FOR SALE: 1978 Toyota FJ40 LandCruiser
FOR SALE: 1978 Toyota FJ40 LandCruiser
Seattle, WA
Price: SOLD!
Contact: SeattleFJ40@gmail.com
Up for sale is our 1978 Toyota FJ40 LandCruiser in its original color scheme, Sky Blue over black vinyl interior. This legendary truck has been well cared for in our family for nearly 30 years, 2 decades of which were in the dry southern California desert. With a hair over 94k original miles of unforgettable memories and patina, it is uncut, unmolested, and mostly stock save a few additions to make it even more adventure-worthy; more on that below.
At only 94k miles, this truck is still powered by its original Toyota 2F Inline-6 engine, known for its reliability into the hundreds of thousands of miles; smog components still available and included for those in California. Power is sent to the 31” BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain tires and original steel wheels via the stock 4-speed manual transmission and 2-speed hi/lo range transfer case. The smooth “click-click” sound and feel of changing gears adds to the unmistakable LandCruiser tactile, mechanical driving experience. 4-wheel drive is easily selected with a shift of a lever and manually turning the original Warn hubs. The front and rear solid axles are sprung by the proven Old Man Emu medium-duty suspension kit, giving the frame a 2” lift; this OME kit was installed in 2017 at 90,315 miles. The all-terrain tires are easily turned with the help of professionally-adapted Toyota power steering. The vintage Washington State license plate is period correct; indeed, I found a plate with original registration stickers from May 1978, the month and year this FJ40 was manufactured!
The body was repainted twenty years ago in the original color, single stage Sky Blue 854, and it still polishes to an eye-catching shine. I had the Cruiser recently inspected by a respected classic car body sheet metal restorer and painter. He noted the front floors are solid, showing surface corrosion of no concern. The rear cargo load floor also exhibits spots of minor surface corrosion commensurate with use and of no concern, with a quarter-sized bloom just outboard of the rear body mounts; mounts are solid. Other areas of localized blooming can be seen in the photos: rear cross member, rear bottom corner of driver side door, and just aft of each front fender turn signal. The frame has minor surface corrosion, still rock solid with no cracking or areas of concern per inspection by Torfab, and all body mounts are proper. No quick black spray cover-up here like you see on countless other “restored” 40s. He recommended I leave the original character and patina as-is rather than respraying. As he said, for anyone who knows what they’re looking at, there is nothing to hide here, and my intention is to be transparent as to the condition of this largely original truck. This truck has no need for a full restoration… where it shines is its balance of beautiful, vintage ruggedness with just the right amount of well-loved patina. It’s meant to be used for finding adventure, your favorite fishing hole, and a secluded campsite deep in the woods.
To help you get to camp and back, the truck has a Warn 9.5ti winch mounted to a Cool Cruisers of Texas HFS bumper, in the event you need to get yourself or a friend unstuck. The original stock bumper also comes with the sale. An ARB air compressor is mounted under the hood to air up your tires after a day on the trail, or use to inflate bike tires or blow up your inflatable kayak. A second battery is installed to provide the power needed for these additional electrical loads while leaving sufficient reserve to ensure the truck still starts in the backcountry. A CB antenna is currently installed on a removable Hi-Lift jack bracket; easily add a CB radio for classic trail communication, or remove the antenna altogether; your choice.
The interior is stock and original in all the right places, with black vinyl seats, rear side-facing fold-down benches, black roll bar, front and rear heaters, original steering wheel, AM radio, and unmodified dash with all the cool pull knobs to actuate vents, fan, wipers, and lights. The front seats have several tears in the original vinyl as shown in the photos. The original Toyota rubber mat still sits on the front floor pan, while the rear load area is covered by a Spector Off Road carpet mat that compliments the truck well. All four seatbelts were recently professionally rewebbed using the original buckles, retractors, hardware, and labels.
The front heater was internally refurbished in the last few years with new foam seals and springs, and the heater core was professionally hot-tanked and pressure tested prior to reinstallation. The original mechanical jack was recently refurbished and ready for another few decades of service. You’ll find it mounted in the stock location under the driver’s seat, with the jack actuating rods mounted under the rear right bench seat. Also under the driver’s seat is the original Toyota canvas tool bag with a complement of Toyota tools. A nice collection of repair and parts manuals are included with the truck, as is the original rubber distributor cover, a rare find!
A 12V port for charging a phone or other accessories is discretely mounted beneath the dash along with the National Luna dual battery voltage monitor and ARB compressor switch.
In the glove box you’ll find a Blue Sea fuse box, Toyota OEM 12V inspection lamp, and Warn winch controller.
Since bringing the truck to Washington under my ownership a decade ago, the majority of maintenance and repairs has been performed by Torfab, an experienced, trustworthy, and renowned LandCruiser shop in Everett, WA. Tor sees a lot come through his shop, and this 40 gets a thumbs up. Most recently, on 4/30/2021, Torfab performed a variety of maintenance in preparation for the truck’s new owner, including changing all gear and engine oils, greasing the suspension, tuning the carburetor, adjusting engine belts, installing new front brake pads, tensioning front wheel bearings, replacing the brake master cylinder and upper radiator hose, and installing and tuning a Wilwood adjustable brake proportioning valve for better braking performance. Maintenance records (not shown) are available as far back as 1993 when this LandCruiser first entered our family in Southern California with 55,000 miles.
Want to make it yours?
I’ll admit, this FJ40 truly opened up a world we previously didn’t know existed. If you’re not familiar with the magic found via forest roads and 4x4 trails, with epic views you’d find on the cover of a magazine and remote campsites miles from other humans, I’m happy to point you in the right direction! This truck will most certainly take you there with a grin that will stick with you long after you’ve returned to the work week.
I’m sad to see it go, but we’re now in a different chapter of life with more children than can fit in this 4-seater; we’re in the market for a less capable but more spacious camper van. After nearly 30 years in our family, this heirloom is ready for its new caretaker. Just know that I might ask for it back in a decade or two; first dibs, please!
Happy to answer any questions and give test drives to serious buyers. We’ll roll the windows down and take a cruise. Serious inquiries only, please.
A few other accessories can be included as part of the sale, including a DiamondRax roof rack configured for a roof top tent (RTT not available), new tire chains, and a Bestop Fold N’ Tumble 2-person forward-facing bench seat.
If you’re new to the adventure of exploring by 4x4 and make this FJ40 yours, I’ll tell you about some of my favorites spots to get you started off right.
