1973 Toyota LandCruiser FJ45 – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 20.04.2020

Hotted up FJ 'Cruiser: 5.7lt 350 Chev V8, Turbo 350 auto, Jaguar front axle, Salisbury 10-bolt rear

Perhaps mirroring contemporary new car sales trends as people turn towards high-riding SUVs and dual-cab utes in swathes; over the past few years we’ve observed increased interest in many classic and retro utilitarian four-by-fours.

Leading the charge are early Land Rovers and Toyota LandCruisers, more frequently being retired from the trails and pampered with extensive rebuilds and even full-blown restorations.

Early LandCruisers in particular have been fetching increased figures on the secondary market, extraordinarily so in some cases, although on average lagging far behind what people are paying in the US for the humble Toyota fourbie.

The 40-series LandCruiser was an extremely enduring model, produced from 1960 until 2001. A traditional body-on-frame SUV available as a short-wheelbase two-door, a long-wheelbase four-door, and two-door cab chassis throughout its lifecycle.

This FJ45 cab-chassis isn’t your usual LandCruiser however, and has undergone an extensive rebuild, although not in the vein of originality or restoration.

Under the bonnet sits a 5.7lt 350 Chev V8, backed by a new Turbo 350 automatic. The lowered stance comes courtesy of a disc brake Jaguar front axle, new steering system (with power assistance), and a rebuilt Salisbury 10-bolt rear end.

Inside the cabin sits new leather trim, with the FJ on full NSW registration and supported by Engineers’ certificates for all mechanical work.

The old Landcruiser may not be for everyone, but it looks like a super cool and capable cruiser that would surely be a hit at the local cars & coffee.

If it takes your fancy you can find it in New South Wales, listed for $55,000 (though, the seller states that they will accept an excavator as part-payment, if you happen to have one laying around).

Check out the full listing here!

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