Highlights
- Very rare ‘medium wheelbase’ BJ44 built for only a few years
- Right-hand drive Japanese market hard top
- Finished in white with black fabric cabin
- Durable 3.2L diesel 4cyl engine
- Always garaged since arriving in UK
The Appeal
The heavy-duty J40 spawned a bewildering array of models and engine configurations, but perhaps the rarest is this one - the ‘medium wheelbase’ BJ44. Built for only a few years in the early 1980s, it added 17 inches to the standard BJ40 length to give buyers a very practical station wagon that is more agile and manoeuvrable than the full long-wheelbase model.
This 1981 BJ44 began its life in Japan before arriving in the UK in 2022 via Kashmir. Repainted at some point in its life in white, it is in good general order and looks very usable.
The vendor acquired it in 2022, a couple of months after it arrived in the UK, and says that he has always garaged it. We are told it is factory standard, being fitted with the highly regarded, virtually bulletproof 3.2L 4cyl diesel Toyota ‘2B’ engine.
The classic 80s Land Cruiser offers something a rare and arguably more civilised than its home market rival. This one looks ready to use, with scope to improve if you fancy showing it.
The vendor says:
“Utilitarian to drive, has been driven by ladies in the family who thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Only used lightly off road and does its job well.
“Has 4 matching tyres in good condition and a spare which will need replacing.
This very rare and desirable vehicle causes great interest wherever it goes.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered 1981
- First UK registered January 2022
- Two UK keepers
- Current keeper since April 2022
- Originally registered in Japan
- Comes with what we are told is a ‘Kashmiri Passport’
- Right-hand drive Japanese market hard top
- Garaged by currentkeeper
- Very lightly used due to the owner's health circumstances
- Service history unknown
- V5C as shown
- VIN number BJ4402891
The Condition
- Repainted at some point in white which remains in fair condition
- Paintwork shows a few marks typical of a working vehicle
- Body and chassis are solid and in good overall condition
- A few points to note to panelwork and chassis with light surface rust in places
- Sits on alloy wheels in fair condition with all terrain tyres
- Black fabric front seats and rear bench seats in reasonable condition
- Currently used as a two-seater
- Seats appear to have been recovered
- Bench seat included with the car
- Original air conditioning fitted
- Temperature gauge not working we are told
- Other controls are functioning properly says the seller
- Four matching tyres in fair condition as shown
- Spare tyre needs replacing, we are told
The Mechanics
- 3,168cc ‘2B’ Toyota diesel 4-cylinder engine
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Engine starts and runs without issue, we are told
- Vendor reports that vehicle has factory factory-standard engine
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