Recently I drove to Los Angeles to attend my 35 year high school reunion. It was a chance to drive around my hometown of Pacific Palisades, shoot pictures with my new iPhone, and visit old haunts. Before I left, Kathy told me she wanted a picture of the ocean. I drove to the end of Via De La Paz and parked the minivan. Looking out over the Pacific at sunset was a treat. But turning around to return to my van was even more of a treat.
A 1970 Toyota FJ55 Landcruiser was just parking about half a block away. In impeccable condition. I sauntered up as the owner was unloading groceries and asked about the beautiful automobile in front of me.
The owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, told me he acquired the Land Cruiser in 1976. Huh. 35 years ago. Same year I graduated from Palisades High. He said it was in great shape then, and since he’d owned it, his idea of off-roading was his driveway. Sort of a shame, as these cars are tough, but you can’t argue with the condition. Only one repaint about 5 years ago in the original colors, the original 3.9 liter 6 cylinder engine, three speed transmission, 92,000 miles and manual steering. Didn’t get a lot of time with the owner or the car, but enough to bring you a taste of true automotive beauty.
I drove on to the reunion in Malibu, feeling good that I had found a true Curbside Classic. Funny thing, though. I pull out my phone to show people pictures of the reunion, but when they see the thumbnails of the FJ55, that’s all they want to see.
A clear sign of good taste.
What a beautiful color too!
Many times I have considered owning one but they are always in poor condition. And if it were in this beautiful condition I would not want to off road it, so hence, I never get one.
There’s one here in Gallup, that generation, painted “one-tone” of the blue pictured above. I’ve always wondered if it was restored just because it was so pristine and here in New Mexico you can hardly leave the state highway without going off roading.
There are a handful of these that I see running around Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately they all are in mid to late stages of terminal tin worm disease.
Nice! We don’t get to see many in that condition in the Midwest outside of car shows.
The Japanese do know how to build a tough truck, maybe even more “legendary” than a Jeep.
Jeeps hold no candle to these rigs
No argument outside of the rustproofing of the sheetmetal. 50s Chryslers, 70s Harvesters and any CJ have nothing on the rusting ability of 70s-80s Japanese rigs.
Rust has eaten them all here used to see them in Aussie occasionally and even more rarely a good one great cars off road far better than the pathetic Jeep these have real ability rather than a dimly recalled legendary past, Landcruisers are as capable as Landrovers but way more reliable.
Something I never paid attention to, but which your photos bring out: the taper of the hood and top part of the fenders, into a more narrow pinched point at the grille. That plus the headlights being closer together than they normally would be in this sort of rig. Aping the CJ5? Absolutely. Even when it made no aesthetic sense.
I think it was more that they were a prettied up 40 series – it might have worked for some but I think it was a waste of time. Lots of 40 series still around but not many of these.
I loves me some Iron Pig. 🙂 Yet another vehicle I always wanted (I was close to buying an FJ60 at one point) but was probably wise not to acquire. This is a beautiful example.
Very cool, reminds me a lot of my own… only mine lives peacefully in Northern Wisconsin.
This, to me, is THE Toyota Land Cruiser. At its most basic. No computers, no techno bullshit. Just a truck with seating for 5 adults, an engine, brakes (disc brakes would come around 1975 or later in the FJ55’s run), a 4-speed manual transmission. Automatic? You joking? Get a Lexus! This is what an SUV is supposed to be.
Beautiful looking Land Cruiser. This has always been my favourite Land Cruiser. This, and the FJ60. The only thing that would make an awesome SUV even better would be a turbodiesel engine.