1985 Bundera Landcruiser

Engine - 2.8L Turbo Diesel
Transmission - R151F - 5 Speed Manual
Suspension - 2.5 Inch Lift
Tyres - 285/75/26 BGF KM3
Equipped for - Touring & Off-roading

For awhile now we have been eyeing off Elton King’s tastefully modified Toyota Landcrusier Bundera. After a bit of digging around we found out that Elton was actually mates with one of our favourite contributors Brook James, so we tee’d up Brook to take a few shots on their next adventure. We also asked Elton a few questions about his Bundy.

“85 Toyota LJ70 ‘Bundera’ – now running a 2.8L turbo diesel and 5sp (R151F) manual.”

Why did you pick the Bundy? I know they are super rare and demand high prices!

I had an old 75 series single cab which was great, but it was leaf sprung all round making it super rough on the road and it would always get hung up on the leaves off road. It was also way too big to drive around the city and my girlfriend refused to drive it. Ended up moving it on to get something smaller - picking up a coil-sprung SWB was our ‘compromise’ – I think it’s been the best decision I’ve made in a while to be honest.

How did you come across this particular Bundera?

I actually had another Bundy at the time – a RJ70 (Petrol – 2.4L Carby) – when this one popped up. I had jumped on the RJ after selling my HJ75 as the old Bundy’s don’t pop up all too often. This LJ was in Tamworth (NSW) and the guy was asking a pretty reasonable price – factory 2.4L turbo diesel, pretty straight etc, a few kms on it but most importantly it was a dry inland car with no rust. I spoke to the bloke on the phone, and a week later it was on a truck and on its way down to Melbourne. I had two Bundy’s for a little while until I moved on the RJ.

We know you are pretty handy with the old spanner, what have you done with it since owning it?

I always do all the work myself on my cars – I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing as I always seem to be working on them! I just finished up putting a new engine in a 2.8 out of a LN106 Hilux. They’re originally a NA motor so it was actually my first time turboing an engine, but I’m pretty stoked with the result. As always, no matter how much research you do, there’s always things that you didn’t account for or didn’t realise needed to be done until you’re lying there under the car with the gearbox hanging out, oil dripping on you from god knows where while you’re fumbling around trying to find your 10mm. In the end you figure it out and push on, but there’s always hurdles. I’ve finally been able to button up all the leaks and get all my gauges working – plenty of late nights! I made the whole exhaust myself which I’m pretty stoked with – it was my first time welding, and all in all I think I did great.

The rear drawer set-up I got off a bloke who had them in a new FJ cruiser. They’ve been made really well, powder-coated alloy all tigged together and whatnot. The only downside to the SWB is space really is a premium, so the drawers are a great way to make sure everything has its spot. It works fine for when my girlfriend and I go away as we usually just go for a weekend, anything longer might be a stretch though.

No doubt you like to get out in it, camping and motorbike hauling?

It’s my daily driver, but yeah camping on the weekends with the ability to hit some tracks too. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it when 4wdriving though, it really doesn’t take much to get on some pretty sketchy angles and get your cheeks clenching because of the short wheelbase. We’re heading out this weekend with some mates to Toolangi which is always a bit of (muddy) fun and other than that a lot of camping in the high country! We had a big trip planned to Robe over Easter but that fell through because of COVID19 – will be keen to pick that up again sometime later when everything opens back up.

We’ve been taking the motorbikes out more as the guys are getting sick of breaking things, the little Bundy’s a tank though – on our last trip it made it home with a split lower rad hose, absolutely pissing coolant and didn’t complain at all. I’ve flat-towed friend’s Land Rovers and Range Rovers after they’ve broken down on tracks (once about 100kms) and the Bundy’s never missed a beat – I don’t think you I could ever go away from owning a Toyota now, they’re bulletproof.