Auction experts believe that the market for classic Japanese 4x4s is strengthening as buyers seek out worthy alternatives to first- and second-generation Range Rovers.
he tide has begun to change in favour of classic Japanese off-roaders, which buyers have often overlooked in the past – that’s the opinion of experts within the classic car market.
Manor Park Classics’ sales director, James Gregory, says that the case for these cars is firm: ‘We recently sold two Daihatsu Fourtraks; a commercial in average condition and with a lot of miles made £4485 but the immaculate one-owner car sold for £9660.
'As always, unmodified vehicles are the ones to go for'
‘In general, there seems to be renewed interest in Japanese off-roaders due to their high standard specifications and car-like drivability on road. They’re also rarer than Range Rovers and more durable, too. As always, unmodified vehicles are the ones to go for, though.’
Other Japanese off-roaders clambering to significant auction results include the first-generation Mitsubishi Shogun, with an example belonging to the manufacturer’s former press fleet making £16,000 back in 2023 and more recently a £10,800 result for a 1990 2.6-litre example with H&H Classics. At Mathewsons’ sale last month an Isuzu Trooper changed hands for £4.5k – surpassing both its £2-3k estimate and the £2k average price for examples sold in classic sales. There have been a string of strong results for Toyota Land Cruiser Amazons making £15-20k – topped by a £22,400 result at a Brightwells sale last September – that have outperformed results for Range Rovers of the same era.
'People have fond memories of their working days in an old Hi-Lux'
James Johnson of Kent-based auction house Hobbs Parker said: ‘I’d say that they’re very much on the up. Many were working vehicles – possibly the hardest of lives as a farm truck where thoughts about preservation wasn’t even a consideration – so survival rates are poorer but many people will have fond memories of their working days in an old Hi-Lux.
‘Classic Japanese vehicles of all types are hot property and some of the aforementioned models have cult status among the right age group. The UK market availability for a new, pure, affordable 4x4 utility vehicle like a Fourtrak has diminished compared to what was available in the ’80s and ’90s – that void has now been filled by the likes of SsangYong – so I think their time has well and truly arrived.’
'Japanese 4x4s have a loyal following today'
Charterhouse’s Richard Bromell echoes that view, saying: ‘There were plenty of old Landies when I was living and working up in Yorkshire in the 1990s but there were also plenty of Japanese 4x4s out and about working for their living.
‘Those Japanese 4x4s still have a loyal following today. Perhaps with better reliability than Range Rovers and Land Rovers they are a good alternative. One staff member certainly thinks so; her husband bought a Toyota Land Cruiser in the early 1990s and it is still going strong, having been around the clock a few times. However, one friend who owns one never stops telling me about the running costs.’ Richard Barnett