1989 60 Series LandCruiser

Engine - 4L 12HT Turbo Diesel
Transmission - 5 Speed Manual H55F
Suspension - Stock
Tyres - 31x10.5 r15 Hankoon Dynapro mt2
Equipped For - Weekend Adventures

A 60 series is and always will be a dream come true for me. I picked her up during the great lockdowns of 2020. I was doing my usual search for a 60 series when this one popped up, a trade-in at a dealership, and just my luck, the dealership was less than 5 minutes from my house. I wasted no time getting down there for a test drive with my gloves and mask on. Straight away I knew I had to have it, so I made it happen and picked her up the following week.

To say I was hooked was an understatement. She was everything I had ever wanted her to be, and so much more! The old-school feel, the rattling, the outstanding comfort of a leaf-sprung vehicle… She was just perfect. I just love the sense of character you feel with these older vehicles. Very quickly she got a new set of 31-inch Hankook mt2's, some lovely steelies, and a safari snorkel and that was more than enough to keep a smile on my face. 

But sadly all good things do come to an end, and unluckily for me, it was my motor that came to an end. The old 2H clearly didn’t like the boost that had been pushed through it over the last 10 years and decided now was the time to die. So off the road she came, waiting for that perfect heart to be placed where it belonged. 

After 18 months of saving money and searching, I finally managed to find the dream engine I’d always wanted. With a suspected cracked head, she went off for a full rebuild. Placing a brand new, nicely painted, and very shiny engine into the old dirty 60 series is exactly what I wanted. 

She’s a whole new truck now, better than I ever imagined she'd be. The new rebulit12ht engine has breathed new life into the old girl and I couldn’t be happier about it. She takes me to places I’d only dreamt of going to without her. The first big trip was up the Macaully Valley, and that was truly amazing. The most basic plywood drawers in the back were all we needed to have one of the best weekends ever. Camping out under the stars in the middle of a gorgeous Tekapo valley was amazing to say the least. 

The 60 series has helped me in ways I never thought a truck could. I used to struggle to unwind and truly relax, but having the ability to just take myself off - whether it’s a quick trip up the river, or halfway down the country, deep into a valley - forces me to slow down. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of 9-5 life, into the vastness and loneliness of the natural world, brings a sense of perspective that grounds you, even after you return to the daily grind. It makes you realise how small we really are, and how small our stresses and problems really are. I think everyone should do it once in a while. I know I’ll be doing a lot more of it.

Photos and words by Sam Holden