Vehicle Description
In today's increasingly sterile auto industry, talk of "utility"
usually centers on 'cute' and 'ergonomic' crossovers that are
essentially glorified minivans. Fortunately, as hardened car guys,
we're smart enough to know a better definition of the word. To us,
"utility" means having the room to carry a wide variety of
essentials while having the ability to kick a whole lot of...
umm... trail. That's why, roughly 40 years after their
introduction, classics like this road-ready Land Cruiser still mix
serious fun with serious desirability. So, if you're looking to
ascertain a tough Toyota that's ready to pose, play and attract big
attention, check out this superb FJ40!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Born from practicality and wartime necessity, the Land Cruiser
began life as a reverse engineered Bantam GP that Toyota assembled
for the Imperial Japanese Army. The truck's rugged construction and
tidy proportions proved extremely useful when it came to
transporting soldiers, towing equipment and all-terrain motoring.
And eventually, circa 1953, Toyota decided to market its proven
creation directly to civilians. During a comprehensive, ground-up
restoration, this Cruiser's body was completely disassembled,
massaged into a straight canvas and carefully detailed to provide
great fit and finish. Once the builders attained
better-than-factory panel alignment, date-correct Freeborn Red
2-stage was accented with fresh trim, capped with a familiar white
roof and buffed to an incredible shine. And presently, this FJ sits
as a super clean classic that's timeless, tough and primed to
cruise!
ENGINE
Hoist the lightweight hood and you'll find 3.9 liters of inline
6-cylinder that, according to an "F" assembly stamp, is correct to
this application. Introduced in 1955, and regarded as one of the
all-time great Toyota powerplants, this mill is a favorite among
vintage truck buyers because of its simple design, adequate power
and excellent durability. At the top of the monochromatic block, a
Dry Type Air Cleaner feeds oxygen to a fresh carburetor, which is
seated on a nest of cast Toyota manifolds. At the side of those
manifolds, a factory cylinder head brandishes a painted, "F155"
branded valve cover. Fires get lit by an old school distributor,
which jolts fresh plug wires. Cooling comes courtesy of a shrouded
radiator, which frames a factory fan that spins next to a tagged
Nippondenso alternator. And the truck's clean engine compartment is
very well done, with items like an Exide battery, stainless fluid
lines and a fresh brake booster rounding out a roster of competent
mechanicals.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Crawl under this classic and you'll find solid, undercoated floors
that appear to have spent most of their life living clean and
working hard. The rebuilt 6-cylinder twists power to a correct
3-speed transmission. The truck's chassis rides a solid-axle
suspension that plants buff Old Man Emu springs around traditional
manual steering. Solid stops are a cinch thanks to power-assisted
drums. At the center of the floor, fresh exhaust pipes make good
use of a rear mounted muffler. And at the corners of the floor,
painted steel wheels spin meaty 32x11.50R15 Comforser CF3000
radials around polished stainless center caps.
INTERIOR
Inside this Cruiser, you'll find a spacious and comfortable cockpit
that has enough room to be your vehicle of choice for any weekend
adventure. The vinyl-wrapped seats include a front split-bench and
opposing rear jumps. In front of those thrones, a body-matched dash
frames crisp gauges and restored accessory knobs. Below that dash,
a duo of shifters, one for the 3-speed and one for the 4-wheel
drive, ride thick floor mats. Opposite those shifters, red doors
frame small handles and traditional window cranks. And the driver
spins a factory-issue steering wheel around a classy Toyota horn
button.
Fully restored and ready to roll, this Land Cruiser is the total
package! Wrapping a correct 6-cylinder/3-speed drivetrain in
trail-busting bluster that enjoys a diehard following, it's an
exclusive invitation to an exclusive niche. Looking for a versatile
classic that's fun and collectible? Don't miss the chance to
experience this super cool FJ!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a ground-up restoration
Correct F 6-cylinder
Correct 3-speed manual transmission
Date-correct Freeborn Red paint
Old Man Emu springs
15-inch steel wheels / 32x11.50R15 Comforser CF3000 tires
4-wheel power drum brakes
Split-bench interior with vinyl trim
