Land Cruiser

Make
Toyota
Segment
SUV

A brand new 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser will set you back at least $85,000, but at the same time it's one of the most capable SUVs on the market. On top of that, it's become quite the luxury vehicle, a far cry from its humble Spartan origins. But the classic FJ Land Cruiser market remains hot. So hot in fact people are more than willing to fork over nearly the same amount, if not more, than its modern-day ancestor. But why? Why is the FJ Land Cruiser worth so much? Because it's ridiculously cool, and this 1974 FJ40 Land Cruiser restomod by Velocity Restorations is no exception.

VR is widely known for its work with classic Ford Broncos and even an International Scout, but this is the first time we've seen the Pensacola, Florida-based restoration company perform its magic on Toyota's iconic and classic SUV.

But we must warn you first, an incurable off-road addiction may develop. This '74 FJ40 was found at a hunting camp in Alabama after languishing there for nearly two decades. Its current owner just happened to stumble upon on it and immediately realized its potential. The guy quickly bought it and shipped it down to Velocity Restorations where it received a new lease on life. The major requirement its owner had was to retain most of the original equipment with a factory-style restoration.

"This FJ was remarkably solid for sitting for so long," said Brandon Segers, Co-Owner of Velocity Restorations. "It still needed a lot of help though, and I think the end result has brought back the amazing character of this vehicle."

Among this FJ's features that particularly stand out to us include a rebuilt 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine paired to a three-speed manual gearbox, rebuilt OEM transfer case, and OEM style exhaust. The suspension has been completely refurbished and its frame has been powder coated satin black. Both the front and rear axle are OEM rebuilds. The 15-inch wheels are wrapped BF Goodrich K02 all-terrain tires. Meanwhile, the body was completely reconditioned, evidenced by the before and after photos.

The interior also looks nearly all-original but the steering column has been rebuilt. Also note there's a six-point roll cage, three-point retractable seat belts, tan upholstery, and high back bucket seats. Final pricing for this one-off light restomod 1974 FJ40 was not provided, but even if it cost the same, if not more, than a new present-day Land Cruiser, which would you rather drive home, or rather off-road?