The FJ55 is a Toyota Land Cruiser generation that remains somewhat affordable, at least compared to other vintage Toyota 4x4s. The truck can certainly pull strong money in restored condition, but finding one as a project isn’t usually too much of a wallet shock (restoring it, however, is a different matter altogether.) This example listed here on eBay is a total restoration project but it’s one of the rare examples that isn’t super rusty.
Bidding has reached $3,850 with the reserve unmet. One of my favorite details is the over-sized 4WD badge on the lower left of the tailgate, along with how awesome these trucks look riding on white-painted rally wheels. The seller’s truck is missing plenty of OEM details, such as the rear bumper, but that’s likely because before they became restoration candidates, old rigs like these were simply used up until they had nothing left to give.
A few years ago, an editor at Automobile magazine documented how much money he spent to completely restore his FJ55 before sending it to auction. It was a staggering amount of money to me at the time (and still is, but really, the sum is likely pretty tame in today’s market) and the sale result didn’t exactly represent a windfall. It’s crazy to me given how agricultural both these FJs and the 23-window VW Buses are that the Type 2 remains so white hot value-wise while a truck like this that an actually take you off-road languishes in the shadows of the FJ40.
Now, because this Land Cruiser has been in Nevada and California all of its life, it remains shockingly rust-free. Over the years, the few of these I’ve seen in northeast salvage yards have all but returned to the Earth, so to see one that is clearly a project yet has the majority of its body panels in place is remarkable. The seller notes it starts right up and runs off an external fuel source, but will need its tank cleaned out to run reliably. A super cool rig going for a very good price at the moment, with the option to buy-it-now for $6,500.
Arrrrgggghhh,,,BAM! I rarely hear others, “oh yeah, what a great reminder, had one just like it”, stories. I blame the innernet, robbed our ability to, um, to, think., that’s it. Mine was 1970, 3 on the tree, but remains one of the best engineered vehicles I had. I know, “but Howard, you said”,,, I can’t remember how I got it, with my distain for foreign vehicles, I got it cheap, REALLY cheap, very rusty, ran great, like maybe $200 bucks( in the mid 80s) and had a front mounted winch, which, at the time, my ex-BIL and I were making a car trailer, and I bought the FJ just for the winch. It turned out to be one of the best trucks I had, and used it until the body was so rusted, it disconnected from the frame, and I shot it. Still ran great and kept the winch, I never did anything with. Great find, the motor, I think, is the old 3.9, updated to 4.2, but a direct knockoff of the GM in line 6, with none of the GM shortcomings.( What shortcomings???) The 4 speed helped too, and why we had to stray from these basic, dependable vehicles, only tells me, well, you know what it tells me,, no interest here folks. Shame, to even see one like this is unusual, and from a time, the humble beginnings of these trucks of today.
Right? I’d give anything to drive this. I’d prefer this any day over what’s offered today.
I could have bought a real nice one 28 yrs ago for 1500 ,that’s before I knew much about them.
That is not rusty unless it’s gone underneath. A tank.
Tank no Iron Pig yes .
europe/japan had some ruged 4wheelers. I all ways like the mericn beddah as they were multi-purpose (hit 65 MPH on interstate as well as conqure the off rd). I think this the 1st model japan tried to match that (well the early attempted a willys match which may have been a LR attempt). So….
yeah “drivetrain no problems” but ‘rest gone’, like our own rigs. It took me 3 or 4 bronks to make my 1 first gen in early ’80s.There’s only a few oldies but goodies that will make U a proffit (like I say “the proffit comes in the 1st day U own” ie must B bought right from begining).
Lovely looking Land Cruiser. I’ve always loved the Toyota FJ55 Land Cruiser. I’d buy one if I could find a place to restore/upgrade it. I’d restore the cosmetic end to almost like-new (showroom) condition, but then I’d also upgrade the mechanical end, I’d love a Toyota 3.0 Turbo Diesel engine, an automatic gearbox, disc brakes if it doesn’t already have it. Given its current condition, I’d pay between $1,000 and $5,000. I’d still have enough money on hand to determine what can be done.
My favourite Toyota Land Cruiser generations have always been the FJ55 through FJ80.