I feature a lot of Land Cruisers on this blog. Having owned almost every generation one is missing from my list. The 80 series. Growing up in the 90’s the 80 series with a soccer mom behind the wheel was common sight. It was quickly looked over by the more powerful 5.9 liter Jeep Grand Cherokee or the ultimate soccer mom mobile, the Yukon. And I don’t blame them. The 80 series was a slug, looked dated, and had a bland interior. Jonathan Ward at TLC must have agreed and picked up where Toyota left off with this rig.
Year: 1995
Model: Toyota FZJ80 by TLC
Engine: LS V8
Mileage: unknown
Price: $96,000
1995 FZJ80 that originally had a Stage 2 restoration by TLC with a GM V8 conversion applied.
The vehicle has been fully inspected and any mechanical and safety items that required attention have been performed.
Outfitted with a 5.3L LS series engine and a 4L65E 4 speed automaitic transmission. Fully repainted in a modern Lexus blue and interior fully reupholstered in new leather.
Well all agree that this may be one of the best looking 80s ever. And here is why; the exterior fender flairs and running boards have been removed. The color choice is ideal. The steel wheels are industrial looking with the proper offset. It also has proper armor without having obnoxious front and rear steel bumpers. If it were my truck I would add a slim roof rack for skis or fly rods.
Unfortunately there are no photos of the interior but I really like that the Lexus interior has been swapped in. The truth is I really don’t care what the exterior of my vehicle looks like, it is the interior that matters. I drive a lot, I mean 50,000+ miles a year. That means my exterior is peppered with rock pits, covered in road grime, and my windshield is always cracked. And I could care less. But what really matters to me is a clean, comfortable and capable interior. The 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser with cloth interior and a ton of plastic, is not a place I want to be. However I would enjoy the Lexus interior with its power leather seats. And that is exactly what Jonathan has done. Sad the listing doesn’t have any interior photos. Be sure to check out the video where the interior can be seen.
And then comes the LS V8 swap. Not much to mention here other than it’s the ideal setup. The 1995+ are the ideal models with better axles, better brakes and a factory locking differential. But the factory inline 6 cylinder really needs more power. So out with the old and in with the best.
Considering the amount of work that went in to this truck the asking price is reasonable. If I were in the market I wouldn’t blink twice because every box has been checked on this one.
