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If something about this 70 Series LandCruiser looks a bit off to you, you’re not alone.
If what you’re looking at here looks a bit awkward or warped out of shape, that’s because this 70 Series isn’t a LandCruiser at all.
While the 70 Series has a reputation for being the workhorse of choice for tough jobs in Australia, hard graft in Japan is often handled by something very different.
While it’s possible to spot a LandCruiser on Japanese roads, you’re far more likely to encounter a small wagon, known as the Toyota Probox, albeit it very different work roles.
The unusual creation you see here is based on a Probox body, with a LandCruiser-style front end grafted on.
Called the 70 Box, this unusual little tribute to the iconic 70 Series gets the latest front-end styling from the 70 Series, with a new grille, bumper, headlights, high-profile bonnet, outboard front indicators, and unique front guards.
What looks like LandCruiser badging on the front guards is actually replaced with logos that read ‘70YO.70 Destroyer‘.
At the rear, the Probox’s regular outboard tail-lights get covered, swapped out for a set of bumper-mounted lights, in a chunky 70 Series-styled bumper.
Everything else is more or less as you’ll find on a regular Probox, including the 1.5-litre petrol and hybrid engines, shared with overseas versions of the previous-generation Yaris, CVT automatic, and front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.
The conversion kit comes from specialist Probox customiser, Hakovanya, in Japan.
Alongside the body mods, the 70 Box is available with 14-inch alloy wheels or steel wheels with chrome covers, all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres, raised suspension, retrimmed interior parts, and a range of roof racks and carrier systems.
Hakovanya offers a selection of turn-key Proboxes, ready to roll, and offers the 70 Box styling package alongside a restyling package inspired by the current Land Rover Defender.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
