12 Old Cars So Overbuilt That Manufacturers Lost Money Making Them

12 Old Cars So Overbuilt That Manufacturers Lost Money Making Them Some cars are built to last. These were built like they were never supposed to die. A Mercedes W123 taxi made it to nearly 2.9 million miles on its original engine. A Toyota Hilux survived abuse that would destroy most modern trucks. A Volvo 240 was protected with pounds of rustproofing wax. And the Lexus LS 400 cost Toyota billions to develop because the engineers refused to cut corners. These are 12 cars that took old-school engineering to an extreme. We're talking about the Volkswagen Beetle, Saab 900, Jeep Cherokee XJ, Toyota Hilux, Volvo 240, Audi 5000, Lexus LS 400, Ford Crown Victoria, Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, Mercedes-Benz W124, another legendary Toyota Hilux, and finally the Mercedes-Benz W123. What made these cars different wasn't just reliability. It was the philosophy behind them. Simple engines, overbuilt components, conservative engineering, heavy-duty materials, and designs that were made to survive decades instead of being replaced every few years. Some of these cars were so durable that they created a problem for the companies that built them — owners simply didn't need to buy another one. And the number one car on this list has a story that sounds almost impossible: 2.9 million miles, one original engine, and a taxi driver who eventually donated the car to the Mercedes-Benz museum. Which one of these legendary cars would you trust to last the longest? Let me know in the comments. Cars Mentioned in This Video 00:32- 12. Volkswagen Beetle (1938–2003) 02:05- 11. Saab 900 (1978–1993) 03:40- 10. Jeep Cherokee XJ (1984–2001) 05:14- 9. Toyota Hilux (1968–2004) 06:46- 8. Volvo 240 (1974–1993) 08:22- 7. Audi 5000 / Audi 100 (1982–1991) 09:50- 6. Lexus LS 400 (1990–2000) 11:35- 5. Ford Crown Victoria (1991–2011) 13:16- 4. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 (1960–1984) 14:58- 3. Mercedes-Benz W124 (1984–1997) 16:49- 2. Toyota Hilux (1968–2004) 18:24- 1. Mercedes-Benz W123 (1976–1985) Want more videos you’ll love? Check out these awesome picks from SUV Detective—they're packed with expert tips on trucks, SUVs, engines, and more. Perfect for auto lovers like you! 👇    • The Ugly Truth About Buying an SUV in 2026...      • 14 MILLION SUV Engines Are Being RECALLED ...      • These Trucks Are Now WORTHLESS in 2026 — H...      • Stellantis Is Burning — €22 Billion Gone a...      • 12 SUVs That Are Secretly the Same Vehicle...      • 12 Best Used Lexus Models You Should Actua...      • BANNED at Dealerships? 12 Luxury Cars Too ...   Subscribe to SUV Detective! Love trucks, SUVs, and powerful engines? Join the SUV Detective community for expert insights and thrilling automotive content uncovered like a true detective! 🕵️‍♂️ 👍 Don’t forget to Like, 💬 Comment, and 🔔 Subscribe to stay in the loop—never miss a case! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All video clips and materials used in this content belong to their respective copyright owners. This video is created strictly for educational, informational, and commentary purposes only. It is protected under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, which allows “Fair Use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. All footage has been carefully edited and transformed to match the context of this video. #ReliableCars #ClassicCars #OldCars #CarsThatLastForever #OverengineeredCars #ToyotaHilux #MercedesBenz #MercedesW123 #MercedesW124 #LexusLS400 #Volvo240 #JeepCherokee #ToyotaLandCruiser #FordCrownVictoria #Saab900 #Audi100 #CarReliability #Automotive #CarHistory #legendarycars