4 Runner Heritage

Saw this at the Toyota dealer that I get my service at. 1975 FJ40 in mint condition. They’re asking $127,000 if you’re interested.

 

I would buy it if it were black! Lol. Money isn't the problem... LMAO
Beautiful truck.

 

Hey it’s got my KC’s. Everybody is always copying me.... Not enough room to get a 180# buck in the back.....

 

Well, there is room on the roof rack available, there’s the winch, and there’s a HighLift attached to the back of the rack. You could probably MacGyver a crane to get your buck up there.

 

That's beautiful!

 

My dad had one when me and my brothers were little. Awesome rigs I would love to have one!

 

Back in 2010, O.T. was only asking $120k for it.
And if you look at it really closely, its been repainted and not very well.
In my younger days I used to work in a high end body shop so I tend to look at things that relate to labor vs. asking price.

 

How is this 4Runner heritage? 4Runner was derived from the 4th Gen Hi-Lux. Maybe the FJCruiser...

 

Maybe because the newer 4runners are closely related to the Landcruiser Prado.

 

Pffft. Thing doesn't even have coilovers or an RTT.




Beautiful rig.

 

Lol! What? No Raptor lights??

 

Haha!

 

I thought the trekker was the predecessor to the 4runner?

 

Correct sir! That is the direct predecessor. The Trekker was built using a 3rd gen Hi-Lux.

 

What I meant by “heritage” wasn’t so much the direct evolutionary line as much as the incredible capabilities and reliability of the FJ40 that has found its way into today’s runners.

 

Minus the solid front axle and manual transmission.

 

I’ve also seen them at dealers. Most say Not for sale in CA. Anyone know why?

 

Maybe because of the year. They’re probably not CA smog approved. It’s my understanding that once a vehicle is x number of years old, it’s exempt from smog requirements. The FJ in question may just not be old enough. Give it a few years.

 

Don’t knock a manual transmission. I’ve got a 2003 Tacoma 4wd with the 2.7L inline 4 and the 5-speed manual trans. Manual kind of sucks commuting on freeways, but it’s superior when negotiating hills with a load. Engine braking is amazing (5th gear holds as good going down a hill as my Runner does in 3rd going down the same hill). 250,000 miles with the original clutch and still going strong.

 

I have never knocked manuals. I highly prefer them.
Spineless engineers and designers driven by all mighty environmental dollar have weakened the left leg of those people.
All but two of my own vehicles have been sticks. I know the virtues of manual transmissions.
I've owned two FJ-40's and a 45 P/U.
It's just a shame that Toyota has bowed down to only offer automatics in their 4R's and Tundras. And to make them worse, no T-case or axle ratio choices.
Sad.

Hence the axle and trans post.

 

I prefer stick in most situations. I don't even mind it in traffic. I think the auto has advantages in certain situations, though.

I used to be very opposed to automatics. In 2000, I bought a 1985 Supra, auto. It was cheap. A friend of mine had an '83 or '84, and wrecked it in the snow. She called and asked if I wanted any parts, and I went with a friend and pulled the transmission, crossmember, driveshaft, pedal assembly, and master cylinder. We did the conversion in front of my apartment, basically in the street in winter! It sucked, but I got my 5 speed!

 

No big deal changing it out in the winter (60° temps) ... oh, wait. You live in Wisconsin. Never mind. Kudos to you.

 

The first two years, '84 and '85, came with solid front axles. Manual trans were available up to the 3rd Gens but not 4th Gens I believe...

 

I don’t remember the year, but at the time, Toyota was about the only manufacturer that was still using straight front axle because (typical Toyota) it was a proven and reliable technology. Then, the year they came out with the independent front drive axle, we were all sure they had turned to the “dark side” (something about front ground clearance).

 

Lol! Yeah, we probably did the whole project in sub-freezing weather. I don't picture myself ever doing that again!

 

Lol!

And the same sentiment remains true today.

Any new technology on the 4Runner is instantly deemed "the dark side".

 

My local dealer had an restored early 70's FJ blue one for sale at $47,000. It is gone now so I guess they sold it.

 

looks kinda like mine lol