Upgraded and modernized vintage overlanders seem to be a dime-a-dozen these days. What’s really rare, though, is a modernized project that keeps it classy, tasteful and still holds on to the classic flare that makes the four-wheeler special in the first place. And the latest masterpiece from Legacy Overland, a 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 pickup, strikes that perfect balance between old-world charm and modern performance and reliability.
The ’78 long-bed pickup was media blasted down to bare metal, repainted with official Toyota “Grayish Green” paint and adorned with rich, full-grain saddle tan leather upholstery — an unbeatable combo. And while the finished product looks all-original at first glance, details like the Daytona Beadlock steel wheels and BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A tires that sit on a two-inch lift and a Bluetooth-enable sound system bring this beast into the modern era. From top to bottom, this ’78 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 is the best kind of pickup truck you could ever want.
