THE LOWDOWN

PRICES

Anyone following auction results, particularly in the US, will have seen stratospheric rises after 2012, with some early Land Cruisers making six-figure sums. This excitement brought hundreds of them to market. Saturation has a lot to do with it settling back now and means it’s a better time to buy. With over-exposure of early Land Rovers, they’re also way cooler. Buying rules are simple: go on condition and originality, and buy to use. A really good FJ40 should be £25,000, an excellent one £40,000.

LOOK OUT FOR…

Like so many steel cars of the period, the FJ is manufactured in such a way that there are many seams: water gets in, with catastrophic consequences. Vehicles driven on salted roads or used for hauling boats are likely to have suffered the most.

Running gear is pretty bomb-proof, as you’d expect of a utility product from Toyota. Chassis, engines, gearboxes and axles are simple and very strong, and, while the basic leaf-spring suspension is antique, so is a Land Rover’s. Diesel-engined BJs are pedestrian.

Undeniably thirsty at around 18-20mpg, many FJ40s have had modifications to try to improve fuel economy: freewheeling hubs fitted to the front axle were a common addition. A rare option is an additional overdrive unit made in the United Kingdom by Fairey, which allows for more relaxed cruising.

Service items aren’t hard to come by and Toyota can supply much, but at a price; other parts including brakes and suspension are catered for by aftermarket suppliers.