Toyota Land Cruisers have entered the realm of never being affordable ever again unless you happen to stumble on a longtime owner who hasn’t caught up to the fact that people buy these things just to park in front of a vacation home. In some ways, you start to wonder if the prices being paid are really worth it, because they’re expensive compared to a new SUV, and downright pricey when stacked up against another SUV of the same era. Still, I doubt the seller is going to let this clean FJ60-series Land Cruiser go for anywhere near the current bid price of just over $10,000. Find the Toyota here on eBay where it’s described as having been a fun, reliable weekend runabout for the seller.
Lately, I’ve been hung up on trying to find a reasonably priced FJ80 series truck or its twin over at Lexus and living under the alias of the LX 450. Here’s the thing: these are good, reliable trucks with decent off-road chops. But they are rarely worth the price being paid for them, at least in terms of how much better a newer vehicle is. Now, I get it – many people just buy trucks like these for the experience, which I can understand with a Jeep or a Suzuki Samurai. But a vehicle the size of the Land Cruiser carries with all sorts of additional needs, from suspension bushings and axles to power features and damage-prone leather interiors. That’s why in many ways going for the more agricultural offering like that of an FJ60-series truck could be easier to live with over the long-term, even if you have to pay “real” money for it.
That being said, you’ll trade a lot away in terms of creature comforts, and perhaps more importantly, on-road performance. The seller notes that their Land Cruiser purchase was driven solely for having a fun weekend rig to jump in when the mood struck, provided you weren’t in a big hurry. That’s really essential for owning a truck like this, and I often wonder when someone pays crazy money at an auction for something like this or a Willys Jeep or a Type 2 Volkswagen, did they consider what it will be like trying to climb a steep grade in an underpowered rig with little in the way of comfort or safety features? Doubtful. The FJ80 trucks make a bit more sense in this regard, as they’re that much more powerful and have more modern features as standard equipment, which makes your “vintage” truck feel much more modern.
The seller’s Land Cruiser looks to be in very nice unrestored condition no matter where you look. It’s no surprise it resides in a place like Alabama, where the seasonal climate has certainly helped keep this FJ60 in fine cosmetic condition. The truck has some interesting features, including the extremely desirable cluster in the dash featuring an inclinometer and digital clock. Items like these were optional in the truck back in the day and sought after today by collectors and restorers alike. The seller has had the carburetor rebuilt and replaced the muffler, but that’s all he really knows considering the only records he has are the ones stemming from his time with the vehicle. Still, a Land Cruiser is legendary for a reason, not the least of which is its incredible reliability – so I wouldn’t sweat the lack of service records just yet. What do you think a fair price for an FJ60 this clean should be?
I like all the early Land Cruiser models. I like the legendary ruggedness and good reliability they offer. What I don’t like besides the price of admission are the high parts prices and RUST! To own one of these critters one has to become comfortable with the brutal reality that rust never sleeps in these trucks. So even with good cleaning practices taking these vehicles off road or driving in wintery weather there is no way to keep these from rusting. I tend to use vehicles for their intended purpose anything less and I feel like a poser. Where I live in the late winter my roads turn into a muddy quagmire. My Mercedes 560 SEL was completely covered in mud to the point strangers would ask me what color the car was. My reply was Idaho 2 tone paint. I purposely parked it next to lifted 4X4 rigs that were pristine and never saw a dirt road.
Great story alphasud !
I can verify the rust issues, as my 1996 FZJ80 is in bad need of rust repair….it is sitting now, as soon as my garage is completed it goes under the knife as i have a lot of memories and refuse to let it go. I get at least one lookie loo a year that tries to get me to sell it, the 35″ MTR’s and the ARB bumper draw them in.
From the Auto Check vehicle history (not good):
05/21/1998
ASHEVILLE, NC
Automotive Recycler
LAST SEEN AT RECYCLING FACILITY
Well that’s interesting
Up to 17K at 1:30 pm. Wow..
This is the latest “flash in the pan” as far as vintage 4×4’s bringing outrageous(to me) prices. It is kind of a refined FJ55, but not quite to the “chilled cup holder, heated gas pedal” crap they’ve become today. Clearly, the seller knows nothing about the truck, which is typical. These, I read, used the tried and true 3.9 2F motor, the GM “Stovebolt” knockoff. My FJ55 had that and was bulletproof. It has a long history dating back to the 50’s, powering everything from trucks to limos. It was, without question, Toyotas best motor. Nice find, you have to be off your nut to spend 5 figures on one, but that’s the circus.
This vehicle would have the 4.2 liter 2F engine, which in addition to a larger displacement, had improved oiling. The 3.9 liter 1F and 1.5F ended in 1974.
And it’s a damn shame everyone has flashed the pan hot enough to put one of these out of my reach…or even if in reach, valuable enough I’d never put one to its intended use. Tis a shame, it’s my favorite model of Cruiser, I’d love to have one to take in the woods on weekends.
They are worth a fortune in Australia now where they came with an ultra reliable 4.2 l diesel.
put together the comment from Mikefromthehammer 👍👍 and CRAZY money equals “bobbing head doll” .
I bought one Brand spanking new in 1984 or 85 for like $15,600 – it was gun Metal Grey , with Silver Pin stripes and then I had to put Aluminum running boards on it so my 5′ tall wife could get in it. It did look cool at the time- Butttt It was not a fun vehicle – it road like a stage coach – it was faster than our friends Isuzu trooper – but nothing else. I was never able to pass a gas station.
I would buy another one today – for what it should be worth $3,000 – second thought no I wouldn’t – nor would I pay over $80,000 or whatever, a new cost oday
I worked at a Toyota dealership in Hutchinson Ks in 1982-83 and a guy had to have his Land Cruiser which he bought new in Denver towed in and was on the way home when the 6 banger threw a rod. We fixed the issue under warranty and he was on his way.
I owned several of these, bought em in mid 90s never paid more then 3000. Would never pay anything over 8k. Good rigs though.
I have wanted a FJ40 since my high school days [there was a rusty smurf blue one in my buddies neighborhood], however the FJ55 and FJ60 are the epitome of the all weather hunting rig for me, but they were not plentiful in my state, probably due to the higher prices. so i ended up with an FZJ80 and love it
but the 55 “Iron Pig” has to be my favorite in the tough looks department
I had an identical one to this, just a year newer. They were powered by a 4.2L engine, the 3.9 was in the FJ62. I don’t know where the author gets the idea of these being underpowered in relation to hill climbing. Yes, they have a low redline and will not win any races on road, but 4.2 is not small, and put this thing in low range and it will climb any hill.
The prices are insane. I paid $2600 for mine back in ‘98, it only had 90k on it but was well used by an entire family. Had no leaks, and just needed a ‘pick me up” which I did over the time I had it. Foolishly sold it, (like many of my vehicles) for $6500 and I thought I was great restorer.
If you have ever owned or driven one of these. The torque makes up for the low advertised horsepower. I have driven these in the desert, on mountain roads, highway and cow paths. I NEVER felt like a lack of power. I worked at a Toyota store when these were new and had one in the family.I never heard of one having any internal engine problems. To have a connecting rod problem you would have to over rev the engine. If you did not know what you were looking at and saw the one of these engines from the bottom. You would swear that you were looking at a diesel engine. They are that robust on the bottom end. (also why they don’t rev too high!) And yes Howard, they are a copy of the Chevrolet engine, (in fact the manifold gasket will interchange on the early Pre1973 engines with the Chev prior to 1955) But the internals are highly upgraded. I would venture to say the the connecting rods are twice as beefy as the Chevy.
Sweet looking Land Cruiser! My favourite Toyota Land Cruiser models are the FJ55, the FJ60 and FJ62.