When discussing Toyota, many Vietnamese people immediately think of popular car models on the streets such as Vios, Fortuner, or Land Cruiser. Besides these popular models, Toyota also has many other very interesting projects that are less known, and the Toyota Mega Cruiser is one of them.
The Toyota Mega Cruiser was originally a model built for military purposes; however, the Japanese automaker decided to sell it commercially in 1996 but in very limited numbers.
Toyota Mega Cruiser. Photo: Bring A Trailer
Upon research, only a total of 133 civilian Toyota Mega Cruiser units were produced, making it one of the rarest SUVs in the world. In terms of rarity, the Toyota Mega Cruiser even surpasses the Lamborghini LM002.
In fact, the Toyota Mega Cruiser was originally manufactured exclusively for the Japanese market, where cars drive on the left side of the road. However, there were still a small number of approximately 20 units produced with the steering wheel on the right-hand side. One of these approximately 20 rare vehicles is currently being auctioned in the United States.
Only 133 civilian Toyota Mega Cruiser units exist worldwide. Photo: Bring A Trailer
The Toyota Mega Cruiser first appeared to the public as a concept car in 1993 at the Tokyo Motor Show, and it quickly caught attention due to its resemblance to the Hummer, which had just been released.
Some believe that Toyota created the Mega Cruiser based on AM General’s Hummer, but in essence, the two models are completely different. The only similarity lies in their initial design goals.
The Toyota Mega Cruiser project was born during a time when Japan was seeking to become more involved in peacekeeping operations, which created a demand for a suitable military vehicle. The project name for the Mega Cruiser was HMV, which was intended to replace the Type 73 truck that had been used as a troop carrier and artillery tractor.
In addition to its appearance, the HMV project name also suggests that the Hummer served as Toyota’s inspiration for creating the Mega Cruiser. Photo: Bring A Trailer
With its military origins, the concept car unveiled in 1993 hinted at Toyota’s intention to civilianize the model. The appearance at the auto show was also a way for the Japanese automaker to gauge public reaction to this innovative product. Toyota’s official statement about the civilian Mega Cruiser also revealed the possibility of commercial sale “if there is enough demand”.
It is unclear how Toyota measured the level of demand, but by 1995, the official military version went into production; subsequently, in 1996, the civilian version was released, looking identical to the concept car.
