What we are going to talk about today is the model in front of the FJ Cruiser, which is the source of the FJ Cruiser’s styling re-enactment, the Toyota FJ series, which is the 40-series Land Cruiser model. To be more specific, the car we are talking about today is the FJ45LV with long axle and hard top.
The Toyota FJ40 series models were officially launched in the 1960s, and it was also the beginning of the official glory of the Land Cruiser series. Compared with the first-generation model FJ20, Toyota FJ40 is closer to civilian use in terms of design. Coupled with consistent reliable performance, Toyota FJ40 series has been consistently produced until the 1980s. The Toyota FJ40 series models launched at the beginning were equipped with the F series 3.8L inline six-cylinder engine. In 1974, it was replaced with a 4.2L version, and this power continued until 1984. During the 24-year life cycle, the FJ40 series has successively derived long-wheelbase models and pickup truck models. By 1984, the brand-new 70-series model officially replaced the 40-series model and became the inheritance of Toyota’s classic off-road vehicles, which has been passed down to this day.
Still back and forth on this long-wheelbase version of the FJ45LV. In the life cycle of the FJ40 series, the output of the long-wheelbase version of the FJ45LV is not large, and it is even rarer to survive today. During the life cycle of production, about 1,000 FJ45LVs were exported to the US market, and today’s fully restored FJ45LV is the work of the owner after ten years of restoration. After a comprehensive restoration, this once rusty old car has regained its vitality, allowing us to see it just as it was when it left the factory for the first time in decades.
On the whole, Toyota FJ45LV retains the planar design of that era. Compared with the FJ40 in the traditional impression, after increasing the wheelbase and rear suspension size, the volume of the FJ45LV is obviously larger, and the whole vehicle It also presents a more slender visual experience. The shape of the upper part of the body has a sense of the times in the 1960s. Due to the limitation of the position of the rear wheels, the size of the rear door of the FJ45LV is small, but this will not affect the rear space. Under the structure of the non-load-bearing body, The interior space of the car will not be greatly affected, and the rear seat also adopts a theater-style layout, with a higher sitting posture than the front seats, thereby improving the view in the car. The design of the long rear overhang also brings the FJ45LV a very sizeable trunk window size and a considerable trunk volume.
Like the contemporary models, the FJ45LV’s frame also protrudes significantly from the front of the car, so it presents an illusion that the entire body moves backwards. Of course, this is just an illusion. If we remove the roof line, we will find that the overall ratio is very good. As for the front face, if you are used to the shape of the FJ Cruiser, you will feel familiar with this design. The beige trim unifies the characteristics of the headlights and the air intake grille. Even looking at it now, it will not be outdated at all. The restoration of the interior of the vehicle is even more perfect. The metal instrument panel has a sense of the times, and the one-piece front seat can ensure the seating of three people, including the chrome-plated parts have also been repaired. The gear shift handle adopts a gear design. The spare tire is built into the trunk, and thanks to the straight body line design, the trunk space of the FJ45LV is also very regular.
This refurbished FJ45LV has been bought by a collector from Dubai. In the collection field, the FJ45LV is currently even rarer than the Land Rover Series 1.
