300 Series ute finally available… sorta
Does the idea of a 300 Series LandCruiser make you hot under the collar but you need a ute? We've got the solution, well not us, these guys.
Published on: 18 August 2022
There’s no two ways about it, the 300 Series LandCruiser is the new hotness on the block. After the turbo-diesel powered LC200 sky rocketed the big wagon’s popularity in its huge 14 year production run, people were eagerly awaiting the updated version. Despite the new twin-turbo V6 offering only being on the road for a few short months, the aftermarket have already exploded with upgrades. This might just be the king of them. Creative Conversions, known for their innate ability to turn wagons into Utes, have turned their attention to the LC300. Not surprisingly, they’ve turned the wagon into a ute.
All above board
Of course it’s not just as simple rocking up with your LandCruiser and having at it with a grinder. The whole conversion needs to be down before registration. It’s part of the Second Stage Manufacturers scheme and legally reclassifies the 300. No longer a people mover, the converted 300 would be first registered as an NB1 Commercial Dual Cab Ute. A factory looking rear wall has been slotted into place too, complete with cab vents to ensure doors open and close as new, albeit with a clever storage compartment where the wheel used to sit.
Extra upgrades
Eagle eyed readers will pick the wheelbase is significantly longer too. Wheelbase extensions are par for the course with either 700mm or 800mm added to the overall length. Creative Conversions can combine these extensions with a variety of gross vehicle mass and gross combined mass upgrades too. From factory the 300 series sports a 3280kg GVM and 6750kg GCM. The Creative Conversion process can bump that up to a maximum of 4495kg GVM and 8200kg GCM.
What will it cost?
The conversion itself ranges from the $60,000 to $75,000 mark. That’s on top of the $90,000 to $140,000 you’ll pay for the vehicle itself. The total cost of $150,000 to $230,000 puts it well into the large American ute market, but if Toyota is what you’re after it’s hard to compete.
