Land Cruiser HZJ70: From dream build to Auto Salon winner

EVERY car enthusiast has a particular model that captures their passion. Whether it’s old-school Corollas, 90s Civics, European cars, or others, everyone has their preference. For Gerald Lim, it has always been the Toyota Land Cruiser. Growing up in a community of Land Cruiser enthusiasts, with his father, George Lim as one of the founding members of the prestigious Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines, Gerald’s affinity for these vehicles runs deep.

Over the years, Gerald has owned various models and generations of the Toyota Land Cruiser, representing each iteration in his garage at different times. However, his ultimate Land Cruiser dream project has consistently been the two-door, short-wheelbase Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series.

Earlier this year, Gerald seized the opportunity to bring his dream to life by acquiring a rare JDM Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ70 hardtop. This specific variant stood out due to its rarity and unique features, including the bulletproof 4.2-liter 1HZ six-cylinder diesel engine paired with a highly sought-after manual transmission, straight from the factory. Recognizing the chance to turn his dream into reality, Gerald committed to making this build nothing short of perfect.

Entrusting his LC70 to the skilled hands of Dr. G’s Garage for a resto-mod build — a meticulous blend of proper restoration and carefully chosen aftermarket upgrades — Gerald embarked on the journey. Parts for the build were meticulously sourced, with some even coming from overseas, like the door visors that arrived just days before the car show. Notably, these parts were not ordinary surplus; they were new old stock, many of which Toyota had long discontinued. According to Lim, the build concluded with an impressive 95-percent of brand-new original Toyota parts, including window rubber trims and full exhaust pipings, all sourced in sealed, brand-new condition — an exemplar of dedication in parts-sourcing.

The restoration process involved converting the right-hand drive (RHD) to left-hand drive (LHD), a modification initially done to the Japanese unit. To ensure no traces of RHD remained, Gerald sourced an LHD firewall and floor, seamlessly integrating them into the body. The entire vehicle underwent a thorough disassembly, with the body detached from the ladder frame. A flawless paint job transformed the now full LHD body, finished in Gray Metallic, following the factory 1A6 color code on the VIN tag.

Gerald prioritized top-notch off-road capabilities for his HZJ70, implementing upgrades such as an ARB steel bumper housing a Warn winch. Lighting duties were handled by a pair of KC Daylighters and Stedi LED headlight units, cleverly retrofitted into the brand-new old stock HZJ70 front grille.

A 2.5-inch lift, courtesy of a full set of Dobinsons leaf springs and shocks combo, gave Gerald’s LC70 the desired tall and thin stance. Rolling on a set of five 4×4 Engineering Bradley Vs wrapped in 255/85/16 BF Goodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires, the vehicle was equipped for any off-road adventure.

The interior featured a pair of Recaro sport seats seamlessly integrated with new old stock door cards and rear seat fabric patterns. In-car entertainment was handled by a modern Pioneer double-din touchscreen infotainment system driving music to a full JBL sound system.

The result was a masterpiece that impressed both Gerald and Dr. G’s Garage to the point that they decided to showcase it at the 2023 Manila Auto Salon – Sport Truck Show. The judges at the show affirmed the excellence of Gerald’s project as his Land Cruiser HZJ70 not only claimed the Best 2-door SUV award but also secured the major honor of being the Best of Show – SUV category, surpassing several other top-quality builds. From being a dream car found dusted in a barn, this Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ70 transformed into a stunning car show winner — a realization of every project car owner’s aspiration.