Toyota Just Served Up a Land Cruiser MasterClass with a Fresh Take on One of Its Most Beloved Classic FJs

Having survived some perilous road trips behind the wheel of a lifted 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (which was fittingly dubbed the ‘Crazy Truck’), let me tell you — classic SUVs aren’t everything that they’re cracked up to be.

Between sluggish acceleration, terrifying body sway and fuel gauges that are as optimistic as they are unreliable, many old 4x4s make even mundane drives into harrowing experiences. Of course, enthusiasts still put up with them because of their endearing old-school charm.

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With this in mind, Toyota has just pulled the wraps off a new SEMA build that reimagines the brand’s beloved FJ60 Land Cruiser as a clean restomod. Although the rig appears almost stock at first glance, it hides subtle updates to make it a more modern driver.

A six-cylinder surprise

The most impactful of which comes under the hood. When Toyota originally introduced the FJ60, the truck packed a 2F 4.2-liter inline-six.

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Now, the block is highly renowned for its globe-trotting reliability, but its output is barely fit for modern roads at 135 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. A stock FJ60’s top speed is estimated to be around 70-80 miles per hour (depending on the direction of the wind), while its 0-60 time is fit more for a calendar than a stopwatch.

However, Toyota’s Turbo Trail Cruiser does away with the stock 2F in favor of a new i-Force 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6. Being the same engine that drives the automaker’s current flagship Tundra pickup, it makes a much more compelling 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.

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Even though this amounts to a substantial increase in grunt, Toyota is careful to point out that this is an upgrade that’s about much more than raw power. Along with quieter operation and a more refined drive, it has the benefit of reduced emissions and improved fuel economy.

It’s a boon for anyone wanting to actually drive a classic — even a few years ago, fill-ups in that Grand Wagoneer weren’t cheap.

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Factory fit and finish

While Toyota could have recklessly hacked away at the donor FJ to make the Turbo Trail Cruiser come to life, the automaker instead took great care to ensure that it all appeared factory-original.

Accordingly, every component was developed to fit without cutting into the firewall, relocating mount points or compromising the 1985 FJ60’s structural integrity in any way.

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So, along with machining new motor mounts and a bell housing adapter plate, this meant that the Toyota Motorsports Garage team also re-designed the engine’s oil pan, fitted a new heat exchanger, added a custom ECU wiring harness and fashioned a custom exhaust system.

That’s not all. In addition to the upgraded powertrain, Toyota fitted the Turbo Trail Cruiser with a 1.5-inch lift, a set of 35-inch tires as well as a front shackle reversal. Inside it benefits from a new JBL sound system.

Rounded out by some period-correct colors and graphics finished in a reproduction of Toyota’s original 1986 Silver 147, the result is a restomod so clean that it could only possibly be OEM in origin.

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Show and tell

Being a SEMA build, Toyota has announced no intentions of selling this particular 1985 FJ60. However, given the Japanese automaker’s efforts to provide heritage parts support for icons like the Supra, the AE86 and the MR2, it’s possible that owners could see offerings for their classic SUVs come about should a restomod like this prove popular enough.

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