The Land Cruiser You Never Knew Existed: The USA Cloth 100

To the rest of the world, this Land Cruiser is just a regular 100 series, but here in the USA, the special order cloth interior was so rare that there is almost no documentation to be found anywhere.
Thank you to the people on ih8mud for your knowledge on the 100 series and to the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum for such great information on cars we all love.
And yes, I do realize that this is just a cloth interior, but it is a very rare cloth interior, so that makes it cool. Right...? ...maybe its just me.
Pictures:
Lexus USA
Toyota USA
Land Cruiser Heritage Museum
landcruiserhm....
Music: lukrembo

[@sham6ba3]

I'm from Yemen, and these cars are everywhere. Especially that Yemen has a mountainous terrains and broken roads. The spec we get is the Gulf spec (aimed at Saudi Arabia, UAE and their neighbouring countries), and as far as i know it far better specs than the EU or US cars. Split into GX-R and VX-R. The GX-R and GX (sometimes you'd find a GX-m badge too with chucky mountain tyres and some are diesel. I think the UN uses this model variant a lot) come in the V6 4500 CC engine and has about 5 variations, but they generally had a sunroof, cloth interior, no hydraulic suspension and miss 1 or 2 of the electronic diff locks. While the VX-R would have full leather, sunroof, hydraulic suspension, electric diffs, and a 4700 CC V8. (It had many variations too), but the most surprising one I saw, was a 2001 VX-R V8 with cloth interior (not similar to the one in video), it didn't have the electric diffs, just the hydraulic and even the seats were manual unlike the majority of the VX-R model.

[@mononeo]

You guys probably also get Suzuki Jimnys. :/

[@thunderbear0]

@@mononeo i was thinking about that one of my dream vehicles but probably i wont get it not practical for my needs

[@Ainawi]

Correction: 4500 engine is inline 6 not a v6

[@Ainawi]

@@mononeo Probably you must wait 25 years to import it 😉🥲

[@winstonmiu]

It’s wild how it looks basicaly new after 300000 miles. I’m a cloth guy myself.

[@MissingLinkGTRS]

I love cloth seats but if you have kids that ride in your car they get dirty and are hard to clean

[@Freddie330]

As a Texan expat working in Saudi Arabia, you can see these Land Cruiser everywhere. With so many varieties of interior options and powertrain options too. Even the newest models comes with the same expectations. I personally drove one of my Saudi friends 2019 Land Cruiser with cloth seats and manual transmission, differential lock that comes along with sunroof and other luxury options (it’s called V8 GX-R) The price tag of these Land Cruisers starts at $60k and up to $100k which is crazy but made it very handy to everyone. Thank you for the very informative video.

[@igormac88]

That's what we call a radio voice! Cool content and very cool Land Cruiser!

[@yurikashorov3210]

Cloth is for JDM as that type of cloth is considered high end than leather in Japan that's why you find it in most luxurious cars like the ls and century

[@RustyShackleforddd]

I believe the century has a wool interior

[@MyKeeP81]

@@RustyShackleforddd its wool

[@KSCuberOfficial]

Can't believe this channel has under 1k subs. Great storytelling & production quality. Liked, and will be following for more!

[@fidel1o]

Great video. I can tell your channel is gonna start blowing up once you put out more content

[@memertoire]

Love your video style... its so well made and entertaining.

[@pnkpnthr80]

Great video.... Pretty awesome that one of your first videos contains a cloth interior 100 series.

[@RustyShackleforddd]

The seats might be a little dirty, but a similar leather LC with 300k the seats would be torn and trashed. Love the cloth can’t wait to see the cleaning

[@paulsthormes251]

I remember seeing cloth interior when I worked at Lexus . No sunroof with cloth .it was a special order there was several Is football players they were too tall The sun roof was taking up space and they wanted cloth because it's cooler. I love the cloth interior in my 80 series I also have a 40 series it's vinyl.😉

[@thomasretzios]

Also without the sunroof it comes with an awesome storage setup on the ceiling so you can store six pairs of sunglasses, or maybe beef jerky or something.

[@smirage22]

​@thomasretzios that's what non sunroof 1st gen sequoia has.

[@MetikalMan]

Cloth FTW!

[@pepitopepito6598]

that dude took reallllly good care of the LC, like jus look at the body of the car, paint is in immaculate condition looks like it rolled outta the factory, props to the one owner dude

[@UAE_8100]

i noticed that US spec landcruiser 100s have only 1 trim level and the V8 , GCC spec cars come in many different combos, Straight 6, V8 , 5 spd manual or auto , locking diffs, steel/ aluminium wheels, split tailgate/ barn doors/ barn doors with spare tire / split tailgate with rear tire, standard front bench seats, rear troopy style seats etc etc.

[@Cyan_Nightingale]

It's still a good looking car even for today. Wow. I'm drooling for one

[@tariqattyat]

this is such a well made video, you have a future here thomas. good shit !!

[@MikeA1]

such a good find. grew up in a lx470. so interesting to see it with cloth. also, fun fact about there being an option to scrap the 3rd row and moonroof.

[@sergeygolovin2760]

Hey man, glad you loaded this video!! More videos from you!!👍

[@aesa3628]

Here in UAE we have a lot of land cruiser with different options starting with the G which is basic option ( 4.5 straight 6 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual transmission, manual window, no sunroof and you can have it with diesel engine) GX option same as G but with rear ac and power windows.. GXR is the top option in 6 cylinder engine and you can have it with auto gearbox.. VXR is the V8 engine (4.7) and you can have it with different options like leather or fabric seat, sun roof or with out, diff lock or with out, auto or manual plus all GCC cars comes with 2 fuel tank and 2 fuel filler one for the main tank and one for the spare tank and you can have 2 spare tires one hanging at rear and one under like U. S specification

[@logansullivan9157]

Keep it up! I've liked all of your videos so far!

[@sweetblue44]

And here I am trying to order the TRD Body kit for my 2017 LX.

[@s_t102]

Here in Georgia (country) Land Cruisers are very popular vehicles. The government and military use it. Lot's of businessmen too. As far as cloth interior goes, even right know the starting lowest option Land Cruiser 300 costs 52k$ and has a cloth interior.

[@alextheunicorn6929]

i have a 2000 100 280,000 miles and still do 1000 mile road trips and wheel it hard i love it besides the leaking front windshield

[@joko888]

Great video Thomas!

[@dialupdavid]

Great presentation.. Awesome content! Thanks for the video!

[@dnovello]

That's awesome. Totally reminiscent of a Century,,; almost looks like wool.

[@KuyaArbee]

DAMN! they literally engineered this car to LAST FOREVER! not a plan of obsolesce...

[@faheemabbas3965]

Now everything nowadays are planned obsolescence…

[@dominicscalise]

Dude. Great video. And I had no idea these existed! So rad.

[@ShervinsGarage]

This reminds me of the first two model years of the Lexus LS400, when you could get fabric interiors as well. Most cars got leather of course, but for the 1990 model year, you could order Gray Fabric, Blue Fabric, Burgundy Fabric, or Mauve Fabric. In 1991, only Gray Fabric was offered... and that was the final year that fabric was offered for the Lexus LS.

[@BIMMERZEITT]

Great presentation skills, keep the videos coming my man

[@sybsygstgstsgysg5330]

This guys amazing

[@awayelement5868]

I've got an Australian Delivered 105 Series GXL (80 Series solid axle front end) which has a cloth interior the truck has just hit 550,000 and the interior is perfect. The only difference I've noticed is that mine doesn't have the little arms on the side of the front seats otherwise there the exact same

[@turborocketmedia]

Great video!!! So weird that they made so few of thr cloth interior haha

[@morasethy431]

We had cloth seats in our 80 series 100 series and our hilux , both our 80&100 had swinging rear doors and drop down army seats . I remember as a kid I’d bite the front seat and chew away the seat yes I was a weird kid lol

[@SuperSaqer]

The upholstery in the Toyota Century is not cloth--but wool! It's perceived to be more upscale than leather. The Cruiser just has higher grade fabric.

[@p_enta5012]

The third generation Lexus RX also had a cloth interior. Its mentioned in forum posts and brochures but I cant find a photo anywhere for the life of me.

[@juanfo7307]

Down here they were sold with crank windows, vinyl everything, manual, solid front, front bench and rear benches for a total of 10 occupants and power nothing

[@ryzen397]

my friends Dad had a green one with cloth interior, I didn't know it was that rare until now lol

[@drsolar]

You have a great voice

[@AverageNeighbor]

My sequoia has cloth seats, wish it had heated seats but still very comfortable

[@Jeepers2023]

great video man 🔥

[@GXKid06]

keep making content like this great quality.

[@MintyFreshTurds]

This is the same kind of shock when you see a Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DeVille or Fleetwood, W126 with cloth velour seats for the first time.

[@Rickiye]

I expected a DJ Khaled & Jay-Z cameo spittin 'cloth talk' 😁

[@zabloing1176]

Felt like a video from a much bigger creator. You have skills! Commenting to help yr reach

[@aimveryhigh]

Great video keep it up!

[@loqal690]

The interior of the Century is not "just cloth" but wool that breaths, suck up moisture and reduce road noice

[@gkanai]

Cloth interior 80s are very common in Japan. I have the 2015 70 Series Wagon and they all came in cloth. I think in other markets 70s can have cloth or vinyl, and maybe they have a leather package in the MEA region but not sure.

[@thomasretzios]

The 70 series is one of my all time favorite Land Cruisers. The newer ones like your 2015 are the best of both worlds: ruggedness and modern car reliability. I would love a diesel V8, wish we got those here!

[@gkanai1400]

@@thomasretzios the 1VD is mostly sold in Australia. It's too dirty/won't pass emissions in Japan. Even in MEA region, where petrol/gasoline is cheaper than water, they often prefer petrol/gasoline engine Land Cruisers over diesel (although both are sold of course.)

[@Sam-pq5ho]

oh my god these things are everywhere in Kuwait. Not just kuwait but all the arab countries tbh.

[@dariog36th]

Living in Texas I would love cloth seats in mine. In the summer time the leather seats are torture.

[@Tomizumachi]

Love the content!

[@njs461]

Cloth > Leather!

[@siliconinsect]

You forgot catagory V: Vegetarians. Some folks because of personal or religious beliefs want luxury without leather.

[@davidparkin9017]

Hang onto your Landcruiser, it's the best vehicle ever made when roads are scarce and gasoline is plentiful. Keep up with the timing belt. I have an Lx570, so I don't have that problem. Silver/Grey.

[@thomasretzios]

In the next few years I would love to get a 200 series. Once I have a refrigerator in the center console, that is when I will peak in life.

[@johncurtis6815]

The Toyota Century has a wool interior, not cloth. Huge huge difference.

[@MyKeeP81]

exactly

[@thomasretzios]

Is wool not a type of cloth? Just to be abundantly clear, I am aware the Century has wool covered seats…

[@edg5312]

@@thomasretzios It is not

[@bilalahmed2123]

That’s a nice Land Cruiser. Doesn’t even show it has over 300,000 miles !

[@ryankelly3000]

Tips on how to find one from your experience?

[@micbad4689]

What about a 100 series with a v8 and manual transmission? That thing is real, rare but very real.

[@thomasretzios]

Those are so cool! I have seen pictures online but sadly we never got them in the USA, as is the case with so many cool LCs.

[@wass006]

These are seen around, he took his time to get to the point to say it has cloth

[@electrikoptik]

What’s also very rare are the early model years 98 to 2002 with nav option in the US.

[@RavenAii]

If I'm not mistaken there was also an option to get the 100 series with a front live axle suspension, but it was only available in Australia, Middle East, and South Africa.

[@thomasretzios]

Good memory, that is known as the 105 series and is basically just a 100 with the live front axel and a very basic spec. The interiors are more durable and work oriented. A lot of them are in Australia.

[@bren2dan]

Don’t forget the rear barn doors and vinyl interior on the poverty pack version in Australia

[@geofftuck7347]

@@thomasretzios the 105’s were available in all trim models between ’98 and ‘02, after that only the base model (barn doors, vinyl floors etc) lived on, sold along side the IFS 100 series

[@Averagegamer673]

Ok so there not a ton of people who know this but in Asia and all jdm and Japanese models imported to multiple countries was 1 simple option that was widely used on all US spec Lexus and high end Toyotas from the early 2000s, in Asia there was no lexus brand due to Nissan having a tm L badge that was very similar with Lexus hints the cars in Asia are Toyota made instead of lexus branded, well in Asia you can buy the Toyota century with leather but the leather is actually worse then the cloth option, the main reason you will see more Asian Lexus/Toyotas with cloth interior it's not because people wanted leather its because cloth made the interior more quiet and in the Toyota century the best car in the world, leather will creak and in humid climates it can get hot and cold and the leather can wear down and get extremely hard and uncomfortable to sit on So its interesting you found a extremely rare land cruiser with the cloth seats your story does add up due to most people who live in Texas dont want the leather to get hard and crack over time For the people saying wow that cloth interior is in amazing condition it's no suprise to me because it was made when Toyota actually cared about their material quality and imo the cloth back then looked extremely beautiful unlike today's ugly hard foam generic fabric.

[@thomasretzios]

The Land Cruiser Cygnus! I love seeing pictures of those with the classic mirror on the front fender for parking on tight Japanese streets. I had a 100 series with 300k miles on the leather interior, and when driving it felt like I was sitting on the back of an alligator. When the leather is in good condition, it is great, but it really did not age well for 90% of people.

[@Averagegamer673]

@@thomasretzios I'm into older GM trucks but I have a spot for older 90s Lexus and it definitely sucks when the leather gets hard but I think you should definitely pick up a 95 to 97 ls400 especially for a review and to restore for the last 10 years they have been used and abused but I can tell you right now you find a clean lower mileage 95 to 97 ls400 you will triple your money in a few years, just like the 80s 90s 100s land cruiser and lx450 lx470 lx570 they did nothing but climb in value Heck 200k will bring 20 30k to the table, imo the ls400 before the 1uz vvti are solid cars and are gonna keep climbing

[@TAI-lr5vr]

Hey there, I've made a video on the 100 series too. Good job

[@nlpnt]

That '90s Japanese cloth wore like an anvil. I've seen it in more downmarket cars too, and not just Toyotas - there are totally trashed late '90s Civics whose interiors just need a good cleaning to look this new.

[@chief1193]

My 21 HE w/ third row option is only 1 of 25 made

[@79series]

Australia is 80% cloth trims in the hzj105 fzj105 hdj100 uzj100

[@hachiroku8677]

Then what happens next: somebody buys the truck, and the new owner replaces the stock upholstery for leather... Yeeee... This did happen when imports first came to my home country, Brazil, in the early 1990s: dealers would swap velour interiors for leather ones, so they could charge more. Even Toyota Corollas from that era would have leather seats (which was uncommon at that time). However, leather performs terribly in hot, humid places like most parts of Brazil. My 94 Rolla, fortunately, had the original cloth seats from Toyota. They were super comfy and would never crack like leather. But they did look nasty, and I had to wash them a couple of times, but that was it. And the cloth in this Land Cruiser looks like new. It just needs to see some water and soap.

[@thodson]

Informative, witty, and really, who knew? Not me. But using the world “utilitarian” twice in the span of a minute? Highly questionable. Please address in future videos.

[@josephhodson8029]

The 8th Lesser Known Wonder of the World

[@IllinoisPB]

Lol

[@andrewleos9803]

Cry

[@rotomotor]

nice!

[@cheez1012]

Wow, this is one fascinating vehicle, how did you manage to find it? Since so many of the Landcruisers sold were leather interiors, are there any leather components in the cloth one? (such as leather wrapped steering wheel, leather center console, body panels, etc.) Also, how much was the cloth package compared to the normal leather?

[@DayoftheJakeL]

I wonder how many non sunroof fans 100s are in the US

[@tumbleweedbikes]

I just picked up a 1998 non sunroof cloth interior 100 series, love it.

[@doctorl7426]

It will last forever!

[@MissingLinkGTRS]

Call me weird but I like the spindle grill :p

[@Logan79527]

Subscribed 🌹👍🏻

[@uttarpradeshup4258]

Hey, you looks good

[@dormamo6917]

is that your real voice?

[@alexwhitman3962]

Oh my god I wanna be doug demero

[@cra_55]

Is this just regular cloth or premium wool like you'd get in a Century or Celsior?

[@thomasretzios]

This is just regular cloth. It is cool looking late 90s cloth… but just regular cloth.

[@evan937]

Good luck finding a replacement seat if you ever need one...😆

[@patrickogada2158]

They're so many in kenya

[@brian_jake]

Landcruiser v8 usually comes in leather seats. You're confusing with 79 series

[@thelandcruiserproject]

Disappointed to see a sunroof. No sunroof and no cloth is the real winner, though. Where did you find the documentation on the 10 cloth seats or so you know of?

[@thomasretzios]

Most of these cloth 100s came either with no options selected at all or loaded with every option available. I love the non sunroof base models, the roofline with no roof rack looks so slick! Most of the information I have found is on ih8mud in a few threads or on more obscure forums where someone will reference one. Ever since posting this video I have learned of three more cloth 100s.

[@lightbulb002]

I have a 98 that was bought new in San Antonio TX. Window sticker says it had cloth seats but the previous owner swapped it out for leather seats. Shame.

[@thomasretzios]

Was your LC originally ordered through Southeast Toyota Distributors? If so, it was most likely ordered with cloth, and then recovered in leather by the distributors once it got to the States. In that case it wouldn’t have cloth on the door panels either and instead of seat back nets they would be leather pockets similar to the Lexus LX.

[@rajasaif9999]

Make more videos

[@smartman123]

this is tank on wheels

[@tumbleweedbikes1755]

Not the most rare US spec 100 series, try to find one without a sunroof!

[@stantheman9976]

Is that it a cloth interior?😅

[@electrikoptik]

The Century’s “cloth” interior was premium wool though. Something the LC never had.

[@vincentlu36]

Just some feedbacks about your filming and content. You spent just 6 minutes just talking how rare cloth seat options on US spec 100 series and basically repeating the same statement. It's about the car so you don't need too much facial expression and acting during narration.

[@SanRenito]

millennial @dougdemuro

[@rotomotor]

nice!