Rides from the Readers: 1967 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
Hagerty readers and Hagerty Drivers Club members share their cherished collector and enthusiast vehicles with us via our contact email, tips@hagerty.com. We’re showcasing some of our favorite stories among these submissions. To have your car featured, send complete photography and your story of ownership to the above email address.
Today’s feature ride is a 1967 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. The prototypical Japanese 4×4, the 1963–84 FJ40 proved itself a hit right out of the gate in the U.S., becoming Toyota’s best-selling model stateside within two years. Toyota decided, wisely, not to mess with success, and over nearly twenty years of FJ40 made only incremental improvements to the truck’s mechanicals. Handsome and trusty, these off-roaders have aged remarkably well in the collector market.
This particular FJ40 has been lovingly and painstakingly restored by Brian and Susan Berdan in memory of the truck’s previous owner and the couple’s close friend. The prior owner had amassed a stock of new, mostly OEM parts to keep the truck healthy, and in 2016, with 77,500 original miles, the Berdans decided the truck deserved an all-in restoration.
After finding the frame to be to-spec and the engine core and transmission in solid condition, the couple had the body panels stripped and repainted to match the original Horizon Blue of the interior. New wheel wells, rocker panels, and a rear deck sill ensured rust-resistance, and numerous trim was re-zinced or re-chromed. Apart from suspension, exterior indicator lights, hubcaps, upholstery, and fenders, the truck remains original—and now, in fine fettle.
