The first BJ Series Toyotas were created in 1951 at the behest of the United States Army, which asked Toyota to build an all-terrain-capable light utility vehicle similar to the newest version of the WWII Jeep. The Land Cruiser name first appeared in 1954, and with its well-earned reputation for toughness, quality, and longevity, the “L-C” would soon become the vehicle of choice for difficult terrain all over the world. It was that same tough use and extreme environment to which Land Cruisers were subjected that also created a noteworthy lack of undamaged original examples.

Toyota decided to enter the FJ40 Land Cruiser into the fray in 1960 as an affordable off-road vehicle that was ready and willing to take the road less traveled. The FJ40 quickly proved to be an excellent alternative to its western rivals and definitely helped to put Toyota on the map. The car proved to be incredibly versatile and reliable, and its styling was incredibly cutting edge for an off-road vehicle. The FJ45, pickup truck sibling to the FJ40, was the working man’s Land Cruiser. While the FJ40 remained ever popular, the FJ45 proved to be just as competent and reliable, as it was ready and willing to go anywhere and everywhere it was needed.

This short-wheelbase FJ45 was fully restored by the technicians at Arlington Toyota in Palatine, Illinois. Arlington Collision Center painted the truck in its attractive color of light tan, and brand new grey cloth upholstery was installed. The frame was powder coated, the cylinder head was rebuilt, and the radiator was replaced. New door weather-stripping, shock absorbers, pedal pads, the windshield weather-strip, and countless other items were replaced during the restoration.

Several modifications were made during this time to make the truck more usable and safer on the road. The cumbersome three-speed column shift manual transmission was replaced with a much better floor shift four-speed unit, the mechanical shift transfer case was replaced with a vacuum shift transfer case, and the F135 engine was replaced with a 2F engine. The weak single-circuit manual drum brakes were replaced with vacuum dual-circuit front discs and rear drums, greatly improving braking power and usability.

This FJ45 comes from a fantastic Toyota collection and would be a fun, usable addition to any stable.