Which of These FJ40s on Hemmings Auctions Do You Prefer: Restored, Customized, or Original?

Three Land Cruiser FJ40s now available on Hemmings Auctions offer a variety of ways to enter the hobby and join the legion of fans of these extremely capable and customizable Toyota off-roaders.

We’ve got a special treat for fans of the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser on Hemmings Auctions right now. Ending next Monday, December 23, are three examples of one of Japan’s most revered off-roaders. Each one represents a little different take on the collector car hobby: an FJ40 largely restored to original condition, a fully customized example with an LS V8, and an unrestored, largely original FJ40 offered at no reserve.

One of the joys of driving certain classic cars is that you can often be the only guy on the road, behind the wheel of something just about unique in the world modern jellybean crossovers. For the joys of that uniqueness, you put up with scarce parts, rare expertise and constantly answering the question “What is that thing?” Alternatively, owning a more common car or truck has its own benefits, such as the availability of parts, a strong aftermarket, and a supportive community that both offers help and real-life get togethers to have some shared fun on four wheels. That’s where the Land Cruiser FJ40 fits in.

Origins of the Toyota Land Cruiser

Built in relative abundance over 24 years of production—almost 40 years if you count the Brazilian variant—the FJ40 has a strong following among collectors and off-road aficionados alike. You can still find original, unrestored FJs as well as fully refurbished, like-new examples and even wildly customized versions.

The Land Cruiser can trace its history to the early 1950s when Japan was recovering from World War II and the U.S. Army was looking to source a locally produced alternative to the Willys Jeep during the Korean War. That first vehicle was known as the Toyota Jeep BJ, and it looked a heckuva lot like the Willys version. Between building an off-roader with its own identity and seeking to avoid the wrath of Willys’ lawyers, the Land Cruiser name was born a few years later. The first-generation production versions were given the BJ and later FJ names depending on their configuration for military, police and other first responders.

Even with the switch to the Land Cruiser name, the FJ and BJ codes stayed on, at least in terms of Toyota’s internal code for the platform, which also became increasingly popular beyond its original governmental markets. The second-gen platform, known as the J20, arrived in 1955 and was among the first Toyotas offered on our shores when the automaker first started its U.S. operation two years later. With the J20, Toyota gave its homegrown off-roader a more distinctive front end as compared to the signature vertical grille of the Jeep as used on its first version. The “F” in the FJ20 name came from Toyota’s use of its six-cylinder F series engine.

The Debut of the FJ40

The FJ40 debuted in 1960 and proved a breakthrough for Toyota, winning the manufacturer legions of admirers the world over for the vehicle’s ability to go nearly anywhere. The body-on-frame FJ40 proved to be not just rugged, but also incredibly durable and reliable, a reputation Toyota has maintained and benefited from with each successive version of its Land Cruiser.

In the U.S., where the diesel-engined BJ40 was never sold, the standard engine from 1975 through the final FJ40 imported in 1983 was Toyota’s 2F, an OHV inline-six engine that is noted for its rock-solid reliability and durability. The 4.2-liter engine was rated at a modest 133 horsepower and a respectable 210 lb-ft of torque. All were also equipped with a four-speed manual and a two-speed transfer case.

As a relatively small and light 4×4 (though still a bit bigger than a contemporary Jeep CJ), the FJ40 proved popular with off-roaders, though you wouldn’t have to look hard to find one with a plow attached in the Northeast doing some hard work in the winter. In rural Latin America, they were put to work by farmers as well as military and first responders. Plenty were customized over the years, from bigger tires to lift kits to just about anything else an enterprising owner could do to improve its capabilities for its intended task.

Fortunately, the FJ40’s long production cycle, which included U.S. sales through 1983, has given the collector car world a lot to work with, even though rust has claimed a fair number of these capable machines. The FJ40 world does seem to be open to all levels of condition, correctness and performance. Let’s look a little closer at the three FJ40 Land Cruisers now available via Hemmings Auctions.

Restored and Upgraded 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

The Florida-based seller of this 1981 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser has had success with Hemmings Auctions in the past with such FJs restored in Latin America and then imported to the U.S. Given the popularity of these vehicles south of the border, it’s no surprise that there are experienced mechanics and restorers returning them to their original spec. The listing for this one includes over 300 images related to the frame-off/frame-up, nut-and-bolt restoration.

The Land Cruiser certainly looks to be in excellent condition. We like to look at engine bay and undercarriage photos to see how thorough a restoration was. In this case, the paint on the frame and underside of the floors looks like new. There are also a few upgrades here, such as a Toyo aluminum radiator, large all-terrain tires, stainless-steel exhaust and aftermarket air conditioning. For fans of restored FJs, this one seems to be ready to be shown or perhaps having its fresh paint christened on a trail somewhere.

1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with an LS1 V8

Given the Land Cruiser’s reputation as a blank slate suitable for personalization, it’s no wonder that enterprising builders have really gone all out in recent years. And given the GM LS engine family’s reputation for big power, relative efficiency, light weight, and compact dimensions, it’s also no surprise that an LS1 5.7-liter V8 ended up between the fenders of this heavily customized 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40.

Though the seller shares no specs of the source of the LS1, it does appear clean and is noted as having a FiTech EFI system, throttle body and intake manifold, along with headers and dual exhaust. That powerplant is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox through a Centerforce clutch, with torque delivered to both axles. An aluminum radiator and electric fan help keep the V8 cool.

Inside, racing-style bucket seats are clad in tan vinyl, the same material covering the rear seats as well as the door cards. Instruments were sourced from Dakota Digital and the FJ has a Pioneer infotainment system with an integrated backup camera. An aftermarket climate-control system handles both A/C and heat. Both the soft top and roll bar are removable. Headlamps and auxiliary lightning now feature LEDs. This 1979 FJ40 has been lifted four inches and uses Fox shocks along with replacement Pitman arms and new tie-rod ends. Toyo A/T Open Country tires are mounted on 17-inch wheels. Though it looks clean and very well put together, this FJ just begs us to test it on a muddy trail somewhere.

No-Reserve 1982 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser

While it may seem that every FJ40 has been restored or subject to the restomod treatment (see above), there are still originals out there, like this 1982 Toyota FJ40  Land Cruiser that is being offered at no reserve. The seller’s notes indicate that the 2F 4.2-liter inline-six along with the four-speed manual are both original the vehicle. The Mustard Yellow is also indicated as original.

Being sold from the east end of New York’s Long Island, this FJ40 has likely seen some winters. That rough life is showing through with some corrosion in a few areas of the body. The undercarriage images also show some corrosion, but the photos overall show a complete vehicle. The interior, too, shows its age, but also looks complete. We’ll say the same for the engine bay, too, which appears to be equipped with air conditioning, though no mention is made of its operational status.

This 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser might be a little rough around the edges, but it’s also a member of the dwindling class of original, unmodified FJ40 SUVs. If you were to win the bidding on this Land Cruiser (and somebody will win, since there is no reserve), would you go the restomod route with an LS V8, or maybe something else from Toyota’s parts bin, or would you be more likely to consider a restoration closer to its original specification?

Check out all of the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers now available on Hemmings.com!

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