Land Cruiser BJ Series

LAND CRUISER BJ SERIES
Specifications Engine	When the forerunner of the Toyota Land Cruiser first appeared in 1951, no-one could have imagined that they were witnessing the beginning of tradition that would span more than half a century. In July of that year, test driver Ichiro Taira ended his test of the Toyota BJ with a flourish. Inspired by the Samurai Heikuro Magaki who climbed the steps of Mt. Atago on horseback in 1634, Taira rode his BJ up the steps to the Fudo temple in Okasaki city. This feat convincingly demonstrated the value of the new vehicle. The following month, the Toyota Jeep BJ was one of 26 Toyota vehicles unveiled at a public showing in front of the Tokyo Railway Station. The BJ was considered unusual to say the least - it matched a robust 3-ton truck engine with a chassis from a small transport vehicle/passenger car. In reality, those were the only materials Toyota had to work with. But the combination worked. The smaller v ehicle's softer suspension and car-like characteristics reduced driver fatigue and ensured a comfortable ride. Add an ample sized body used for transporting materials, driven by an engine with power to spare, and the BJ met multiple needs in the market for a compact 4 x 4 vehicle. Then history took a surprising turn. What might have been a debilitating setback was instead the catalyst for unanticipated advances. The Police Defense Forces, for whom the vehicle was originally designed, decided against purchasing the BJ. This stimulated development of an export strategy, which gave Toyota's engineers considerably more freedom in design and development. With its large piston displacement, longer wheelbase, larger body, and softer suspension, the BJ was well-suited to the dawning new age of the 4 x 4. By the time large-scale production began in 1953, the Toyota Jeep BJ was looking confidently into its future -- the overseas markets. In fact, an English competitor - the Land Rover -- prompte d Hanji Umehara, then Toyota's Managing Director, to rename the BJ. He needed a name that sounded no less dignified, and so the Land Cruiser was born.