logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 1m

Toyota Land Cruiser's Complicated Past —...

Hagerty Media
About this episode

Land Cruiser is one of Toyota’s – and, arguably, the world’s – most haloed marques. In this episode, Jason and Derek discuss its origins and history from its jeep origins, to its enormous family tree, all the way up to the brand new 250-series models, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX550.


Jason and the Hagerty crew traveled to the rugged, mountainous outskirts of Salt Lake City (and the nearby Land Cruiser Heritage Museum) to film an ICONS episode on the illustrious off-roading Toyota. And in this episode, the carmudgeons dive into the origins of the Japanese jeep and its Attila-grade family tree of subsequent series: the 20-series Land Cruiser and then the, 40, 55, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200, 250, and 300, just to name a few! 


The FJs, BJs, the Iron Pig, heavy duties, station wagons, Prados, the Lexus-badged models like the LX600 and GX550 (Motor 1’s SUV of the year!). We’ll even cover the Land Cruiser’s competition along the way: the Jeep Wrangler, Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer; the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover, Velar, Discovery and Evoque; even the Ford Bronco and International Scout. 


In addition to the WWII Willys Jeep 4x4, we’ll cover the origin of the “J” in BJ and FJ – an abbreviation for jeep, which itself many believe is a pseudo-acronym for GP or “general purpose,” but a fact-check says otherwise. Even the Land Cruiser name itself was a tweaked version of the Land Rover moniker to make Rando-kurūzā in Japan.  


Jason also reviews both of the new 250-series Prado trucks: the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2024 Lexus GX550. We'll talk powertrain, styling, cargo and passenger capacity, comfort, handling, NVH, luxury, and more. 


Now let’s get to it!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Aug 25
The Alpine A110 isn't a French Lotus; it’s a Mini McLaren — Carmudgeon Show Cammisa & DTS — Ep. 202
A French forbidden fruit enters the studio on this week's episode - none other than the Alpine A110. But hang on...how did this non-25-year-old import end up on US soil? And WHY is it here? === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Manufac ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 18
Car Week Kickoff At Motorlux — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 201
Jason and Derek escape the studio this week to record from Hagerty's Motorlux event, the kickoff to Monterey Car Week 2025. We join them at this year's highlighted Bruno Sacco display, featuring designs that defined Mercedes-Benz in the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. The legacy of Sacco ... Show More
37m 51s
Aug 11
Go Rallying With Your Friends — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 200
In celebration of 200 episodes of The Carmudgeon Show, Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam Hyphen Scott debrief their recent weekend-long Pacific Coast Rally with friends. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Indecisive between his BMW 850CSi ... Show More
55m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Into the Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser returns as a more affordable SUV, Tony and Eddie take it off-roading to find out if it lives up to the Land Cruiser name. For more on the Toyota Land Cruiser visit Car and Driver online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
39m 26s
Apr 2025
Land Rover's Rugged Beginnings
A British motoring icon made its debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30th April, 1948: the Land Rover. The UK’s first off-road vehicle (that wasn’t a tractor!) had been sketched in sand by its creator, Maurice Wilks. Heavily inspired by the American Willys Jeep, the first Land R ... Show More
12m 10s
Apr 2024
New Toyota Land Cruiser VS Scottish Highlands
The new Land Cruiser is like every other Land Cruiser - pretty much indestructible off-road. This new one adds something alien into the mix, though, it’s desirable too with its retrotastic exterior. Ollie Marriage spent a weekend with one in the Scottish Highlands and reports bac ... Show More
35m 9s
Nov 2024
🚙 Jeep: The Car That Saved The World | 4
The Jeep isn’t just a car, it’s a cult: inspiring clubs, meetups, even its own “Jeep Wave.” From cameos in M*A*S*H to Mean Girls, the Jeep’s been ranked the most patriotic brand in America for 20-straight years (sorry, Coke). But did you know that Jeep actually started as a group ... Show More
41m 42s
Jul 26
Cruise control or driver error?
26 Jul 2025. Damien Reid and Naz Chaudry unpack the week’s car news - from cruise control crash claims to a 1,200km EV. Plus, Damien reviews Toyota’s hybrid Land Cruiser and Lexus LX700h. And Alan Boyter returns with his Dubai Ducati, chasing a land speed world record.See omnystu ... Show More
54m 30s
Nov 2019
FPP063 - A-5 Vigilante
There may be no more enigmatic naval aircraft than the North American A-5 Vigilante. Originally designed to be a carrier-based strategic nuclear bomber, it served primarily as an unarmed reconnaissance asset, substituting its nuclear rear-loaded payload for extra fuel tanks and c ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
953: The Last-Mile Solution, Jacked Up Hatchbacks, Driving Down Stairwells
The Type 00 from Jaguar has been revealed! The guys don’t usually go in-depth about concept cars, but when was the last time a car company changed itself so dramatically? They debate sporty commuters for Tom in Dallas, a Jeep Scrambler owner who believes life is too short to driv ... Show More
50m 34s
Aug 12
Top 5 Sports Cars Under $50K, The First Sports Car, The Aging Fleet | Episode 1,007
The guys start a new ‘recommendation’ series about the top cars, trucks and SUVs they would buy. This episode begins with sports cars, and they each name and discuss the reasons for their top 5. They also debate first sports cars for Michael in LA, who has finally decided it’s ti ... Show More
1h 51m
May 23
The Downfall of Nissan is Here! New Apple CarPlay is Bad? Best Investment Cars?
Have a question you want answered on the podcast next week? Ask HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://crsnbds.com/PODQUESTIONS ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank You To Our Sponsors! Ava - https://www.meetava.com Code- CARPOD, you’ll get your first month FREE! https://AmericanFinancing.net/Doug Disclaimer:NMLS 182334, nmls ... Show More
1h 24m