Land Cruiser BJ Series

LAND CRUISER 60 SERIES
	In 1976, chief engineer Hiroshi Ohsawa began planning for the next generation of the 50-series Land Cruiser. In order to compete in the US market, something more was needed beyond what the FJ55V had to offer: it had to have a larger body, feel closer to an estate car, include more luxurious touches in the interior, and offer a more comfortable ride. The problem was what to do with the suspension. Mr. Ohsawa considered an independent suspension, however this idea was rejected in favour of the existing rigid leaf springs of the FJ55V to ensure that the Land Cruiser lived up to its off-road reputation. Another reason for developing the 60-series was to create a model that was less likely to roll. This was because in the Middle East, people would load the roof high making it top-heavy and then drive on dirt roads at speeds of more than 100km/h. Investigation revealed that they were often carrying petrol cans, not surprising considering that petrol stations were few and far between in the desert. This new series featured a wider tread to cope with the top-heaviness by providing more stability when cornering, and was sized closer to the global standard for a station wagon. Exports soared. The 60-series was also quite popular domestically - demand in Japan had increased for a long model diesel-powered vehicle that was inexpensive to maintain, and the 60-series filled the bill. In addition to the 2F-type petrol engines in the FJ60 and the BJ60, a 3,431cc B-type diesel engine was added. In October of 1982, the new HJ60 appeared. Not only did it have a larger engine (a 6-cylinder diesel), it came with a high roof, a 5-speed transmission, electric moon roof, remote control mirrors and other luxury features. The FJ and the BJ evolved from the 60 to the 61-series, and a luxury model similar to the HJ was added to the BJ 61. Land Cruiser gained its first ever class designation, the GX, to distinguish it from the standard model. A look back over the development of the 60-series, reveals how it started as a utility vehicle and evolved into a passenger car. In particular, with the debut of the competing Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero) in 1982, the subsequent appearance of high-roof cars, and the addition of luxury items such as A/T and turbo, minor changes were introduced annually. This development became the basis for the 80-series and the 100-series.