I simply have a serious passion for these trucks and know a lot about them. This sure seems like the place for classic Patrols too!Please note, I am simply sharing my opinion as well as info in this thread. Besides the info, you may disagree with my opinion which is totally cool!
So what is an (L)G61 Patrol? The 61-series came out in November of 1979 and was the last of the "classic" Patrols. They were also produced to compete with the last of the 40-series Land Cruisers. When I first learned of them I was told they were made from 1980-84. Nowadays, I think 1982 was the last year of them but I am not 100% sure on that. I do have a Dec. 1982 LG61 parts book and it shows all the months LG61's were produced along with vin numbers for each month. By October 1981 only 7,572 G61's had been produced in left hand drive. I think it is a safe guess to say that no more than 10,000 were ever produced in left hand drive, worldwide.
The G61's use the classic body but have a completely upgraded drive train. They use the 160-series Patrol (released in 1980) drive train. This means they have the P40 engine, F4W81A 4spd trans, T130A transfer case and C200 axles. They were produced in both a standard and a "heavy duty" version or "H" model. However, I do not believe there is any designation on the trucks for being heavy duty like can be found (possibly) on 60-series Patrols. I say possibly on 60-series Patrols because I have seen "H" models with the H260 rear axle that show nothing on the truck to designate them as "heavy duty". An LG61H (heavy duty) simply had the H233 rear axle rather than the smaller C200. The trucks came in two gears sets for the axles, 3.36 and 4.11. The G61's use a duel circuit master cylinder , from the 160-series, as well as a brake booster or master vac. They had drum brakes at all four corners. Style, body and so forth on these trucks pretty much matches the end of the 60-series Patrols from the late 1970's. They have a dash pad and high back seats for example.
All G61's were sold in medium wheel base and only with soft tops, no other body configurations were available. However, you will find in certain countries like Australia or Colombia that aftermarket hard tops have been fitted. This is common on all Patrols be it a G61 or a G60 in these countries. Most Australia hard tops seem to be steel or aluminum while most all the Colombian ones are fiberglass.
Now in my opinion what makes a G61 or better yet an LG61 so special!? The obvious is the rarity but that is not what does it for me. It is the drive train that does it for me. Since they use the 160-series Patrol drive train parts are not a problem to get, at least at this time, who knows in the coming years. Virtually everything mechanical on these trucks is still available directly from Nissan. The P40 is an easier engine to get parts for here in N. America too since it was put in Nissan forklifts up to and through the 1980's, perhaps even into the early 90's. While I enjoy restoring Patrols and making them original again I think I enjoy upgrading them even more. The G61's are perfect for upgrades. Disc brakes from a 160-series Patrol bolts right on these trucks. You can get different ring & pinion gears all the way up to 5.xx. ARB makes air lockers for the diffs too which will transform any truck into an true off-roader. You can upgrade to a 5spd trans, it bolts right up to the P40 it just requires moving the trans mounts on the frame. That means you can have a truck that will do 70mph easily without stressing the truck. E-brake is better on these trucks too. It is still on the back of the t-case but it is encased in a drum rather than open to the elements. All axle shafts, trans & t-case shafts are a fine spline which in my opinion is stronger than coarse spline. So these are all the reasons why I think the 61-series is the best of all Patrols.
I know of one LG61 to have come out of Saudi Arabia. I know of two G61's in Australia. However, I know of hundreds if not thousands of LG61's in Colombia, South America! I went down to Colombia back in early 2004, my first trip to that country. At the time I purchased a 1980 LG61 with the intent to import it to the USA. However, life got in the way of that while I was waiting for the truck to turn 25yrs old so I could import it. So I never was able to bring the truck up here. Right now I am on a quest to find and import a nice LG61 from Colombia for myself.
Here are some pictures of these amazing and super awesome Patrols!!
Factory image of the truck, I have only ever seen one of these trucks with the full rear doors on a soft top
This was my LG61 that I bought in 2004 but never got it up to the USA.
It is fairly rare to find these trucks in soft top form, not sure exactly what it is about them but I really love these trucks
I just barely missed out on this one last year. Extremely nice and original LG61, also it was low mile. I sooooo want one of these!! This is an aftermarket Colombia hard top and in my opinion a very nice top. The black out grill, chrome trim below grill and 160-series outside mirror in grey and big "Nissan" badge in the grill is 100% how this came from the factory. Trans hump cover is original on this one.
There is upwards of six different aftermarket hardtops that were made for both 60-series and 61 -series Patrols in Colombia. Only a couple of them have these "fresh" air vents above the windshield frame.
The hard top has baffles built into it which you can open up the vents and direct fresh air into the cabin. Very cool and very well made fiberglass tops.
Cheers
