For Sale: 1977 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in Lithia Springs, Georgia

The time has finally come when investing in a high-dollar restoration of a Toyota Land Cruiser makes sense. This gorgeous 1977 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser was fully restored by Ken Wallace at American Classics over the course of four years, and was recently finished into the spectacular piece that it is today.. If you want one of the very best Land Cruisers we've seen, this is it.

The classic box-on-wheels look of the FJ is probably a big part of its appeal. These trucks are legendary in off-roading circles for being reliable and as agile as a mountain goat, and given their track record in some pretty inhospitable places, well, it's easy to see why they're red-hot with collectors. However, all those wonderful features also makes finding a nice one challenging, since so many of these trucks have been bashed, abused, and just plain used up in the years before they were on the collectors' A-list. Fortunately, this one is extremely clean with a correct-looking taupe paint job and white top that looks bound for the Sahara. Fit and finish are better than you'll normally ever find and it fits together with typical Toyota quality, all of which was restored back into this FJ when it was reassembled. Those flat panels are truly flat, so the paint shines nicely and lots of new rubber means it seals up well. There's a useful winch mounted up front and a full-sized spare tire carrier on the back, plus a few extra lights, so all you need is a roof rack and some jerry cans to head out into the wilderness and have an adventure.

You'll find the interior is far more civilized than you'd expect for a world traveler like this, with comfortable high-back bucket seats, new door panels, and plenty of room for everyone. Twin folding seats in back expand passenger capacity and with durable rubber mats on the floor, you can get dirty without worrying about cleaning carpets when you get home. This fully restored truck shows a nice set of gauges ahead of the driver, as well as an upgraded AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo in the dash that makes driving it a pleasure. The 4-speed shifter moves through the gates easily and there's a second lever for the 2-speed transfer case, plus a heater powerful enough to cook food. The hardtop and doors are relatively easy to remove for open-air motoring if you'd like to go that route. Either way, you'll find it's all but impossible not to have fun driving this 4x4.

Toyota's 4.2-liter inline-six powered Land Cruisers for decades and while it seems modest on paper, it's proven itself time and again when conditions were less than ideal. Around town, it's smooth and torquey and the gear ratios are exactly right to make it feel quick and agile. The engine bay is quite nicely detailed, and it's a relief to see the factory equipment is intact, including the heavy-duty air cleaner that is remarkably effective. It starts and runs well, makes good oil pressure, and generally goes about its business without any fuss, and should continue to do so for a long, long time. The suspension is capable and rides nicely on the streets or in the dirt, and it's so clean underneath that it likely has not been off the pavement since the restoration was completed. New Pro Comp alloy wheels are powdercoated black and fitted with 305/70/16 Dick Cepek radial tires, giving it the perfect stance and improved crawling ability.

The prices on these are not a joke and they're not a temporary condition. You're already kicking yourself for not buying that awesome FJ you wanted years ago, so don't wait another day, you likely will not find another one that was restored to such a high level. Call now!