Vehicle Description
Toyota's rugged and legendary Land Cruiser is one of those rare
vehicles that has proved itself time and again in the harshest of
environments, earning every bit of its reputation for faithful,
bullet-proof dependability. Like the American Jeep and British Land
Rover, the Land Cruiser was born for military duty and needed the
capability to traverse virtually any surface from muddy jungles to
desert sand. The genesis of the Land Cruiser came with a post-war
agreement between Toyota and the US Military. In 1950, the US
Government commissioned Toyota to build 100 Willys Jeeps that were
to be used by soldiers and Military Police stationed in Japan
during the Korean War. Toyota obliged but immediately saw room for
improvement on the venerable American design. In 1951 Toyota
developed their own prototype which drew the best the Jeep and the
British Land Rover had to offer, combined into one new package.
Production of the "Toyota Jeep BJ" began in 1953, and the vehicle
was put into service by American MPs. In 1954, a civilian version
was introduced, and the Land Cruiser name was born. Like the Jeep
in America, the Land Cruiser proved to be very popular with
farmers, utilities, or anyone who needed a simple but versatile
vehicle capable of handling rough terrain, particularly in the
Asian and South American markets. In 1954, the F-series 3.9-liter
inline six made its first appearance in fire engine chassis where
its additional power was a necessity. Soon after, this larger
engine was available across the Land Cruiser line. The civilian
FJ25 led Toyota's expansion into new markets, where the sturdy and
dependable little truck paved the way for the hugely successful
40-series. Since the 1950s, Land Cruisers have served at the hands
of soldiers and warlords alike on virtually every continent on the
globe. 'Cruisers are adapted to handle countless jobs - from
firefighting to plowing fields and snow, and many are still in
loyal service in far-reaching parts of the world. This 1957 FJ25 is
an extremely rare and desirable early-production FJ-series Land
Cruiser. This truck has been treated to a comprehensive restoration
performed by a Toyota specialist. Freshly completed in 2018, it is
very attractive, finished in dark green with brown seats. The deep
green paint and body quality is good without appearing over
restored, which is appropriate for a utilitarian vehicle such as
this. Civilian FJs were distinguished from military versions with
the addition of chrome wheel covers and discreet chrome strips on
the horizontal grille. The grille trim and headlight surrounds are
in good original condition, while the "dog dish" hubcaps have been
restored. Body color steel wheels are fitted with fresh,
period-correct Firestone military tires. A single side-mounted
spare wheel recalls the early Willys Jeep, and a Jerry can is
strapped to the tailgate. Unapologetically basic, the FJ25 remains
hugely appealing. The interior of the FJ25 is about as elemental as
it gets. The seats are covered in brown upholstery, with matching
boots for the gear shift, transfer case selector, and handbrake. A
set of rubber mats protect the freshly painted floors, and the
"doors" are limited to a pair of nylon straps to keep occupants in
place. The controls, switches, and instruments are good original
items set in the body-color dash panel. Toyota's legendary
3.9-liter inline six presents well, with the block number matching
that on the firewall tag. It shows well, with a host of new
components including the carburetor and ancillaries, and good
quality paint finishes on the air-cleaner housing, radiator, and
other accessories. The chassis, axles, and suspension were painted
to match the body, and all present in excellent condition. This
rare and fascinating early Land Cruiser is ready to be enjoyed in
any number of events, or for merely "cruising" to your local shops.
It is one of the earliest of its kind in North America and
represents a significant and vital period for Land Cruiser
enthusiasts. Rarely do such early pre-40 Series FJs become
available, and this is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a
restored and usable example.
