Everything wasn’t better in the past, though some things lasted longer. For example, car models: It was not uncommon for generations of skilled workers to screw together almost identical sheet metal for decades. Nearly over: Today, manufacturers can no longer simply continue to build a car like the Citroën 2CV (41 years) or the VW Beetle (65 years).
The environment and safety requirements change too quickly, as do customers’ demands. Nevertheless, they still exist: cars that continue to be built somewhere in the world even after decades. And in one case, we didn’t have to travel far for our nostalgia trip around the world: one of the endurance burners comes from Western Europe.
In the last few years, we have lost a few endurance burners. For the first time in 40 years, Mercedes unveiled a new G Class model in 2018, while Suzuki brought a new Jimny after 20 years. And Land Rover is dropping the Defender, and Lada is developing a successor to the Niva/4×4 (since 1976). Others models are still fresh off the production line. In the following, we will take a look at some of the oldest cars which are still being produced somewhere in the world!
Some designs cannot be improved. So, the Toyota Land Cruiser J70, even after 36 years of production, continues to be the vehicle of choice in many parts of the world when all official roads end. “All the power you need,” reads the advertising slogan in Venezuela – which is where the model rolls off the production line for the American markets. It is tough, the large Toyota off-roader. This is its main selling point, even in markets like Nigeria or Cameroon. If it breaks down, even the village blacksmith can often repair it.
For Africa, the production of the J70 with its distinctive, optionally available air intake snorkel on the A-pillar takes place in Portugal. Most markets are powered by a 4.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine with 239 hp (depending on configuration). Of course, it doesn’t have a turbo but variable valve timing. For safety, there is ABS, twin airbags and three-point seat belts. By the way: for the 30th model anniversary in 2014, J70 is even experiencing a one-year revival in its home country of Japan as a pickup and van.
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