Back in July 1951, Toyota took on one of the most audacious challenges in its history – and at the time. The task? Driving a prototype vehicle up Mount Fuji. This prototype, driven by Toyota’s test driver Ichiro Taira, scaled the sixth station of the sacred mountain. But the exercise was about more than Toyota conquering the mountain: It was a sign of intent of what the Japanese brand will do next, and it did so in a Toyota that looks like a Jeep. The Toyota BJ, dubbed the “Toyota Jeep”, had an unmistakable resemblance to the American wartime hero, yet it did what no other automobile had done before – rumble up Mount Fuji.
