1986 Toyota 60 Series LandCruiser
Engine - 12HT 4L Turbo Diesel
Transmission - Manual
Suspension - 2inch Lift
Equipped For - Daily
I first set eyes on my 60 a year before I bought it. It was parked in the same street as work, and it really caught my eye with its classic, iconic look, a style that’s stood the test of time. At the time, I was driving a 1991 GQ Patrol, and after chatting to some people at work, I found the owner, Jacko, who was on the same job. Jacko took me for a spin, and I couldn’t get over how cool it looked and how great it sounded. The 60 truly had a style and character of its own, and I was all for it.
A year and two Patrols later, the last one testing my patience, I decided I was ready to make the switch to the trusty Toyota. As luck would have it, Jacko and I ended up on another job together, and he mentioned he was selling the 60. We struck a deal, and I took it home. I knew I’d struck gold when I got a text from Dad saying, “Love the Tojo.” He never said anything about the Datsuns.
I spent the next year building a really nice rig and going on some great trips. I made friends with an old Italian panel beater, Ennio, who sorted out the fist-sized holes in the roof. The exhaust was next, then a lift kit, ARB bull bar, muddies, decals and a set of Raguna D-Force wheels. These were some of its first mods.
Around then, I had an F-150 that was nearly finished, and after a few big trips I knew the 60 needed a lot of TLC. So, I decided to sell it. After handing the keys over to a young bloke, I was full of regret and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I hoped to buy it back someday. Two years later, I got the message I’d been waiting for: “Hey mate, looking to sell the 60, do you want to buy it back?” A bit of back and forth and a test drive later, it was sitting out the front of my house – she was back!
I was stoked, but it was in a terrible state mechanically and an eyesore to look at. I told myself I’d never let it out of my hands again. I decided to put in the work and build it the way I’d always dreamt of. With a trip to Cape York planned, I had the perfect excuse to set myself a deadline and fit out the car.
You name it, it needed replacing. I pulled the tired 12HT out and had it stripped and sent off for machining. Then I cleaned all the parts that were going to be powder coated, vapour blasted, zinc plated or ceramic coated. I spent the better part of two days on a wire wheel stripping every bolt, plus all the diesel lines in the engine bay, ready for zinc plating.
I spent the next three months and every pay cheque sourcing and buying parts. A huge thank you to a great mate, Daniel Dietrich at Technical Sports Corner. He supplied the majority of the parts under the bonnet and around the car, along with a lot of knowledge that really helped take this build to the next level. The 60 also got the whole Whistle’n’Soot catalogue and a Munro high-flow CT26 turbo. I rebuilt the swivel hubs and the entire braking system, went through the fuel system and installed all-new steering components. The fit-out didn’t stop there. Inside, the original “turbo” seats were re-foamed, and I added a woodgrain Nardi steering wheel, a new sound system and my favourite addition, the Sausage and Egg McMuffin gear knob.
After months of hard work, plenty of ups and downs, and every spare minute outside work spent piecing it back together, hearing the 12HT come to life was the best and most satisfying feeling. It was a nerve-wracking moment, but it couldn’t have gone better. The excitement was real. The first drive was surreal: plenty of power, but super floaty in the steering.
The paint was looking a little worse for wear, so I spent three days at home on a closed-door respray. Then, for the perfect finishing touch to set it apart, I sent it to Al Brajic, who laid down all the retro-style pinstriping you see on the car.
The 60 never let me down. She chugged along like a dream on the Cape trip, and once drove me two hours north with a cooked alternator and a flat battery after some deep saltwater crossings.
This build was an absolute labour of love. Cars are something I constantly think about, and building this 60 was something I’d always dreamt of but never thought I could pull off. To this day, it doesn’t feel real to have such a revered classic as my daily. I couldn’t have done it without the help and input of some great mates, whose belief and confidence in what I was doing helped me get the car to where it is today. You’d better believe I’ll never sell her again.
Photos by Joel Seeto
Words by Ned Nowlan-Full