1970 Toyota Land Cruiser

Imported from the Far-East and being offered in ‘as found’ condition, we are pleased to be able to offer you another robust and honest Toyota FJ Land Cruiser.

Clearly the subject of previous restorative work abroad, this is a sweet-running, straight-driving example that would benefit from a few weekends’-worth of DIY fettling; nothing too onerous or challenging, just the sort of jobs that give you instant gratification and add value at negligible cost.

We’ll get into the details later but the key points are that it is utterly solid, starts and runs beautifully, has seats for six – probably - and isn’t going to cost you a lot of money at all…

The red paintwork is almost certainly a respray but the work looks to have been done reasonably well; there’s a decent thickness and gloss to it, which would make removing the few scuffs and other blemishes that are present fairly straightforward. A weekend spent polishing and touching in would see most of the little niggles eradicated; we’d rate it as a an 8/10 at the moment and it could be easily and cheaply moved up a point.

The panel fit is perfectly reasonable (albeit with the caveat that the panels are only there “to stop the outside coming in”, remember?) and the few marks that would be left after all your hard work polishing it could be chalked down to patina rather than any need to embark on any more expensive remedial work.

The most pressing issue, in fact, is the wheels. While they’re round, and make a decent fist of providing a mounting point for the Hankook DynaPro MT tyres – which match, and have plenty of tread – they do jar a little on this reviewer’s eye. However, decent secondhand units, new/old stock OE wheels, or even faithful reproductions are widely available for not a lot of money.

You might think that that is a long To Do list. If so, you’ve never looked at buying a Series II Land Rover, have you?

The interior on this example is functional rather than pretty but that’s okay because it is entirely in keeping with the Toyota’s ethos of form over function, and its insistence that its products just keep on keepin’ on, even after half-a-century.

The important stuff is all in good condition, which means that all the seats are free of rips, tears and other damage. The front seats are from a later vehicle (not necessarily a Landcruiser!), which is a good thing because if memory serves us right, these are probably a darn sight more comfortable than the ones it would have left the factory with! And along with the rears, they do have brand new covers on them.

The two folding seats in the rear mean that you can fold ‘em up out of the way when you need to carry stuff, and then fold ‘em back down again when you want to take five mates on an overland adventure. Forget limos - almost all of which are death traps catering to the unwary, gullible and drunk - this icon is what you need for a Boys Own adventure - and if you’ve got more than five good mates, then I’m sure we’ll be able to oblige with a matching FJ in the next couple of months or so…

The door cards are good too, which reinforces our belief that the interior has had some sympathetic refurbishment at some point in its life. Originality buffs might want to convert it back, but we’d be sorely tempted to leave it as it is, enjoy the increased comfort, and to hell with originality.

The steering wheel isn’t original either, of course, and this we would be tempted to change. But, as with the alloy wheels, that’s not a problem because there is a burgeoning spares scene for the model as collectors are waking up to the fact that an FJ makes a cracking centrepiece to any classic car collection. So, getting hold of a new/old steering wheel, plus replacement gear-lever gaiters and a transfer lever knob shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Fussy owners (like us) might want to embark on some gentle refinishing of areas such as the seat frames and the gear levers. But, this is firmly in the Nice To Do category rather than something that is going to stop you enjoying the car this summer.

Which reminds us: aficionados will know that the hardtop roof comes off, as do the doors. The windscreen can then be folded flat, giving you the chance to enjoy some al fresco fun in the sun. 

UPDATE: The unit inside, in front of the gearlever is a heater (not an A/C as we earlier reported!), we have not tested the heater, but the interior fan does start when it’s turned on, so the electrical feed to it is okay.

Sadly, there is no paperwork with the vehicle, so we can’t dazzle you with a long list of stuff that’s been recently replaced. This is a shame but we can reassure potential bidders that the engine starts on the button, and ticks over and runs as smoothly as any engine we’ve ever come across.

We’ve taken it on a short test drive and can report that it drives like every other FJ we’ve ever driven. However, we’d strongly encourage potential bidders to come and take a look for themselves; we’d hate to mislead anyone and so you really do need to come and see it so you know what you’re bidding on.

The only fault we do know of is that the rear lights come on permanently when the battery is connected. Given the simplicity of the FJ’s wiring harness, we can’t imagine that it will prove too difficult or costly to trace and repair.

Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that the front propshaft is missing, too. Who knows why that is, but the vendor does have it at his home and can forward it on - it was not fitted when he bought the FJ, he presumes this was a fuel-economy saving by the previous owner.

On a more positive note, the underside is very clean and appears to have been finished in something like chassis black. It’s a durable, attractive finish that suits the car’s character perfectly and will make the job of washing the inevitable accumulation of mud away much easier. (You are going to take it off-road, aren’t you?)

More importantly, the chassis appears to be free of rust, rot and structural damage; built from girders, it’ll probably outlast us all. It’s not as if you can thank five decades’-worth of oil leaks for protecting it either because we can’t see any. The reputation old Toyotas have for longevity is clearly more than an urban myth…

The engine bay is clean(ish), and appears to be free of major leaks. Sure, you’ll want to remove the cable ties in favour of something more authentic and durable, and some of the wiring could do with tidying up too. We’d be tempted to paint the air filter cover too, and give the rocker cover a clean, but all of this is titivation rather than genuine repair, and improving your vehicle is a good way to start to bond with it. It has been treated to new oil, plugs, leads and distributor cap since been patriated on these shores. 

Oh, and the Toyota doesn’t have a current MOT certificate. Obviously exempt by virtue of its age, we’d nonetheless strongly urge the new owner to get one. They’re cheap for the peace of mind they give, and serve as an independent assessment of the vehicle’s condition over the years when the time to move the FJ on comes along.

There is no paperwork whatsoever with the vehicle, so potential bidders should set their bidding according to the Toyota’s current condition.

This is not a concours FJ, which is good news for the Toyota enthusiast on a budget because the hammer price will start with a one rather than a three - we expect it to sell for between £13,000 - £17,000.

And, because it’s fundamentally solid, there is plenty of headroom at that price to add value over the coming months and years; the great unwashed are finally starting to appreciate early Toyota Land Cruisers, and good ones are starting to make their mark on the scene – and this can only continue to grow as people realize how easy they are to work on, and how much fun they are to own.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how hey are in reality.