1977 Toyota FJ 40 LandCruiser

There are very few 4x4s that have aged quite as well as the FJ40. Short wheelbase, upright windscreen, exposed hinges, steel wheels and a spare hanging off the back – it is about as simple and honest as a four-wheel drive gets. Decades later, they somehow look cooler than ever. This is an FJ40 we know particularly well, having sold it previously. It was extensively refreshed in Indonesia before coming to Ireland and remains an extremely impressive example today, both cosmetically and underneath. Being an FJ rather than one of the diesel BJ models, it uses Toyota’s wonderfully old-school straight-six petrol engine, coupled to a three-speed manual gearbox and selectable four-wheel drive. It has plenty of torque and suits the character of the Land Cruiser perfectly. The work carried out in Indonesia wasn’t simply cosmetic either. A number of sensible upgrades make this considerably more usable than a completely standard FJ40, including upgraded suspension, larger wheels and tyres, disc brakes all round and, importantly, power steering. We’ve improved it further during our time with the vehicle. Indonesian-market FJ40s weren’t exactly designed with an Irish winter in mind, so we fitted a proper heating system. It also has air conditioning, making it a surprisingly civilised old Land Cruiser regardless of the weather. Inside, it has been fully retrimmed in a lovely tan finish which works brilliantly against the period beige exterior. There’s a front bench and traditional inward-facing rear seats, technically providing room for seven – although seven adults might be a fairly optimistic interpretation! The bodywork presents extremely well, the engine bay is beautifully tidy and, importantly with any old Land Cruiser, the chassis is excellent. It’s also genuinely lovely to drive and feels like a vehicle you can simply jump into and use. And that’s really the appeal of this one. It retains everything that makes an FJ40 such a cool thing – the looks, simplicity, straight-six petrol engine, proper four-wheel drive and slightly agricultural character – while power steering, improved suspension, disc brakes, heating and air conditioning make it considerably easier to live with. The FJ40 has long since moved beyond being simply an old utility vehicle and is now rightly regarded as one of the iconic classic 4x4s. Unlike plenty of classics, however, there’s still something wonderfully usable about one. A beautifully presented, properly sorted FJ40 that we know well, and one that’s ready to simply get in and enjoy.