LOT 7
1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 Chassis no. FJ40-271607 Engine no. 2F249051
Sold for US$72,800 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 7
1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
Chassis no. FJ40-271607
Engine no. 2F249051
Chassis no. FJ40-271607
Engine no. 2F249051
4,230cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
135bhp at 3,600rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Front and Rear Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs – Live Rear Axle
Front Disc Brakes – Rear Drum Brakes
*Toyota's off-road icon
*Striking example restored by The FJ Company
*Frame off restoration to exacting standards
*Exceedingly straight and in excellent running order
*Fantastic color combination of Olive over Saddle
THE LAND CRUISER
The Toyota Land Cruiser, in its many sizes and configurations, has had a long and successful history of reliable service through the most rugged of conditions. Patterned after the ubiquitous Jeep and Land Rover utility vehicles, the Land Cruiser demonstrated that Toyota could produce much more than just economical cars.
Introduced in 1960, the Toyota J-Series remained in production for a quarter century, the kind of longevity that demonstrates true value, quality and utility. Indispensable in unsettled and remote areas of the world, Toyota FJs hauled safaris through Africa, developed a devoted following among America's off-road culture, spawning a host of imitators. Toyota itself paid its homage to the model in 2004 when it introduced the retro-styled FJ Cruiser to capitalize on the continuing Land Cruiser legacy some twenty years after the original's production run ended.
The Land Cruiser's popularity and utility is reflected in the dizzying variety in which it could be configured. There were in fact so many that it is probably impossible to identify all of them, but they came in short, medium, long and extra-long wheelbase with various roofs, half cabs, soft tops and doors, four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. These archetypical utility vehicles climb mountains, cross deserts, and ford rivers, so finding a good vintage example can be difficult.
THE CAR OFFERED
One of the finest Land Cruiser FJ40s we have ever seen, this example was painstakingly restored by marque experts, The FJ Company of Miami, Florida, with meticulous attention to detail, and is well documented and finished to a very high standard. The choice was made to restore it back to its original style, with a few carefully chosen upgrades to benefit the driving experience. Upgrades include the addition of Old Man Emu suspension, improved power steering, 5-speed manual transmission and front disc brakes. Most classic FJ enthusiasts agree that these additions only enhance desirability.
The chosen livery is quite striking, finished in Olive (653) over a Saddle vinyl interior. The matching olive dashboard blends well with newly installed retro knobs and gauges. The interior was carefully restored with water resistant vinyl and features 60/40 split front bench seats, a Vintage Air climate control system, a nicely hidden bluetooth stereo system was added and a finely crafted soft top. The robust 2F engine was retained for its longevity and keeping true to the FJ's roots. Since the restoration was completed, it has covered just 3,356 kilometers recorded at the time of cataloguing, and has been incredibly well kept, ensuring this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a well-sorted example of one of Toyota's best.
This breathtaking Land Cruiser looks as though it drove straight out of the 1978 Toyota sales brochure. With many of these trucks suffering in grueling environments, it is refreshing to see one in such fine fettle. Superbly restored by a leading marque specialist, we think you just might want to admire it a bit before it gets muddy.
Additional information
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