The Toyota Land Cruiser has a long and storied history, but one thing has remained constant over its 70-year production run: their ruggedness and reliability is nearly unmatched. The original Land Cruiser was a military-purposed vehicle designed to transport troops and cargo with reliability and offroad prowess and primary concerns. However, the 40 series quickly became Toyota's top-selling products both in the U.S. and foreign markets such as Australia. They were heavily sought after by those living in harsh environments where perfectly paved highways were not the norm, and their simple yet rugged design allowed shade-tree and bush mechanics to service their trucks without having to visit a shop. A 3.6-liter, 125 horsepower inline-six was responsible for powering the FJ40 and, most importantly, earned the reputation of being bombproof. These trucks were so well-loved that, even after their global production run ended in 1984, they continued to roll off of production lines in Brazil until 2001.
This 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 is a 2-door, short-wheelbase model equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission. Finished in its original Fashion Green over a spartan black vinyl interior, it completes the timeless look with an off-white roof and grille and grey painted steelies. It underwent a full nut and bolt restoration, finished in 2013, during which time all original components were refinished or rebuilt. The body consists of all original sheet metal, and all driveline components, including the carburetor, are original to this truck. Selectable high and low gears, as well as manually-engaged four-wheel-drive, ensure that this Fj40 will reach its final destination no matter what lies ahead. It performs as if it just rolled out of the Toyota factory and is a joy to drive.
