The Toyota Land Cruiser J40 has long been considered one of the icons of classic car collecting in Vietnam. Despite its limited number, this off-road SUV is highly sought after due to its boxy design, mechanical durability, and off-road capabilities that have made the Land Cruiser famous. Those in good condition, especially the diesel version, often fetch prices of up to one billion Vietnamese dong.
Recently, Mr. Ngoc Duc, a collector of rare classic cars in Hanoi, shared images of a 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ40. He said that a buyer from Saigon purchased the car for a high price of 1.5 billion VND. After nearly half a century of use, the car still retains many characteristic details of the legendary off-road SUV, although the previous owner has restored and replaced some parts over time.
Observing the actual images, the BJ40 still retains its characteristic boxy shape with a body primarily made of steel. The bike has been repainted green instead of the original color, while many details such as the halogen headlights, turn signals mounted on the front fenders, rearview mirrors, and hood hinges have been replaced with genuine parts. The steel front bumper with integrated tow hook remains, true to the character of a vehicle born to conquer off-road terrain.
One of the interesting features of the Land Cruiser BJ40 is its design, which allows many parts such as the doors, roof, body, and hood to be disassembled, instead of the unibody construction of modern cars. The externally mounted door hinges are also a distinctive detail of this model.
The chassis has been restored, while the suspension still uses leaf springs on all four wheels. The owner replaced the shock absorbers with new Old Man Emu ones to improve off-road performance while maintaining the car's original structure.
The interior bears the hallmarks of a nearly 50-year-old model. Many details have been refreshed, with red leather on the dashboard, steering wheel, seats, and gear shift area, creating a contrast with the exterior paint. The car uses a large three-spoke steering wheel, manual windows, and lacks an entertainment system.
On the other hand, the car is still equipped with air conditioning and a four-wheel drive system with a selector switch offering four modes: H2, H4, L4, and N. A guide panel for using the different drive modes is still located near the passenger seat, a rare detail on classic cars.
According to Mr. Duc, the BJ40 still uses its original diesel engine, which has never been replaced and is running smoothly. The car uses a 3.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine, producing 80 horsepower and 191 Nm of torque, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel drive.
By current standards, this power output is quite modest, only suitable for moderate speeds and off-road driving rather than acceleration on highways. The 4-speed manual transmission also limits the gear ratio range, forcing the engine to maintain high RPMs at high speeds, resulting in higher noise levels and fuel consumption compared to modern models.
Furthermore, with its nearly 50-year-old diesel engine, the vehicle may be at a disadvantage under increasingly stringent emissions testing regulations, especially if black smoke appears due to poor fuel system or injectors.
The 1.5 billion VND price tag for the Land Cruiser BJ40 is considered quite high compared to other classic cars of the same class in Vietnam. On the market, some gasoline or diesel Land Cruiser J40s are offered for sale at prices ranging from approximately 300 million VND to over 1 billion VND, depending on the year of manufacture, original condition, and level of restoration.
With 1.5 billion VND, buyers also have many options for new cars such as the Toyota Fortuner Legender 4x4, Ford Everest Titanium+, Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, Mazda CX-80, or Kia Sorento Hybrid. These are all modern SUVs with many amenities, safety technologies , and better family-friendly capabilities.
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