This 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 is a three owner example that features its original 4.2 liter inline 6-cylinder engine and 4-speed transmission. This is an unrestored example with mostly original Freeborn Red paint that was purchased 9 years ago by the current seller. He has installed a few nice upgrades including OME suspension, power steering, and upgraded header and carburetor to make it a comfortable driver. One of the more sought after years of the FJ40, the ’78 features the later developments like disc brakes, improved doors, rear vent windows, and shoulder belts, while retaining the iconic early style rounded headlight surround.

The non-metallic red paint presents well and looks proper for aged factory paint. A few scratches and dings can be seen in the photos below, along with some minor rust on the interior floorboard and on the trailing edge of the right front fender. The truck previously had diamond plate on each side of the tub which was removed by the current owner after purchasing from a family member in 2006. No rust or damage to the sheet metal was found underneath, the glue used for installation peeled off some of the paint and the area was touched up. The factory side steps have been replaced by tubular aftermarket steps.

The mileage displayed is under 46k, and though not documented, the seller believes that the truck has survived in far too nice a condition to have 146k miles. This FJ has been upgraded with an Old Man Emu suspension lift and shocks, the best components available for these trucks. The white steel wheels were a factory option on later FJs, and wear 33″ BFGoodrich M/T tires. Additionally, power steering was added for convenience using a Man-a-Fre pulley and a Saginaw pump.

The interior is largely original with no tears evident on the vinyl seats, and all gauges are said to be functioning properly. The interior paint is original and all knobs and handles appear to be intact, note that the dealer installed Warn hub instruction decals remain on the dash. A small rip can be seen in the vinyl floor cover on the passenger side near the center console. When the seller purchased the truck, it’s factory door panels had speaker holes cut into them and were promptly replaced with Serengeti metal panels from Cool Cruisers of Texas.

The removable hard top has had an aftermarket sunroof installed, and the seller reports that it functions well with no leaks. The factory roll bar and headliner material remain present.

The original 2F inline 6-cylinder engine produced 135 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller has de-smogged the truck, and given it a Specter Off-Road ceramic-coated header and a Trollhole carburetor for increased performance. The original carburetor and exhaust manifold are included in the sale if the new owner wants to return it to stock. No maintenance records were kept by the previous owners, although the current owner has replaced the alternator and the master cylinder with new Toyota factory parts.