At times, Toyota was seen as the largest 4x4 producer in the world. A continent of particular Land Cruiser presence is e.g. Australia, where it was tested the most. It is also the longest built Toyota vehicle.
Australia first export market
Whether it has now been directly inspired by Willys Jeep or an old Bantam, the Japanese army allegedly found in the Philippines in 1941 remains unclear. The basic form of 1951 is the same and of course lack the typical seven vertical openings for the cooling air. Instead, there are four to seven horizontal or later nine vertical.
Like its direct competitors it was sold together with increasing sales in many markets simultaneously produced there. Sometimes he also opened countries for the Toyota brand, for example, North America, where it was the only Toyota product temporarily. It started as a pure workhorse, became more luxurious, but not as much as its Jeep and Land Rover.
The Japanese industry does not doing well at that time. The Second World War is in the east later terminated as in Europe, ending with a tragedy for Japan. Toyota has produced for the military under whose supervision. While it was a well-paid manufacturing, but unfortunately very unproductive. Years it took, not only to compensate for this undesirable development, but introduce a particularly exemplary form of rationalization.
Shortly before the still hardly applicable bankruptcy the beginning of the American Korean War benefited. The Amercans decided not to order in USA produced trucks, but those from much more nearby. This and the growing attention of the Japanese government for the automotive industry turn the tide. The rate of truck production increased up to 94 percent.
Passenger cars are scarce goods in Japan. Most run as taxis. The government is trying partly without success to stop the import of foreign cars. The passagener car SF based on the truck chassis is acceptable to the taxi company not before extensive price reductions. Since its body even comes from several suppliers, of course, the construction of a Jeep is the easier option. 03/16