After we think about a rustic that adopts the larger is healthier stance, nearly all of us will default to the ‘Merican lifestyle.
That is house to the Massive Mac in spite of everything. A rustic whose love affair with the V8 motor dates all the way in which again to 1914. And, should you’ve ever pushed between California and Las Vegas, you’ll comprehend it additionally boasts the world’s largest thermometer. Clearly.
Clearly, the angle of extra isn’t one normally related to a rustic like Japan. Its capital metropolis – Tokyo – stays probably the most densely populated areas on this planet, cramming 38 million residents into simply 13,000 sq. kilometres.
To present {that a} bit extra perspective, New York manages 19 million individuals in a equally sized space. However what about Texas? Strive 30 million throughout a state that’s really 1.8 occasions bigger than your complete nation of Japan.
Massive vehicles clearly exist in Japan and have accomplished for a few years. Look again to 1995, and also you’ll see Toyota launched the Mega Cruiser – primarily a Hummer H1 run by Google Translate. Whereas its authentic use was for the Japanese navy, that didn’t cease Toyota making 3,000 road-going variations too, regardless of the Mega Cruiser being nearly twice as broad (and lengthy) as a typical kei automotive.
If we’re speaking legendary Toyota 4x4s nonetheless, there’s one mannequin whose following transcends means past its nation of origin. One which has fairly actually been a worldwide spine offering assist, provides and entry to a few of the most distant elements of the world past its use as a household automobile or off-roader. The one and solely Land Cruiser.
Because the saying goes, ‘If you wish to go into the Outback, take a Land Rover. However if you wish to come again out once more, be sure it’s a Land Cruiser.’
For the final 73 years, Toyota has produced a variation of the Land Cruiser with an estimated 10 million models bought worldwide. That may not sound like a lot in comparison with Ford’s F150, however the Land Cruiser has discovered its means into no fewer than 170 international locations, which could simply be a document in itself.
The Land Cruiser story is one which actually deserves a number of Speedhunters posts, as a result of its historical past goes far past something I might ever do justice. So, for the sake of this story and the Land Cruiser in query, we’ll deal with probably the most widely known generations – the FJ60, aka 60-series.
Produced between 1980 and 1992, the FJ60 was designed to be a rugged off-roader however with extra emphasis on consolation and options to compete higher throughout the rising SUV market of the time. Not did Toyota must create simply a succesful 4×4 as a result of in 1984, manufacturing of the notorious 70-series started (pictured above). And whereas it obtained the odd facelift, basically that era has been the identical for practically 40 years. The explanation? Effectively, the 70-series turned the go-to alternative for NGOs (non-government organisations) and varied humanitarian outfits just like the United Nations.
One of many concepts being that – no matter manufacturing yr – a 70-series Land Cruiser might be repaired shortly and simply regardless of the place on this planet it’s, typically utilizing elements taken from different 70-series, no matter age. Some could name it primary, however with minimal electrics to go flawed and Toyota’s famed reliability, it takes the time period ‘reliable’ to a complete new stage.
Sadly, that versatility and sturdiness has meant the 70-series typically will get used for some barely non-humanitarian issues, like sporting an anti-aircraft gun on its pickup mattress whereas someplace a bit sandy.
And whereas the 70-series was doing it’s bit for humanitarian assist, the extra ‘luxurious’ 60-series – and subsequent generations after – then constructed a big cult following all world wide making it the last word journey 4×4. Trendy, powerful, and in recent times simply retrofitted with something from a roof tent to a full-blown awning and pop-out lodging.
And, when a automotive turns into a cult basic with fanatics, it leaves the door broad open for a bit extra interpretation too. One thing Yukata Kasaho has taken benefit of by changing one of many world’s greatest 4x4s into a real 6×6 monster, full with locking diffs and roof-stacked exhausts.
Now put that within the backdrop of Tokyo and the result’s a automotive so outrageous that even essentially the most reserved Japanese motorist will crick their neck for a cheeky look. What possesses a person to create this sort of lunacy… and the place can we get one too?
“I first fell in love with the Land Cruiser again after I was in school,” Kasaho-san explains. “I keep in mind seeing a few of the elders drive them and pondering, ‘wow, that automotive appears cool!’ So, after I bought older, I knew I’d in the future personal one.”
Understandably, this wouldn’t be an remoted incident. Within the years after leaving faculty, Kasaho-san purchased and modified a variety of various 4x4s which inevitably led to him beginning his personal enterprise targeted on upgrading them. That enterprise – referred to as Preserve Slant – remains to be going robust right this moment, with Kasaho-san’s specialties being leaf springs and raise kits that he designs and engineers himself.
Right here lies the foundations for an ideal storm. An fanatic obsessive about Land Cruisers – whose enterprise focuses on modifying them for every kind of use – decides it’s time to advertise stated enterprise with an attention grabbing construct. What might presumably occur subsequent?
“Being a Land Cruiser fan for therefore lengthy, you get to satisfy many different fanatics and see many different cool builds,” Kasaho-san provides. “The 60-series Land Cruiser has at all times been my favorite era. It’s iconic world wide, and since they’re quite simple it’s simple to switch for various off-road use.”
“I started to surprise, ‘what has probably not been accomplished with the 60-series?’ It will must be one thing that might not be produced from the manufacturing facility; one thing which requires a talented specialist to realize and never produced on a big scale.”
The one factor extra harmful than a wild thought is discovering a talented crew or particular person prepared to make it a actuality. On this case, it’d be the mad scientists at Neosteel – a 4×4 specialist situated all the way in which down in Kumamoto, Japan. Bespoke fabrication is Neosteel’s bread and butter, starting from easy overland creations to these rock-crawling monsters with full exoskeletons. And should you’ve ever handled a fabricator earlier than, you’ll understand how to their coronary heart is by difficult them to create one thing they’ve by no means constructed earlier than.
“In truth, the concept for six×6 got here from Tatsuya Kuwata of Neosteel,” Kasaho-san factors out. “I wished to do one thing distinctive that I might use to advertise merchandise just like the leaf spring kits, however Kuwata-san at all times had the dream of constructing a 6×6! I assumed the concept was loopy, however I cherished it. Plus, due to his pleasure, I knew Kuwata-san wouldn’t cease till it was full and practical.”
For Kuwata-san at Neosteel, builds just like the 6×6 60-series are what maintain him awake at evening for all the fitting causes. Identical to Kasaho-san, his background and introduction into the world of Land Cruisers spans a number of many years – 25 years actually – after embracing whole freedom in his twenties by exploring the mountains most weekends in varied 4x4s.
“I work on every kind of off-road automobiles, however the Land Cruiser actually impresses me essentially the most,” Kuwata-san explains. “I knew Kasaho-san for a very long time earlier than the undertaking. It was a dream of mine to construct a real 6×6 automobile for a few years, across the time Mercedes unveiled the G 63 AMG 6×6 again in 2013.”
“Kasaho-san wished to include leaf springs into the construct due to his enterprise, which added a whole lot of challenges to the construct. Japan is a rustic with strict automotive security requirements, so we ended up creating completely different variations to retain using leaf springs accurately. Ultimately, we did handle to get an answer that labored together with all three axles being managed independently too.”
Kuwata-san didn’t share an excessive amount of info into the complete extent of fabrication – not helped by my lack of Japanese – however was eager to level out using a Suzuki Jimny switch field to affix the extra axle to the remainder of the drivetrain, permitting it to be engaged and disengaged together with the locking differentials too. All-in-all, the undertaking has taken practically 4 years from begin to end, nevertheless it’s removed from a present automotive.
Make no mistake, the addition of six 20×9-inch RAYS Volk Racing TE37s does add a sure ‘present’ factor to the Land Cruiser, however Kasaho-san hasn’t shied away from utilizing it – the scars from rock crawling is clear on a number of of the wheels.
It’s an identical story inside. Bride entrance seats mixed with a Navajo sample wouldn’t be your first alternative in any Land Cruiser, however other than being fashionable as hell they add a sure stage of consolation to the in any other case ‘uncompromised’ journey.
“The purpose was to create an attention grabbing 60-series which additionally remained a real off-roader,” provides Kasaho-san. “It’s greater than only a demo automotive for my enterprise and the work of Neosteel; it’s a automotive I proceed to make use of most days and luxuriate in with mates throughout expeditions.”
“In Japan, it’s uncommon to see such a giant automobile particularly with six wheels. However the Land Cruiser is an icon to many individuals right here, and to see such a automobile modified in an uncommon means brings myself – and lots of different individuals – happiness. That’s what I like most about automotive tradition.”
Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
