7 photos
What does any discerning overlander or off-roader look for in a truck? Reliability. Which is something the Toyota Land Cruiser has in spades. From their genesis to the modern-day versions, these beefy four-wheel-drives have boasted trustworthy dependability, no matter which version you pick
Yet for as many cool models of the Land Cruiser that exist, the FJ40 remains one of the most iconic. Toyota produced the FJ40 from 1960 until 1984. Like many manufacturers of the time, Toyota felt the need to respond to the king of off-roading: the Jeep CJ. The FJ40 used a similar, boxy body, an interior devoted to practicality above all and a motor and transmission built for the apocalypse.
They also followed in the Jeep’s tire tracks with the enormous about of options and configurations offered on the FJ platform to assist in any type of trucking imaginable. Nearly 60 years after the creation of the FJ40, they’ve solidified their place right next to Jeep as one of the most iconic and durable off-road vehicles in history.
And now, our friends at Bring a Trailer are offering a beautiful example of a 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 for you to grab.
This particular one has the factory 4.2-liter straight six mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, topped off with a two-speed four-wheel-drive transfer case. A number of repairs and maintenance has been done, including a new head gasket and main oil pan and rebuilt alternator; the carbs have also cleaned. The soft vinyl roof was replaced with a Toyota-branded aftermarket soft top. And in addition to a fresh coat of paint, a previous owner graciously refinished the frame as well.
As of this writing, the auction has four days left, and the bidding stands at $6,972. Get this truck. Go outside. Give it hell.
