1986 Toyota Landcruiser FJ62 Station Wagon

Description

An iconic name in the history of off-road vehicles, Toyota's Land Cruiser evolved from a vehicle designed to fulfil an order by the US military during the Korean War in 1951.  The first civilian version, the 20 series, gave way to the classic 40 in 1960, with numerous improvements designed to give the Land Cruiser broader appeal and more versatility.  Sold with unbreakable four-cylinder diesel or six-cylinder petrol engines, the Landcruiser proved hugely popular in the United States and many other export markets, including Australia where the model was first seen being used in the Snowy Mountains Scheme.  Variants included the short-wheelbase J40, mid-size J43 and long-wheelbase J45 and by the 1970s the Land Cruiser was considered a serious contender to the likes of Land Rover in the off-road stakes.  By 1980 Toyota had introduced the 60 series which, while retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, was designed to better compete in the emerging SUV market.  It was a four-door wagon which could seat five to eight people, and featured creature comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior.  The FJ60's "2F" petrol engine was left unchanged from the "40" series while the six-cylinder 4.0 litre 2H and the four-cylinder 3.4 litre 3B diesel engines were added to the lineage.  A facelifted model introduced in 1985 saw the new 3F petrol motor with more power used in the FJ62, along with the option of automatic transmission for the first time.  Three versions were available, the Standard, intermediate Deluxe G and top-of-the-line Sahara.  Values of the 60 series Landcruisers have begun climbing fast in recent years – witness the sale of a restored 1986 FJ62 last year for US$134,400 (approximately AUD$180,000) at the Pebble Beach auctions.