This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week.

This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week.

      Mecum Auctions

      The latest in car news and reviews, straight to the point.

      Our free daily newsletter delivers the important stories to your inbox every weekday.

      The 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is a fantastic off-roader that is both dependable and practical; however, for prospective buyers, this is no secret. Like its earlier counterparts, the 80-Series is transitioning from used vehicle status to collectible. Finding well-kept examples that haven’t been greatly abused or excessively modified is becoming more difficult, and the prices for the top models are on the rise.

      Not long ago, it would have seemed unlikely to see an 80-Series Land Cruiser at a Monterey Car Week auction. These events typically feature supercars, rare muscle cars, and vintage racing machines that one might transport to Laguna Seca for the Monterey Historics. Yet this year, Mecum has a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser in understated Super White in its catalog. It is completely original and equipped with the 1FZ-FE 4.5-liter inline-six engine, producing 212 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive featuring low range and a locking center differential.

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      This may very well be the finest 80-Series Land Cruiser currently available. The listing states it has only 4,700 miles and remains unrestored, which is astonishing given the accompanying photos. There are no signs of wear or rust, the Oak leather upholstery retains its original texture, and even the markings on frequently used controls, such as the seat adjuster, remain clear. Additionally, it features the gold badging package, as would be expected for a Toyota from the 1990s.

      If this specific Land Cruiser looks recognizable, it's likely because you frequently browse online car listings. It appears to be the same vehicle that fetched an astounding $170,000 on Bring a Trailer in 2024. It was previously sold for $165,000 on BaT in 2023, but the buyer did not complete the transaction, leading to a relisting.

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      Mecum Auctions

      That selling price was a rare occurrence, but it might not be for too long. As of this writing, just five other 80-Series Land Cruisers have surpassed the $100K mark on BaT, out of a total of 808 listings. One of those was an Icon-modified version, which likely boosted its price, while a sixth received a highest bid of $115,000 but did not sell. All of these listings occurred within the past five years.

      Earlier this year, a similarly pristine 1996 Toyota 4Runner set a new standard at another Mecum auction. The 6,951-mile 4Runner SR5 sold for $52,800, significantly exceeding the auction house's expectations and more than double the typical price for 4Runners of that era in decent condition. This trend reflects the natural evolution in the market. As these SUVs age and face wear and tear, along with new generations of enthusiasts redefining what constitutes a “classic” car, higher prices are unavoidable.

This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week. This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week.

Other articles

Hear a former CAT engineer discuss the advantages of inline-sixes over V8s for demanding tasks. Hear a former CAT engineer discuss the advantages of inline-sixes over V8s for demanding tasks. Jim Coles spent 40 years as a Caterpillar engineer and selling Peterbilts, so it’s reasonable to conclude that he has considerable knowledge about diesels. Is your car able to fit in your garage? Is your car able to fit in your garage? Garages are getting smaller, particularly near major urban areas. Is it even possible to park your personal vehicle inside one? Audi F1 drivers are impressed by the Nuvolari supercar. Audi F1 drivers are impressed by the Nuvolari supercar. The Audi press service presented a documentary film dedicated to the development and testing process of the supercar named after the legendary Italian racer Tazio Nuvolari... Science about what struck him when he joined Ferrari Science about what struck him when he joined Ferrari In Formula 1, everyone spies on each other, this is a well-known fact, but even the drivers are not always aware of how detailed the information about their rivals is that the teams possess... Lawson: It's hard to talk about any expectations in F1. Lawson: It's hard to talk about any expectations in F1. Speaking about the tasks for the second half of the championship, in an interview with the official championship website, Liam Lawson stated that his main goal is to consistently finish in the top ten... Enjoy discounts of up to 50% on highly practical Dremel tools in this summer sale! Enjoy discounts of up to 50% on highly practical Dremel tools in this summer sale! Dremel currently offers excellent discounts on very handy tools.

This 80-Series Toyota Land Cruiser is set to fetch a high price at Monterey Car Week.

It might seem modest, but this standard Land Cruiser is already classified as a six-figure vehicle.