Up for sale is this iconic 1978 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, inished in Firethorn Red and ready for the Zombie Apocalypse. The odometer reads 67,000 but it could just as easily be 167,000 or even 467,000, t doesn’t really matter considering it is after all, he legendary and indestructible Toyota FJ.

I traded a C3 Corvette for this truck to a fine young man in West Texas who acquired it about seven years ago from an FJ collector in McKinney, exas. Early on in his ownership he completed a frame on restoration of the body and paint and brought it home where over the years he did a top notch job refreshing the motor, nstalling a new wiring harness and generally piddling around as best he could until he ran out of love for it.

When I picked it up, uch of the interior and trim was in boxes and the rear ambulance doors were ill fitting. One of the rear shock mounting studs was broken, ut I knew it had good bones and being that an FJ40 was on my bucket list I was not about to drag that Stingray back home. I have spent considerable time, oney and love completing the restoration and if I may say so myself, t looks marvelous.

This truck starts, hifts, ccelerates, teers and stops as it was designed. The 3 speed 4x4 transfer case and locking hubs are in good working order. It is equipped with the bulletproof Toyota 2F 4.2 liter inline 6 cylinder gasoline engine, speed manual transmission and power assisted front disk brakes. The motor with its 135hp and 210lbs of torque runs cool and doesn’t drip a drop of oil. The paint looks great, lthough the are some flaws on the right rear door hinge areas where repair was needed to remedy the ill fitting door. And after seven years in confined space there are some garage dings and scuffs here and there, ut nothing to really apologize for considering the purposes that this vehicle was designed for.

The interior features late model transplant, ully adjustable black leather bucket seats with a little extra wear on the driver’s side. The factory safari jump seats are in great condition. There is some nice patina on the gauge faces and control knobs to remind you that you are operating a classic. The glass is in overall very good condition. The horn and all of the lights and blinkers work and the heater and fan work. There is a short list of things left to do including the fuel level sender, he wiper motor and the dome light. Other than the fact that the original AM radio is inoperative this truck is good to go.

There are lots of new parts under the hood including the carburetor, lectronic ignition, oil and plugs, ater pump, pgraded aluminum radiator, lternator and battery. It has new shocks and the brakes have lots of meat left on them. Bushings and mounts are not new but not in need of replacement either. It’s rolling on fresh Cooper all terrains.

The frame and underpinnings of this truck are solid, have poked around front to back numerous times with the truck on the lift with wheels off and see no evidence of concern. There has been some repair on the tub in the foot well. Other than that it presents as a solid Texas specimen.

The driving experience is pretty raw on this “rough and tumble” little truck. If you’re coming into it from your Lexus then you will most certainly find it jarring and noisy. But like riding a strange horse, nce you find her rhythm she will charm your socks off. It provides excellent tactile feedback. Its size, eating position and maneuverability, ombined with a clear 360’ range of visibility establishes a bond between man and machine that is rare to come by. This time of year in the crispness of early winter I find myself drawn to it in preference to anything else in my current collection. It's a might bit slower than just about anything in the fleet but I swear it could climb a telephone pole if it could just get enough traction.

These trucks were produced in Japan and Brazil and sold globally over a 24 year run, aintaining its proportions and friendly face throughout. As a result there is no shortage of them, ut considering the best of the best are selling at top tier auctions in excess of $75,000 there is no doubt that they present a safe and fun investment opportunity. This little red FJ is not a show quality truck but it is as high a quality driver as you will find. I have driven it daily for weeks at a time and can tell you that in these times of political uncertainty and ideological threats that this truck can get you and yours reliably up the hill when called upon.

Successful bidder must make the Pay Pal deposit within 24 hrs of the conclusion of the auction. Deposit is non refundable. Inspections are encouraged BEFORE the end of the auction. Ask questions through the ebay message relay. I will respond quickly to any and all inquiries. This FJ40 is located in Rowlett, exas (75088) and as it is offered for sale locally seller reserves the right to end the auction at any time per ebay policy. I can assist with shipping arrangements for a $200 fee. I will store the vehicle safely for a reasonable period of time after which storage fees may apply. This vehicle is sold as is where is with no warranty implied or otherwise. Texas bidders may be subject to sales tax and registration fees. Bidding is not a game; please get necessary approvals from your wife, other, anker or whoever pulls your strings before bidding. If you have feed back less than 5 please contact me or I may reject your bid. Thanks for your interest and happy bidding. Peace. Love. FJ.

Now, or your viewing pleasure....

IN HER NATURAL HABITAT

THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S RESTORATION

THIS LAST ONE IS HOW SHE SAT COSMETICALLY FOR SEVEN YEARS OR SO AND HOW SHE LOOKED WHEN I GOT HER.

THESE NEXT ONES WERE FRESH OFF FINISHING THE BODY WORK.

LOTS OF WORK DONE TO GET THE INTERIOR LOOKING GOOD.

THESE NEXT ONES ARE ON THE LIFT BEFORE THE SKID PLATE WAS INSTALLED.

THE ENGINE BAY.

ALL FINISHED