If Toyota’s legendarily indestructible Land Cruiser isn’t tough enough for you, PVS Automotive of Sydney Australia have come up with this ready for anything solution. Using a full kit of parts from specialist Chinese modifiers Urnieta, the Land Cruiser obsessives at PVS have added just about all that you’ll need to survive and thrive in the desert to a Land Cruiser 79 series. And yes, that means there’s a V8 under that tough snout.
There are those who say that today’s Land Cruisers with all of their creature comforts and emissions friendly power units have gone a bit soft. Nice for a tough look on urban streets and the odd bit of demure off roading, but soft nevertheless. That can’t be said of the Land Cruiser 70 series - of which this, the double cab version so that you can take friends and a hound or two - is an exemplary example. At PVS Automotive HQ they take a 70 series and give it the upgrades that they think it always should have had. So let’s start with that new head on look that lesser vehicles will see in their rear view mirror.
Right at the top there’s the dazzle from a six strong assembly of KC Hi-Lites, the go-to brand for off-roaders, because where you’re going there’s no ambient light at all to rely on. Bull bars are from Urnieta - as we’ve said they’ve supplied the bulk of the add-ons here - and they’re in SUS430 stainless and aluminum magnesium alloy. Rocks and stones hold no fear for this Land Cruiser. There’s a front mounted winch to pull yourself, or others, out of trouble.
Built for utility
Full roof platform mounted to the top of the cab allows for panoramic views and a rack to lash your steamer trunks to. Side steps and skid plates are in the same alloy as the bull bars. Rugged wheels are forged, equipped with off-road tyres, the better to get the diesel V8’s power deployed effectively. Interior is largely untouched bar a PVS branded steering wheel and their latest Mk 4 head unit for satnav and stereo. Though we’d point out that at night navigating by stars might be easier given the lack of available reliable wi-fi in the average desert.
Ready to buckle up for that road to nowhere? We’d have Talking Heads loud on the PVS stereo naturally. And possibly bolt a coolbox to that roof rack for ice cold sundowners in a place where no one goes or has been before. Bliss. It all comes at a price and while PVS Automotive aren’t saying what this Land Cruiser 79 will cost complete with Urnieta’s formidable protection kit of parts, previous builds have hit the £150,000 mark. That’s a lot until you need to escape, well everything.
