HERE’S no denying the popularity of
Toyota’s Land Cruiser 70 range among
4x4 enthusiasts. The recent demise of
Land Rover’s Defender and Nissan’s GU
Patrol makes the 70’s position in the
market even more unique; it’s now one of
the few remaining real 4x4s you can still by, and is certainly the
toughest. Its do-it-all ability, along with its bellowing V8 diesel
engine, has won it many fans over its long history.
Yet the LC70 is far from perfect, and there are many points
that keep it off the shopping list of some potential buyers. It’s
a 35-year-old vehicle design, and with that age comes not only
its rugged and bush-worthy underpinnings, but also design
compromises in cabin ergonomics, features, safety and comfort.
Then there’s the fact that Toyota doesn’t offer the 70 with an
automatic transmission and hasn’t since the 1980s, which leaves
it off the radar of many older buyers and those who tow stuff.
The track width differential, which has the rear tyres
following the fronts on a different line thanks to the narrower
rear diff housing, causes all sorts of dramas with handling and
ability. And while the 4.5-litre V8 is pretty good, it’s softly tuned
and quite underpowered for its size and design, so tuners are
having a field day with it.
In fact, tuners, engineering shops and accessories
manufacturers are all going to town on the 70 Series, supplying
just about everything you could want for it, and many of these
mods go some way to rectifying the factory shortcomings. But
what if there was a one-stop shop that could transform your 70,
a workshop that could address some of the factory shortcomings
and take your 70 Series to a whole new level? We’re happy to
say there is such a place: Marks 4WD in Melbourne.
Marks 4WD has a history as long as the 70 itself, a history
of converting and transforming 4x4 vehicles into the more
powerful and capable vehicles off-road enthusiasts want.
Probably best-known for its V8 and V6 engine conversions in
popular 4x4s, Marks has gone on to develop portal axles for
Patrols and Land Cruisers, auto trans conversions for 70s, and a
host of other products to improve a swag of different vehicles.
This LC79 double-cab is a showcase of the upgrades and
products that Marks 4WD can do for the 70 Series ute, be it
the double-cab like this one or the farmers’ favourite single-
cab. It was built so the company could get Commonwealth
certification for the portal axle conversions – that includes
running on 35-inch tyres. With this approval, you can
now legally run the portals and 35s under your 79 in any
Australian state.What if there was a workshop that could address some
of the factory shortcomings and take your 70 Series to
a whole new level? There is: Marks 4WD in Melbourne
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