound system and a two tone paint job. I haven’t driven her for some years as she has a manual gear-box and I lack the capacity to use a clutch but Marianne, my wife, loves driving her.
She no longer does long trips and recently we decided to send her off to a local mechanic, who likes older vehicles, for a good going-over. “What a marvelous vehicle” Adam enthused when he returned her. “If you ever think of selling her, please let me know”.
As a disabled person I can get an automatic vehicle duty-free every five years. My Ford pickup is now six years old so I can get another (it doesn’t have to be new) and I suggested to Marianne that we give it some thought. It makes no sense to keep three vehicles so we’d have to get rid of the ‘Cruiser. “I think we should offer her to Adam first”, Marianne said, “at least we’d know that she was going to a good home!”.
I went to a local second-hand car dealer nearby to discuss the logistics of getting in a vehicle on my disability rebate. I asked him if I would be able to sell my ‘Cruiser. When I mentioned that it was an HJ60 he said “Oh, you’ll have no trouble at all moving it. They are still very much in demand”.
Caity is not a professional model though having done several courses she certainly knows how to pose. I didn’t pay her; she wanted to borrow a drone of mine so we did a deal. Adam’s parting words when he dropped of the ‘Cruiser were, “There you go, she’s good for another 20 years!”. I am sure Caity will still be looking good in 20 years too.
Zimbabwe Absurdity 