1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 - Classic Cruiser On the Rocks

Classics are cool. Whether you're talking Jeeps, Fords, Toyotas, or whatever, there's something about the lines and design of classic iron that draw the eye and capture the imagination. This is one reason why so many vintage 4x4s survive today: People just like them. Of course, they're often cheaper to get into than new 4x4s, are usually built more stoutly, and will last longer on the trail. You get the point.

This '72 FJ40 Land Cruiser is a perfect example of a classic. This is a vehicle that was designed to be taken off-road, even in its stock form. When Paul Grunden and his son James started rebuilding it, they weren't looking to replace every major component from the ground up. They wanted to restore a classic 4x4 and make just a few modifications that would promote its four-wheeling prowess.

The first thing on the list was replacing the suspension system to get a little more clearance and an improved ride. Paul and James looked to Cool Cruisers of Texas for a 3-inch lift kit, combining it with new shackles from Hell For Stout and a set of BDS shocks front and rear.

For axles, the father and son team decided to stick with the stock units. For better traction on the trails, though, they installed a Lock-Rite in the rearend and upgraded to 33-inch BFG Mud-Terrains on 15x8-inch Mickey Thompson Classic II rims. For added clearance, they narrowed the front bumper by 6 inches and replaced the side steps with angle iron.

Paul didn't want to get into how much bodywork had to be done to bring this FJ back to its original glory, but if it was anything like most of the vintage FJs we've come across, he probably had his hands full. According to Paul, James and Terry Camacho took care of all the bodywork, then laid down the '72 Toyota White paint.

So how long did all this restoration take? From start to finish, it was about a two-year process. For the time spent, this old FJ40 has a new lease on life, and with any luck, will still be running trails 20 years from now. All it will take is someone with an eye for vintage four-bys.