1970 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 FJ40V Hardtop 3-Speed Manual

Here is a 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 FJ40V Hardtop 3-Speed Manual that has been exhaustively restored, and it shows.  It is a fine specimen and the restoration left no stone unturned.  An early entrant to the SUV market (before they were called SUVs) from Japan, it competed with early Broncos and Blazers.  All have surged in value on the crest of SUV popularity compared with nostalgia about a different era.  Produced long before the digital age, this truck is analog to the max – featuring not only a 3-speed manual transmission shifted on the floor but also an adjacent transfer case shifter with “N” between “4L” and the other side of “4H” and “4L”.

Equipped with a 3.8 litre inline six-cylinder engine, power is delivered to the wheels through a 3-speed manual transmission shifted on the floor – delivered to the rear wheels or all four based on the setting of the transfer case, controlled with the shifter to the right of the transmission shifter.  Robust does not begin to tell the story of this Land Cruiser, it is generally known as one of the most famous and capable on- and off-road vehicles ever produced.  A further feature of interest is that it is an early example of the reliability Toyota has become known for.

This FJ40V comes with some features that are at once unique and desirable.  Keep the roof on or take it off to take in the sun.  The windshield is hinged at its base and can be folded down for true open-air driving.  The doors can also be removed.  Lights, mirrors and glass are not the streamlined shape of today, all uncracked and functional.

Mechanically, the engine compartment contains the correct accessories and the Land Cruiser’s undercarriage features correct OEM components, with both in well-maintained and sound condition.  Other accessories include a Rampage 86654 48” jack, conspicuously mounted fore of the passenger door.  The extended front bumper is home to a Badland electric winch, two substantial tow hooks and Hella driving lights with branded covers.

The truck’s blue paint is a refinish, with a contrasting white roof.  The grey wheels are at once understated and an effective contrast.  A giveaway that the tires are light truck tires, as opposed to passenger tires is the “LT” at the beginning of the sizing:  this Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac All-Terrain M+S rubber measures 31 x 10.50R15LT at all four corners as well as the spare, another giveaway being the Imperial measurements.  The spare is mounted on the rear of the Toyota, with a matching grey wheel.  The mount to the Land Cruiser is one of substance, matching the rear bumper just below, all tubular steel.

Rear access is quite utilitarian, with top-hinged glass above barn doors.  The rear cargo area offers plenty of space as well as a trove of parts in a tote that go with the truck to its new owner.  Underneath is a new exhaust system with a pleasant note, listen to it announcing the test driver rowing through the three forward gears in the driving videos.

The spartan cabin of this FJ40V is equipped to get the job done.  Instrumentation comes from the KISS school, with all needed at hand:  100 MPH speedometer, with odometer showing 9066 miles, and gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, furl and amperage.  The three-spoke steering wheel has an old-fashioned “TOYOTA” logo in block letters and parking brake is operated by hand from under the dash.  Other controls are period-reflective knobs.  Operating instruction decals remain in place and harken back to a simpler time when driver inputs determined more of a vehicle’s maneuvres than did a computer.  The restored front split bench is a touch of luxury in a no-frills interior.  Electric windshield wipers and an under-dash heater defroster are on hand for safety if conditions get extreme, at which time this Toyota is right at home.

This 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 FJ40V Hardtop 3-Speed Manual is available with photocopied owner’s manual in a three-ring binder with two sets of keys from the selling dealer in Watford, Ontario.  Selling dealer has a recent appraisal for $85,000 on hand.

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