If you haven't noticed, it's not just the FJ40-Series Toyota Land Cruisers whose values have been bouncing around the stratosphere lately. While the U.S. never got the FJ40's still quite spartan successor -- the FJ70 Series -- we did get the FJ60 Land Cruisers. Plenty of them are still around, at least ones that didn't live in the Midwest or the Northeast. The FJ60 Land Cruisers represented an evolutionary step in Land Cruiser history, coupling the mechanics of older FJ40 trucks with a larger and more modern interior, along with beefy 4.2-liter inline-sixes. With plenty of ground clearance, the 60-Series TLCs retained the off-road chops of their predecessors despite generous rear overhangs. Spacious interiors made them popular alternatives to domestic SUVs of the day, while folding rear seats offered plenty of cargo capacity.

If you've been following auction results for the FJ60 for the past few years, you know that these have gone from being a 1980s cult item with a mostly Californian following to something far more mainstream in the collector car community. Once passed up by classic dealers as tired suburban fare from the '80s, these Land Cruisers are now following the trajectory of Jeep Grand Wagoneers from the same era, which you may recall as being pretty affordable 15 years ago.

It's certainly telling that specialists like The FJ Company are now restoring these, and frequently have a few at a time that they're working on. When we spoke to Nelson Calle of the Miami-based FJ Company a year ago, he sounded skeptical about the prospects of the 70-Series trucks, which were never sold here, but cautioned that 60-Series TLCs were starting to see greater interest.

The FJ60 and FJ62 trucks were replaced by the much more luxurious FJ80 Toyota and Lexus SUVs, but not in Toyota 4x4 circles, where they combined the off-road skills of the FJ40 with a large, modern body. Autoweek

There's no question that we're still in the early days of FJ60 and FJ62 popularity in the U.S., but there are a few factors that point to growth in demand for the FJ60.

First, cars and values have stratified. The worst examples are gone, the best examples bring north of $30,000, and the middling trucks are now worth enough for people to tinker with if not splurge on a better-than-new resto.

Second, there is an enthusiast following that overlaps with the 4x4 community and the classic Toyota truck community, with sizeable aftermarket parts sourcing and support. A small cottage industry exists globally for these trucks.

Third, nostalgia for "authentic" cars of the '80s is seen as pushing demand even from those outside the traditional collector car community. While the retro chic of the woody Wagoneers fueled the craze even outside of Jeep enthusiast circles -- the Grand Wagoneers became popular summer cottage toys for the wealthy seemingly overnight -- the FJ60 is riding a similar wave of '80s nostalgia that's unburdened by associations with yacht rock at the moment. (ed: Embrace the smooth, Jay.)

FJ60 owners we've spoken with say that these TLCs have had a quiet following for some time, mostly in Toyota truck circles, but they're cautious about the FJ60 becoming "too big of a thing." Their frequent appearance on Bring a Trailer is both a blessing and a curse, we've heard owners say, as it's drawing out "bounty hunters" looking to flip pristine examples on eBay for ambitious amounts. This is not necessarily something that Toyota enthusiast circles are ecstatic about -- most would prefer the FJ60 to be a Toyota community secret -- but some welcome the attention. We're still in the early stages of FJ60 interest, but it's telling that carefully used examples regularly generate between $15,000 and $22,000, depending on spec and equipment, on several popular auction sites. There is still room in the market for the casual collector, with plenty of clean driver examples in the $12,000 range, but a few hard-fought auction results in the $30,000 range and beyond point to deep-pocketed collectors forecasting further appreciation.

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