I caught this fire-engine red 1979 Land Cruiser a couple of weeks ago on a very productive day – it was shot on the same day as the Fiero and the Rekord. It looks like one of those little locomotives hauling visitor trains around studios in California, but since it’s negotiating slushy surroundings in Finland it’s had a less cushy life.

The patina on it is great, the paint is completely flat and on some parts it’s flaking, but I’d say it looks to be in rude health. I’ve documented a couple of Land Cruisers in my series of postings, but I think I like this the most.

This Toyota is powered by the three-litre B-series OHV diesel, putting out all of 80 horsepower. 141 lb ft/191Nm of torque is available from 2200rpm. The 40-series Land Cruiser entered production in 1960, so this ’79 example is one of the later ones in a production run that lasted all the way to 1984.

The snow on the roof is somehow fitting, as the roof underneath the snow is also white. The truck must’ve looked pretty snazzy when new, but always humble and earnest at the same time.

Under the truck are BFG All-Terrain T/A:s, which seem to be studless. Meanwhile, the spare is of a different set and looks like it’s best just hanging round the back and not mounted under the truck.

Round the back is where the paint flakes the most and where there’s rust to be found. It’s probably not too terminal, but it’s not a bad idea to try to catch it at this point. It won’t affect the way the Land Cruiser goes about town, and there are probably more important things to consider, but if the truck were mine I’d do something about it.

The patina extends to the 4 Wheel Drive badge, which looks great.

Winch and all, this short-wheelbase Toyota looks to be a jack-of-all-trades. It’s a throwback to another vintage, but successfully mingles amongst more everyday vehicles on a general store parking lot – funnily enough, when it was made it was supposed to be the most basic runaround around, and now it’s the most interesting thing on the yard.

Images: Copyright 2012 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen