1981 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser

We know this car because it has been previously auctioned by us and this is its second visit to our Oxfordshire HQ. 

At that time, the odometer read 63,593 kms. Today, it reads 64,254 kms.

The vendor, who won the car at that 2022 auction, was compelled to bid for it by the powerful waves of nostalgia that washed over him when he first set eyes upon it.

The sight, sound and smell of FNP 509W took him back to his childhood in South Africa, when an FJ very much like this would take him to school every day, never failing to successfully negotiate the hill that lay between his home and the school, regardless of how muddy, dusty or otherwise treacherous the route might be. 

The vendor is only selling now because he is set to return to Cape Town. You won’t be surprised to learn that he has already bought himself another FJ back in South Africa.

Now then. This car is a Japanese import. That simple fact tells us two things. 

Firstly, that it comes from a country where people tend to take pride in their cars and usually spend a great deal of time and effort cossetting them and making sure no harm comes to them. 

Secondly, that it comes from a country where salt is thrown over the shoulders of sumo wrestlers, not chucked all over the roads in industrial quantities like it is in the UK. 

Ergo, Japanese imports are very often in rather better condition than their British counterparts. And that’s very much the case here. 

This stunning 1981 Toyota FJ40 was registered in the UK on 1st September 2019, and since then it has had 4 owners. 

In the summer of 2021, the penultimate vendor did much of the heavy lifting needed to get the car into the fine form you see today, spending nearly £7,000 with RT Mechanics of Haslemere on ensuring that the car would comfortably attain an MoT certificate and become the best possible version of itself. 

Anything that needed checking, recommissioning, refurbishing or replacing was checked, recommissioned, refurbished or replaced, as appropriate. 

This work was primarily focussed on the mechanical aspects of the car – the bodywork, which is believed to be original and authentic, didn’t require or demand anything more than admiring glances. 

We have driven the car and can attest to its willingness to start on the button, handle with commendable poise and balance, and press on with some enthusiasm when asked.

The bodywork is really very straight and in excellent condition, being free from any dinks, dents, bangs, crumples, creases, ripples or folds of note.

The whole vehicle feels sound and very well screwed together.

The panels, panel gaps and shut-lines are consistent and even, and the doors close with satisfying weight and precision.

The mid-blue bodywork paint and white-painted roof are very attractive, in our opinion, and the finish has retained plenty of lustre and depth of shine.

The bumpers, front and back, don’t appear to have done any bumping, and the grey-painted wheels are in very good order all round.

So, too, are the 5 matching Goodyear Wrangler tyres. 

We spotted a couple of small paint chips on the driver’s door, one or two patches of micro-blistering on the roof, and some light scratches atop the n/s/f wheel arch.

The lights, lenses and badging are all beyond reproach, as are the car’s various exterior fixtures and fittings.

The exterior rubber trim around the windows has a few cracks in it here and there, but by no means everywhere.

Don’t go looking for wood veneers, lambs-wool over-rugs or burr walnut veneers in here.

It’s just not that sort of car.

Instead, feast your eyes on an exceptionally well-preserved cabin that holds true to the model’s core values of tough, resilient functionality, purposeful practicality, and dependable build quality.

The black vinyl seats are in very good condition, front and back, with no rips, tears, creases or other aberrations that we can see. 

The headlining is fine.

So too are the door cards and the rubber mats. 

The steering wheel, gear selectors, instruments, dials and controls all look to be in irreproachable condition. 

As far as we’re aware, everything works as it should. 

The engine and engine bay look clean, shiny and dry. 

The undersides appear to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and nothing we’ve seen has prompted us to tut or raise an eyebrow.

Obviously, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach you own conclusion.

This car comes with bills, receipts and invoices covering its recommissioning in 2021. 

We know that, from its arrival in the UK in 2019 through to 2021, the car was dry-stored as part of a private collection.

It also comes with a recent, clear HPI report, a V5 and two sets of keys.

Frankly, the exemplary condition of the car speaks for itself - and there’s really nowhere for any bad news to hide on these simple, honest, what-you-see-is-what-you-get vehicles. 

FJs of this era are increasingly sought-after, and it’s easy to see why.

They’re as tough and reliable as they are cute and funky.

They’ve got Japanese build quality and reliability embedded in their DNA.

Every now and again, one comes along that’s really very special indeed and combines condition, originality and authenticity in an optimally attractive package.

You’re looking at one right now.

We are happy to offer this fine vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £20,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.