Japan · Japanese-market launch specification, 19 January 1998

Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Wagon VX Limited

The 100 Series kept a separate frame and rear live axle, but its new V8, independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering pushed the Land Cruiser farther toward luxury-road-car refinement.

Full-size SUVs

Exact 1998 source title, 100 Series body, V8 and VX Limited visible badging; representative right-hand-drive market coverage rather than proof of Japanese specification or options.

Rear three-quarter exterior · Photo shows Exact 1998 source title, 100 Series body, V8 and VX Limited visible badging; representative right-hand-drive market coverage rather than proof of Japanese specification or options.. The file title and visible badges support 1998, V8 and VX Limited identity. The New Zealand plate means the photograph cannot establish Japanese-market configuration or individual originality.
1998 Toyota Land Cruiser VX Limited V8 · ae_works / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Auction-based estimated value

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A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.

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A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Toyota launched the 100 Series in Japan on 19 January 1998 as a complete replacement for the 80. The gasoline wagon gained a purpose-developed 4.7-litre V8, more cabin space and new safety systems. The exact VX Limited in this packet is the eight-seat gasoline wagon, not the five-seat 4.2-litre turbodiesel van.

Look a little closer.

Its optional height control could raise the body for rough ground or lower it to make climbing aboard easier, while the paired TEMS system could select among 16 damping settings.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

Independent front suspension without abandoning the frame

Toyota retained the body-on-frame construction but replaced the 80 Series' front live axle with long-travel double wishbones and torsion bars. Rack-and-pinion steering also replaced the older steering arrangement. The engineering compromise targeted better steering precision and comfort while the rear live axle and low-range full-time 4WD preserved load and trail capability.

Source: Toyota Land Cruiser history: station-wagon evolution ↗

Luxury features with honest option labels

Toyota highlighted dual-zone front/rear climate control, reclining/removable third-row seating and greater interior width. AHC with Skyhook TEMS and Optitron meters were optional on VX Limited rather than universal equipment. Keeping that distinction prevents a richly equipped brochure car from becoming the false baseline for every 1998 VX Limited.

Source: Toyota Global Newsroom: Land Cruiser 100 launch ↗

Where these facts come from

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-05.

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