Thought the Land Cruiser was the King of Toyota off-roaders? Think again. That title actually belongs to the car you see here, the ultra-rare Toyota Mega Cruiser. Built between 1995 and 2001, the Mega Cruiser was designed for the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF). Internally coded the BXD10 and called the High Mobility Infantry Transport Vehicle, approximately 3,000 military examples were built. In 1996, Toyota followed AM General’s lead with the Humvee and built a civilian version, internally coded BXD20. Priced at ten million yen—approximately the same as a Honda NSX at the time and 25% more than the Hummer—only 133 examples were built, making the BXD20 one of the rarest production Toyota models ever made, much rarer even than the also military-derived Lamborghini LM002. The example presented here is rarer still, being one of only twelve converted left-hand drive examples in the world.

Specified with a centre, two-speed electronically locking differential, front and rear Torsen limited slip differentials with electronic locking, portal axles, torque converter lock-up control, inboard ventilated brakes, 37 inch tires, 16.5 inches of ground clearance and hydraulic rear wheel steering which cut the turning radius to 18.2 feet—more than 7 feet tighter than the Hummer—the Mega Cruiser is one of the most capable factory off-roaders ever built.

Measuring 85 inches wide and 200 inches long, it is 16 inches longer than the H1 Hummer wagon with a 4 inch longer wheelbase. Despite its larger footprint, at 6,283 pounds the vehicle weighs 1500lbs less than the Hummer, thanks in large part to a smaller engine: a 4.1-liter intercooled turbodiesel inline-four “15B-FT” rated at 155 horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque that was shared with Toyota’s heavy trucks and buses from period.

It is highly unlikely Toyota will ever build an off-roader like the Mega Cruiser again. It was intended to test designs that would eventually make their way in to mass-produced Toyota SUVs and with the heavy vehicle taxes and narrow streets in Japan, it is a wonder that this civilian version ever saw the light of day.

Chassis BXD20-0001044 was built and first registered in Japan in June 1996. It spent the first twelve years and 43,000km of its life with its first owner in Himeji, Japan. The next fourteen years and 35,000 km were spent in Russia. In January 2022, the car was purchased by the current owner, less than a month before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the chaos that followed, the car disappeared. A year later, after exhaustive effort it was located, secured and transported to the United States, where it received a comprehensive refresh, detail and service at both Colbern’s Detailing in Ventura, CA and Corsetti Cruisers in Gardena, CA. The total invoices exceeded $30,000 and included a rebuilt differential, replaced muffler components, re-powder-coated roof cargo basket and ammo boxes, new rear brake calipers, rotors and pads, replaced front tie rods and factory exhaust, oil and filter service, dry-ice cleaning and waxing of the underside, window tint removal and a new battery.

This holy grail of Toyota off-roaders is now fully US legal, road-registered with a clean MT title and ready to be enjoyed by her next owner.

https://media.toyota.co.uk/toyota-mega-cruiser-the-daddy-of-suvs-celebrates-25-years/