Miami-based The TJ Company has just wrapped up work on another comprehensively restored 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser, calling the result ‘Reimagined’. Let us see what is new and exciting about the restomod.
In case you did not know, the FJ43 is a larger variant of the once-popular Land Cruiser FJ40. Exterior is perhaps the least exciting part of the build, although there is a fresh coat of Freeborn Red paint, 16-inch wheels shod in BF Goodrich mud tires, a winch at the front and a spare fuel canister at the back. The suspension and the brakes are also modern, as one would expect from any self-respecting restomod. Even so, the interior and the tech impress us more in this build.
Inside, there is a digital gauge cluster, a premium sound system and a climate control unit. A tidy trim in red, grey and black preserves the retro vibe nicely despite all the modern equipment.
Found in the engine bay is a completely new Toyota 1GR-FE V6 with four liters of displacement, the same as in the 2007 FJ Cruiser. A five-speed manual gearbox drives the wheels. Best of all, the driver enjoys a plethora of modern assists including ABS, ESP, drive mode selection and power steering. Those who bought the SUV half a century ago could never dream of such luxury and comfort!