1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser

We have a soft spot for FJ40s. We think they’re pretty, functional, funky, tough and full of charm.

Sometimes, however, their cosmetic appeal transcends all of that and they become, to our eyes, things of real beauty.

This is one such vehicle, and the principal reason is the simply fabulous dark green metallic paint job, which shimmers, pops, dazzles and sings in the sunlight in a quite mesmerising way.

That the paint sits on top of bodywork with no dinks, dents, warps, creases or folds is, of course, a considerable bonus.

That the car starts, goes, handles and stops as well as it does is the icing on a particularly appealing cake.

All things considered, then, this is a really very impressive vehicle.

Newly restored by the vendor’s FJ40-series restoration and repair business (we have had several of his fine vehicles through our portals here at HQ), the car features bulk new (genuine) parts and accessories inside and out.

In common with the rest of his vehicles, this one has been comprehensively refurbished, refreshed and restored with an eye to keeping as much of the original car as possible. Where parts have been replaced, the replacements are genuine OEM items.

It is currently showing 61,935 kms on the odometer.

There are bills and invoices attesting to well over £11,000 worth of restoration and servicing carried out on this exceptional vehicle. We think you can see where every penny went.
 

The bodywork is untroubled by time or use and there are no dents or dinks that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are crisp and consistent, and the doors close with plenty of precision and certainty.

The car’s spectacular metallic green paintwork fizzes with luminous brilliance under virtually any lighting conditions other than total darkness.

It is a joy to behold and is perfectly complemented by the white roof and grille.

Brand new Swallow tyres have been fitted to the original 15" split rims, which are shown at their best with new, genuine, chrome hub caps.

The car’s exterior fixtures and fittings are mostly new and feature genuine OEM parts.

The new badging, lights and lenses all look excellent, as do the new bumper rubbers, mud flaps, wing mirrors, door handles, bonnet latches and spotlights...among other items.

There are one or two light scuffs and scratches between the windscreen and the bonnet, a couple of stone chips and scuffs atop both front wings, and some paint rubbed away on the door edges and bonnet louvres.

Basically, though, it’s all pretty much beyond reproach.
 

After a quick look around the interior of this car you’d be forgiven for thinking that it must have rolled off a production line last week, not 48 years ago.  

We’re assuming it keeps a portrait of a rather more decrepit version of itself in an attic somewhere.

The interior boasts new upholstery, headliner, sun visors, door cards, gear knobs, floor mats, pedal rubbers, door handles, and an array of other new, but genuine, accessories and aesthetic improvements.

The black vinyl upholstery is beyond reproach, front and back, and there’s not even a crease on show, let alone any ingrained patina.

The door cards and headlining are excellent.

The simple dashboard looks as solidly functional as you would hope and expect, and all dials, instruments, levers and controls look good, save for the odd scuff here and there.

As far as we’re aware, everything works as intended.

Basically, all aspects of the interior are squeaky clean, minty fresh and showroom-shiny. 
 

All steering, suspension, brakes, and hubs have been stripped back and rebuilt with new parts. All seals, bearings, gaskets, and grease are new, as is the rear drum brake kit.

The front brakes have been upgraded to new disc brakes and the front wheels feature 4x4 locking hubs.

The suspension has been reassembled with new tie rod ends, steering bushings, galvanized shackles, and numerous items of galvanized hardware.

Power steering has been installed, along with a new brake booster and brake master cylinder.

There is a new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder.

The engine has been furnished with new plugs, ignition leads, distributor, ignition coil, manifold gaskets, refurbished manifolds, oil and fuel filters, rebuilt carburettor, polished rocker cover, rocker cover gasket, and a new fuse box.

There is also an all-new exhaust system.

The cooling system has had a full overhaul and refresh, with a refurbished original radiator, new water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, drive belts, radiator hoses, clamps, cooling fan, and coolant overflow bottle.

The engine bay as a whole is a vision of cleanliness and order.

The undersides of the car look as solid and honest as the rest of it, as far as we can tell. 
 

The car comes with plenty of bills and receipts covering the £11,000-plus work done to get it into this fine condition.

It has its original Indonesian registration documents, a NOVA form, and an MoT certificate that’s valid until 17.7.25. 
 

These tough, quirky, funky little cars are becoming more and more popular with every passing year.

It’s easy to see why: they are bulletproof, hugely capable, and rather more user-friendly than their counterparts of a similar age from Solihull.

They put the fun into functional like few other vehicles before or since.

And this one is just stunning.

If you’re holding out in the hope of finding a better example, prepare yourself for a long wait.  

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £25,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.