This man buys a forgotten Toyota Land Cruiser that’s been off the road since 2016 and his partner fears he’s wasting thousands
- A British YouTuber has attempted to restore a 2001 Land Cruiser
- The Toyota SUV has stood still for over eight years
- The YouTuber’s partner worried he’d poured $2000 down the drain with the purchase
Published on Mar 04, 2025 at 4:10 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 04, 2025 at 4:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A British YouTuber has acquired a 201,000-mile Toyota Land Cruiser that hasn’t been driven since 2016, much to the dismay of his partner.
The Land Cruiser has been off the road for more than eight years, but Nino of Not Economically Viable is determined to rescue it and get it back on the road again.
However, his partner is worried he’s pouring thousands of dollars down the drain.
Yet despite this, Nino is determined to get the Land Cruiser going again.
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Restoring a 201,000-mile Toyota Land Cruiser
The car has some severe rust issues, a moldy interior, and plenty of missing parts.
Even the ultra-reliable 4.7-liter V8 engine has some major problems.
The engine cover, for example, is missing, and a cam sprocket is also broken.
A broken sprocket suggests major internal issues; however, that is likely the least of Nino’s problems.
While worrying that the Land Cruiser’s engine was totally broken, the YouTuber’s partner turned up to see what was going on and was less-than-impressed.
Her first words were, ‘Oh no,’ and after explaining the possible issues, she could be heard saying, ‘well, that’s a nice two grand wasted!’
Nino knew he had to fix the car to prove it wasn’t a waste of $2,000.
Nino worked hard to bring the Land Cruiser back to life
Aided by the official workshop manual for the Toyota 2UZ-FE engine, Nino could begin diagnosing the Land Cruiser’s issues.
Step one was sourcing a new camshaft for the Land Cruiser.
Luckily, Nino was able to source a new camshaft and cover for just over $200.
Remarkably, the engine wasn’t seized, and some parts were in reasonable condition.
After much work, compression tests revealed some good results – the engine fired up despite some lower compression in some cylinders.
There was still a lot of work required before the car was road-legal again.
This included replacing the alternator, sourcing missing catalytic converters, and fixing any leaks in the exhaust.
Remarkably, at the end of the video, Nino revealed that the Land Cruiser had passed its inspection and was back on the road.
Everything worked, including the electric mirrors and the heated seats, and it still had the original timing gear.
His partner turned up at the end of the video, and she was genuinely pleased and relieved to see the Toyota working again.
Even after sitting for eight years and having serious issues, the restoration proves just how tough and rugged the Land Cruiser really is.
You can watch Nino’s full video on the restoration of this Toyota Land Cruiser here on his channel.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
