Land Cruiser 79 Series

If the 70 Series is Africa's workhorse, the 79 Double Cab is its most beloved form. Leaf springs front and rear, locking differentials as standard, and a 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel that pulls like a locomotive. In South Africa it's the vehicle of choice for farms, game reserves, construction sites, and expedition setups — a vehicle so right for this continent that Toyota has kept building it for four decades.

1. 1 The auto gearbox (post-2016) significantly improves daily driving — worth seeking out
2. 2 GX-R spec includes air conditioning and comfort features
3. 3 Load box condition is critical — check for rust in the floor and wheel arches
4. 4 Look at underbody — commercial use often means serious impacts
5. 5 Verify the canopy (if fitted) is properly sealed — after-market sealing varies widely

• Birfield joint wear on pre-2007 models
• Rust in load box floor on high-mileage commercial examples
• Timing chain stretch on 4.5L V8 with poor service history past 180,000 km
• Fuel injector issues on some earlier 4.5L units