In 1983, Toyota only sold about 600 FJ40s here in the US. It was the last year of the model and gas prices had sales plummeting. Of those 600, only about 50 had the factory options of power steering and air conditioning. These have become known as the Holy Grail of Land Cruisers. This is one of them.
This Land Cruiser came to us after it was sold on bring a trailer. It was presented there as a survivor, which it more or less is, but it had a bunch of very common late 80s modifications. Among these were fender flares. Stainless cladding, and the all two familiar CB antenna in the rear quarter panel. Beyond that, someone had drilled holes and mounted dozens of other accessories on almost every panel of the vehicle.
Our mission, reset it. Take it back to original, or nearly original anyway. The mission was accomplished but it wasn’t easy. As it turns out, the 40 had also been in a pretty bad accident at some point, and most of the body panels were covered in body filler, well hidden. We pushed through the project, trying to preserve as much originality as possible, and the Holy Grail now enjoys its survivor status again.