We’re Still Drooling Over How You Can Get This Classic ’80s Toyota 4×4 Brand New

The FJ70 continues proving that newer isn’t always better, but you’ll have to live in Australia.

Close-up of a silver Toyota Land Cruiser front grille and bumper with two people in cowboy hats leaning on a fence in the background.

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Published July 9, 2026

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Updated 6 hours ago

Toyota just once again proved why the Australians get all the cool stuff. The Japanese automaker relaunched the production of its beloved Land Cruiser Series 70 after a temporary hiatus.

And as usual, it has us drooling. Toyota had to suspend production of its Series 70 due to evolving regulations in Australia. But Toyota was able to make it compliant, and it’s now back in action.

Back from the dead, again

Red Toyota Land Cruiser pickup truck with snorkel driving off-road on a dirt trail. — Toyota relaunched its Land Cruiser Series 70 in Australia after a temporary pause due to changing emissions regulations.

Back in early 2025, Toyota stopped the sale of its old-school FJ70 after Australia updated its emissions regulations. Specifically, the diesel model.

Now, it’s back. The automaker reengineered the platform to house a new urea injection system, complete with a 20-liter AdBlue tank. So, it’s now able to pass Australia’s Euro 6d emissions requirements. There were, however, some notable omissions.

Center console of a Toyota Land Cruiser showing gear shifters, climate controls, and touchscreen infotainment system. — The Series 70 is an absolute time capsule from the ’80s that you can get new from a Toyota dealer.

One, Australians will be disappointed to learn that the manual transmission is not available. At least, for now.

Additionally, the heavy-duty Troopcarrier variant no longer sports a larger fuel tank for extra long-distance travel (probably for traversing Australia’s vast desert tracts).

The latter omission is likely due to the addition of the AdBlue tank.

Dark gray Toyota Land Cruiser parked on dry terrain with two blue and gray tents in the background. — The modernized Series 70 is a remarkable testament to Toyota’s enduring commitment to the Land Cruiser.

While all of this sounds as exciting as a bucket of spackle, it reminds us of how darn lucky Australia is. To be able to get a new version of a Land Cruiser from a beloved and bygone era? It’s a concept that some of the world can only dream of.

There are a ton of reasons as to why someone may be interested in the latest Land Cruisers. But there are tons more going for the Series 70.

What’s old is made new again

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Firstly, it’s an ’80s Land Cruiser. Toyota has only updated and modified it to meet today’s minimum regulatory requirements. The FJ70 comes from an era when Toyota was arguably at its peak, engineering some of the toughest, most reliable and most durable automobiles in all the land.

While North America didn’t specifically get the FJ70, we still got very close with the FJ60. It’s one of the Land Cruiser holy grails in terms of collectability, even among active four-wheeling fans.

Interior of a right-hand drive Toyota Land Cruiser with blue fabric seats and a touchscreen display. — The Series 70 is a living case of the premise that sometimes, old tech is the best tech.

That’s all down to the simplicity, rugged build and ironclad engineering.

In hindsight, the ’80s were an era when Asian and European carmakers arguably built some of their best vehicles. Automakers then designed and engineered vehicles with quality, longevity and serviceability in mind.

Red Toyota Land Cruiser splashing muddy water on a dirt road in a dry, shrub-filled landscape. — Who wouldn’t want to rock a Series 70?

They also still favored the old-school approach of building things to last while incorporating modern and emerging technologies.

The FJ70 literally embodies the superlative automotive equivalent of “they don’t build them like they used to.”

I know the sentiment resonates with me. Could you imagine how crazy I’d go if Mercedes-Benz started making the W126 again, but with modern appointments? One can only hope, and the Series 70 is one of those ultra-rare dreams come true.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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