Off-Road Revival: 1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

The Land Cruisers of yesteryear were akin to the Jeep CJ but built in Japan. The J40, which was on the market from 1960 to 1984, was a 2-door SUV with a short wheelbase and four-wheel-drive. They were fun vehicles as a neighbor of mine had one and we went off-roading every chance we got. This nice 1974 edition only has 36,000 miles, having stayed in the garage since 1998. But it has been refreshed and is ready to go from Victorville, California. The FJ40 is available here on craigslist for $28,500.

While the Land Cruiser was available with a variety of wheelbase lengths, the shorter version is what people remember most. The overall dimensions of the vehicle were slightly more than that of the Jeep, and you could get one with a fixed roof or soft top. The FJ40s were powered by inline-6 engines (the Js had 4-cylinders), either gasoline or diesel-driven, though the diesel was never officially offered in the U.S. A pair of jump seats were in the back, usually folded up behind the front seats for more cargo space.

My neighbor’s Land Cruiser was a 1972 model (I think) and looked like this one but green in color. I remember our taking it out to some sand dunes once and we found a patch of water. We got stuck for a bit and – after letting some air out of the tires – he spun one of them completely off the rim. Ah, those were the days. However, I digress. We’re told this FJ40 has its original paint and interior and it looks quite good. It may not have been put through the rigors of the one my neighbor had!

This Toyota is said to run and drive, thanks to a new cooling system, tires, belts, and other things that need attention after 25 years in isolation. The seller may have acquired the vehicle from its original owner (just a guess) as all the paperwork comes with it from the day it was sold new in California. You don’t see one of these Land Cruisers very often – unless, of course, you find yourself in the middle of a 4X4 gathering!