By Matt Nelson
You don't have to be a gearhead to be familiar with the Humvee. The gigantic, military-derived vehicle was first introduced in 1983 and quickly became the US Military's favorite light transport vehicle. Then, in the early 1990s, Arnold Schwarzenegger commissioned AM general – the automaker behind the military-spec Humvee – to build a road-going version for himself. From there, the Humvee was known as the Hummer H1, and loads of celebrities and regular folks alike wanted one for themselves.
However, few people have probably heard of Toyota's Humvee-equivalent model. It's known as the Mega Cruiser, and it came about in the mid-1990s. Much like the Humvee, the Mega Cruiser began its life as a military-grade light transport vehicle. Seeing the modest amount of success enjoyed by AM General's Hummer H1, Toyota decided it wanted a piece of the action for itself. So, with the help of a few modifications, Toyota's GI Joe mobile also became a road-going icon.
Swapping Troops For Kids
Quick Facts About The Toyota Mega Cruiser
- Concept revealed in 1993
- Known by its model code "BXD20"
- Weighs over three tons
- Originally meant to serve as a testbed vehicle
- Axed following the 2001 model year
Like many other first-world militaries, Japan's armed forces went through a major transition in the 1990s. A lot of new tech was being introduced seemingly every day, meaning the world's superpowers could upgrade their respective military might quickly, so long as they had the coin to do so. During this time, Japan noticed its fleet of light transport vehicles – which mainly consisted of models like the Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck – was beginning to show its age.
However, instead of looking for a direct successor to models like the Type 73, Japan's Self Defense Forces (JSDF) wanted to supplement the aging machines with something newer. To kick off the transition, JSDF contacted numerous domestic automakers with a request for an all-new military vehicle that was comparable in capability to the American Humvee. After sending over a preliminary design and some specs, Toyota was given the contract.
The first conceptual Mega Cruiser was revealed to the public at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show. At the event, Toyota made sure to highlight its ruggedness and penchant for handling rough terrain with ease. Two years later, the Mega Cruiser finally entered into production. The plant tasked with building the Mega Cruiser was Toyota's Gifu Auto Body facility in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. That very same plant handled the production of several larger Toyota vehicles like the Hiace, Coaster Bus, and ToyoAce.
Finally, by early 1996, the first Mega Cruisers began rolling off Gifu's assembly line. Most of the finished models, codenamed BXD10, were heading for military use, but those carrying the BXD20 model code were off to Toyota dealers. Now, Japan finally had its own civilian Humvee.
Look Out, Arnold
The only market to see sales of the Mega Cruiser was Japan, at least officially. It was carried exclusively by Toyota Store dealers, alongside other larger SUVs like the Land Cruiser. While it's hard to pinpoint the Mega Cruiser's original base MSRP, we can, at least, speculate. Seeing as a base-level Hummer H1 went for about $45,000, it's not a far stretch to assume the Mega Cruiser went for around the same.
While all Mega Cruisers were officially meant for sale in Japan — meaning they were built in a right-hand drive configuration – it's reported that a handful or so were built in left-hand drive. In addition, certain Mega Cruisers were technically sold new in Japan and then exported to other world markets, rendering the expat models "grey imports". An official number of grey-import Mega Cruisers is not available, but they're allegedly in the low double-digits.
Throughout the Mega Cruiser's lifespan, the vast majority produced were built to military spec. Some were also outfitted for use by police and fire departments. Of the 3,000 or so built by the end of its lifecycle, less than 150 were produced in road-going spec, 12 of which reportedly sported the aforementioned left-hand drive configuration. Production carried on until 2002, when Toyota decided to pull the model entirely.
Due to the litany of narrow streets in Japanese towns and cities, along with strict road taxes that pertain to vehicle sizes, the Mega Cruiser experienced slow sales over the course of its life. However, the gigantic SUV was never meant to be a mass-produced, mass-market success by any stretch.
Sources: Toyota, EncyCARpedia.com, Road & Track, Classic.com
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
