Special Restored 1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser from desert California

This is a high end restoration quality FJ 40 at a discounted price with low use.

If you want a nearly $100k Fj for about half price, here you go.

This is a very nice desert metal, California lineage 1976 Toyota FJ40 restored by me about 7 years ago at an Midwestern expense of about $80,000. Stacks of receipts included and shown in the photos.

I bought this for myself and then a gentleman heard I had it and contracted me to build it for him It had a very clean desert body in mostly original blue paint when I got it. My shop is www.rudy-cjs.com and the core of my business is starting with the best metal I can find...not the cheapest thing to build from or what is easy to get.

The gentleman whom I sold this to is retiring and is cleaning house to start a new chapter of his life. He asked me to sell it for him and in my opinion he is having a fire sale on this special piece of art. I advised him if it was mine, I'd list it at the more than fair price of $55k and let it sit until it sells. He wants it gone and has requested the absurdly low $45k Buy it now and slightly less reserve someone willing to risk losing it in a bidding war.

If it doesn't sell I may purchase it myself and I have no use for it as my shop is full of things I don't drive already. I just know how nice this machine is and how it would take double this price to reproduce it IF you could find as good of a foundation to start with.

I drove this on Saturday, 10-5-2019 at 70 MPH and it drives amazing with no weird wobbles or old car feeling loose, it doesn't have loose, no feel steering. It drives like a modern rig and has tons of power and a great engine tone w the EFI.

As you look at the below details of this build, notice things like premium tires like BFG instead of Toyos. A Warn winch at 4x the cost instead of a Chinese Smittybilt, A real AC unit. Heated Seats and custom upholstery with a pro installed stereo. An Old Man EMU suspension at twice the cost of a Rancho. An NV4500 instead of a Turbo 350 or stock unit. The list goes on.

When a shop builds to sell a "restored" rig they often cut corners with the brand of the parts installed to give a look of features but the quality isn't there. Instead of building an AMG Mercedes, they build a Hyundai.

My customer let me build this as if it was for myself and trusted me to pick premium, quality components. He had the budget and I had the experience.

Details as follows:

I started with an American lineage, desert California, most original paint, rot free FJ...not a rusty hulk or right hand drive import beat to death and fixed with bailing wire.

The original paint was stripped, metal glass beaded and pro recoated the same color as original and rubbed to a show finish it still has today. All weatherstripping replaced. New body bushings All new rubber. Hinges done. Whatever it needed.

It had a tired V8 in it so we opted for a new crate 290 HP Small Block Chevy w Howell EFI for easy starts everytime. The engine was new GM and not a backyard rebuild. It was outfitted with lots of detail and a high performing aluminum radiator and electric fan. It always starts and includes a real Optima battery.

Behind the engine is a rebuilt, nearly bulletproof HD NV4500 5 speed manual transmission. This is the same transmission used behind Cummins diesel trucks making 800 lb.ft of torque and 400 HP. he first gear is deep and the 5th gear is a perfect highway overdrive. Fully syncronized.

It is adapted with Advance adapters to the stock resealed transfer case.

The differentials have perfect 3.73 gears and Auburn limited slip units. It turns an ideal rpm at highway speed and will pull whatever boat out of the water at the lake with the limited slip units...or you could take it to Colorado or Montana cabin and go mountain climbing.

The EFI on the engine will adapt to hot, cold or any elevation....no problematic carb

The front also has premium Warn lockouts.

The interior got a pro makeover with custom professionally installed custom seat covers on all 3 seats. The front are heated and the rear is a fold and tumble. All new seat belts.

It has a Tuffy security console modified to be the right height to use as an arm rest AND secure valuables. I noticed when I drove it Sunday how I could lean perfectly for a long drive.

The hard top was refinished as well with new seals, good glass and pro tinting. Also it has a headliner to take away some of the tin can sound an FJ often has. I drove a diesel Fj once and I felt it carbonated my blood w vibration. This is nothing at all like that

All gauges work.

A painted to match I-Did-IT aftermarket tilt steering column was installed with great effort! I expect that install alone was nearly $2k with the purchase, install, paint and custom steer wheel with nice grip

The rear heater unit was restored and works great.

A new Vintage AIR CONDITIONING unit blows cold like a new car!

Outside new trim items were added along with mirrors, stainless fasteners

Warn winches are the best and this was top of the line and never used and includes an onboard an air compressor.

The suspension and steering were rebuilt using top of the line Moog and Old Man Emu. The springs still have the stickers on them and the shackles are greasable. Old Man Emu is lightyears beyond Rancho, Superlift etc. It is smooth and not like a cheap stagecoach lift.

It steers right with new power steering components and a performance feel steering box. A stock FJ is almost always manual steering which is super hard in a parking lot or old school no-feel cadillace steering that is loose and too light to drive...almost dangerous.

Tires are near new 17" BFG ATs on wheels with no curb rash.

The rear tire carrier is swing away and very heavy duty.

This classic FJ needs nothing but a new owner and is only being sold due to low use and retirement by the owner who wants to travel. Rather than have it sit and go bad, he has decided to let it go as I say, in a fire sale against my advice.

The pricing is at a fraction of the build cost let alone the time IF you could find a starting point this good. We are not looking for hard haggles, trades and will not hold it until you sell something. It is located in Findlay, Ohio with a clean title. Please call me at 614-203-1947 with any questions or to arrange a time to see it. If I don't answer, please leave a message and I will get back to you.

This is for sale locally and I'd encourage you to call me instead of send messages. I want you to know what you are getting and without a doubt, talking back and forth will get this done better than back and forth emails.

I have shipped vehicles all over the country and have some contacts and can estimate shipping if it is a concern of yours but arranging it and paying for it will be your responsibility

Thank you very much,

Rudy 614-203-1947