The Bandeirante is what Brazil has been
calling Toyota Landcruiser for many
decades.  But the Bandeirante's most
interesting history began, when for the rest
of the world, the Landcruiser 40 series
seemed to past on into oblivion in 1984
when Toyota quit producing them in Japan.

However, Brazil continued production of
the 40 series long past 1984.   It wasn't
until 2001 that the last Bandeirante, and
therefore the last true 40 series, rolled off
the assembly line and into history.
The last Toyota Landcruiser 40 series rolled off the assembly line in November 2001, not in 1984 as
most people think.  Certainly, Toyota of Japan did end 40 series production in Japan in 1984 and the 40
series was no longer exported to countries such as the United States and Australia and most other
places.  But in Brazil, production continued.   While the rest of the world (except the United States) was
enjoying the much improved 70 series Landcruiser, Brazil was still producing the 40 series.  

The first Landcruiser Bandeirante rolled off of the Brazilian assembly line in 1959 in the Is Bernardo of
Fields
factory.  By the end of production, over 100,000 Bandeirantes had been built.  According to Toyota's
2002 annual report... "
In November 2001, Toyota do Brasil Ltda. (TDB) discontinued production of the
Bandeirante, which it had manufactured since 1959.

The first Brazilian Bandeirantes were basicly kits built in Japan and assembled in Brazil.  By 1962, Brazil
was assembling all new models, using parts built in Brazil.  The Bandeirantes have always looked nearly
indentical to the 40 series sold elsewhere, but there were a few differences.  Notably in the engines.  
Since 1962, the Bandeirantes has use a version of the Mercedes diesel.  By 1968, 100% of the
Bandeiranties was built in Brazil, which means that no parts were imported from Japan.  The production
line was completely self sustaining.   In 1973, the Bandeiranties recieved the Mercedes-Benz MAC-314
diesel engine.  In 1983, a pick-up version was added and the tell tale square headlights, which distinquish
the Bandeirante from all other Land Cruiser 40 series models, was added.   In 1985 a better instrument
panel was added.  In 1987 the brakes were upgraded.  A major weakness in prior models.   By 1993, for
the first time, a 5 speed manual transmission was offered.  In 1994, the Mercedes diesel engine was
dropped in favor of the Toyota 14B diesel engine.   The 14B is a Daihatsu made engine.  In 1999, Toyota
introduced a double cab model.  This was an all new body style, never seen in the long running 40 series.   
In 2000, Toyota knew that the 14B engine would not meet the coming emissions requirements in Brazil,
so a study was conducted to see if one of it's more modern turbo diesels could replace the 14B.  
However, in the end, Toyota decided, it was not worth the trouble.  Rather than upgrade the far aging
Landcruiser, Toyota finally shut down production forever, in November 2001.

The Bandeirantes was a Toyota in every sense of the word, but it did suffer from quality problems.  
Mostly due to poor quality controls at the factory and poorly built Brazilian or non-Toyota parts.  The
Bandeirantes was also extremely expensive and woefully underpowered.   But it continued to serve it's
purpose faithfully and just as the other Landcruisers around the world, this one was an off road king and
many are still on the roads of Brazil and other South American countries today.

The end of the Bandeirante really began in 1991, when Brazil lifted it's ban on importing vehicles.  Until
then, Toyota never faced any competition from it's normal competitors such as Land Rover and Nissan.  
Since vehicles that were sold in Brazil had to made in Brazil, most manufactures never bothered to
attempt to build them there. In fact, the Toyota Bandeirante plant was originally a Land Rover plant .  In
1991 alone,  Toyota built 6,750 Bandeirantes.  The total production was well over 100,000 units.   But as
the more modern and cheaper vehicles began to flood to Brazil, demand for the Bandeirantes began to
fall.   However, the fact that the Bandeirante, a vehicle who's basic design was more than 40 years old,
lasted as long as it did is quite amazing.   And a testimont to it's original design.

What does Bandeirante mean? There are two conflicting reports of what the name Bandeirante
means.  One is that translates directly to the word  Land Cruiser.   Another is that it means "Pioneer" in
Portuguese.
Interior and dash
Click on images for larger view
Engine and Drivetrain
Click on images for larger view
Mercedes-Benz MAC-314
Toyota 14B diesel introduced in 1994
OJ 50L - jeep, cowling of canvas  OJ 50L - jeep, cowling of canvas  OJ 50LVB - long jeep, rigid
cowling
 1985  1992  1992

ENGINE

Position and cylinders  longitudinal, 4 in line
Command and válv. for cylinder  in the block, 2
Diameter and course  97 x 128 mm  102 x 112 mm
Piston displacement  3.784 cm3  3.661 cm3
Tax of compression  17:1  18:1
Maximum power  85 cv
2.800 rpm 96 cv
3.400 rpm
Maximum torque  24 m.kgf
1.800 rpm 24,4 m.kgf
2.200 rpm
Feeding  injector bomb and direct injection

EXCHANGE

Marches and traction  4, integral  5, integral

BRAKES

Back front and  the drum  the record/the drum

SUSPENSION

Advantage and back  rigid axle, beam of half-elliptical springs

DIRECTION

Assistance  not  hydraulical

WHEELS

Tires  6,50 - 16

DIMENSIONS

Length  3,835 m  3,93 m  4,395 m
Entreeixos  2,285 m  2,755 m
Weight  1,730 kg  1,950 kg

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed  115 km/h  ND
Acceleration of 0 the 100 km/h  33 s  ND
Older version, prior to mid 1970s
Click on images for larger view
1962 Toyota Bandeirante
1961 Toyota Bandeirante
Newer versions, mid 1970s through 2001
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A nicely modified 1990 Toyota Bandeirante
A unique late model
Bandeirante serving UN
duty, probably somewhere
in South America.
The last Toyota
Bandeirante to be
produced in Brazil in 2001.
 This particular unit was
later given to the Toyota
Museum in Japan.
A special limited edition
Bandeirante produced in
1999, when production
reached 100,000 units.
The true last Bandeirante, made in the USA?
Click on images for larger view
The Land Cruiser 40 series is no longer officially built by Toyota, but this could probably be called the very
last  offically comissioned by Toyota, 40 series made.  Although highly modified and not using the 40 series
frame and drivetrain, the body is one of the last Bandeirante's made.  It was shipped to TLC in California, a
Land Cruiser restoration outfit.   This is the rest of the story from TLC's website (www.tlc4X4.com):
We have access to the Toyota parts for the Brazilian Bandeirante (their Land Cruiser since 1958) and use
them to enhance our restorations and designs, including this Cruiser.  This truck was commissioned by
NUMMI (the makers of the Tacoma) and Toyota Motor Sales as one of three in a series of designs looking at
the next generation Land Cruiser in 2006. For this one, we started by removing the body from a 2001
Tacoma Xtra cab. We then stretched the frame, repositioned the drivetrain and fuel system, and modified the
wiring harness so that we could fit the Cruiser style body. The body started out as a stock 2001 Toyota
Bandeirante that we FEDEX'ed from Brazil to TLC. We removed the body assembly, modified it an fit it to
the Tacoma chassis. The interior features sueded nubuck Buffalo Hide and Wilton wool carpet. The stock
2001 Tacoma drive train has been enhanced with the TRD Super Charger and stainless headers. After
Toyota and NUMMI finished the design study, this design was discarded in favor of another we did. TLC
now has this truck on display in our showroom.
Much more information coming soon about this most unique of all Toyota Landcruisers.   
If you have any information, specs, pictures or anything else regarding this Toyota, I'd love
to see it and add it to my website.  I can be emailed by clicking
HERE.
LANDCRUISER  SERIES
Landcruiser Bandeirante
Click on image for larger
view