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 |
Older version, prior to mid 1970s Click on images for larger view |
1962 Toyota Bandeirante |
1961 Toyota Bandeirante |
Newer versions, mid 1970s through 2001 Click on images for larger view |
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 |