1997 Land Cruiser Prado 3.4 V6

ptional OEM rear spoiler, hardshell tire cover, chrome mirror caps, factory sunroof deflector and OEM rainguards round off the aesthetic. Period-correct WEDS adventure wheels look slick on all four corners, and save for a noted replacement of the core support it’s hard to critique the 29 year old cosmetics. Best of all, this V6 Prado sports a verified and documented 106k miles on the clock, making it an appealing proposition against any USDM SUV. Unique, stylish, and extraordinarily easy to service, this Japanese Classic is an underrated gem, and a trusty Toyota deserving of our stamp of approval! The interior has a lot going for it. The 3rd row seating is a big draw, but the increased head and legroom are worth their weight in gold, too. It’s also packed with power amenities, useful and reliable equipment, and the grey cloth upholstery shows nary a stain or tear which is a clear indicator this rig was well cared for in a prior life. The middle and rear rows are versatile. You can flip the middle bench forward, and fold the rear jump seats off to the side to expand the cargo hold. Up front, a woodgrain MOMO steering wheel classes up the experience for the pilot and a passenger SRS airbag is up front for added peace of mind. The center stack is easy to navigate, and automatic climate control works like a charm. A new BOSS audio headunit is ripe and ready with Bluetooth functionality, and the trim surrounding the switchgear has yet to succumb to unwanted cracks or fading. Accessible and primed for daily use, a full slate of power windows, locks, and power folding mirrors work as expected, in true Toyota fashion. The headliner is tight and tidy, too, and surrounds an optional power moonroof which works like a charm. The multicolored carpeted mats steal the show, and to sweeten the deal even more, we’ve included the original owner’s manual and maintenance booklets. Apart from a few adhesive spots on the dash, it’s hard to critique this cabin as a whole, and it was clearly cared for well in the motherland! Under the hood is a familiar sight for any domestic Toyota enthusiast. The 5VZ is the same lovable 3.4 V6 powering our stateside 4Runners, which means this Prado is easily serviced with all the same parts. It’s fresh off an oil and filter service here at the shop, where we performed some additional maintenance to get it ripe and ready for the road ahead. A new 12v battery was tossed in to aid ignition, and we replaced the tired old engine air filter and fuel filter with brand new units. New valve cover gaskets were installed alongside new cam plugs, and this V6 doesn’t sweat a drop! We also chucked in new intake manifold gaskets, a set of six new spark plugs, and an aftermarket Kakimoto muffler makes this 3.4 purr like a kitten. This Prado soars to highway speeds with ease, and an automatic transmission makes quick work of putting that power to all four wheels. For real-deal offroad types, a center locker and low range are on hand, and we flushed in some new transmission fluid to keep things in tip-top shape. The suspension insulates the cabin nicely and gobbles up road imperfections with ease, and we replaced a few normal wear items to help it ace state safety inspection. New front lower control arms and lower ball joints were installed, as well as new front swaybar links. We also replaced the lower shock bushings in the rear. Easy to maneuver, the power steering benefits from a full rack rebuild we tackled in-house. After installing new seals, the rack was reassembled with new inner and outer tie rods, rack boots, and bushings. The ABS brakes grab with confidence and we wrapped the WEDS alloys in fresh Falken rubber. Stylish and clean, this truck makes a statement, and with the new rubber you’ll be set for tens of thousands of miles of unencumbered cruising!