1970 Toyota Land Cruiser
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. It underwent a full nut-and-bolt restoration, completed in 2013, during which all original components were refinished or rebuilt. The engine, transmission, transfer case, sheet metal, axles, starter, and carburetor were all restored to ensure that this FJ40 remained as it was when it left Toyota's factory. The engine was over-bored by 0.40" to 3.9L and received a new cam, lifters, pistons, and bearings, while the transmission is factory specification. Genuine Toyota parts were used in the few instances where reusing the original equipment was not possible. It wears its original paint color, Toyota Fashion Green, over all-original sheet metal. Combined with a minimalist black vinyl interior, an off-white roof and grille complete its classic look. 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.
