ShifteratiToyota Land Cruiser 40 Series 1960–1983
By owners' accounts, the FJ40 to hunt is a 1976 or later truck, with front disc brakes, the 4.2L six and a 4-speed. Rust decides more than miles: check the door bottoms, the rear sill and under the fuel tank.
Learn
Generations
-
FJ40 1960–1983
The short, boxy FJ40, with an inline-six, solid axles on leaf springs and a two-speed transfer case. Its styling barely changed over the whole run. It was Toyota's best seller in the US into the mid-1960s.
Options, colors and years for the FJ40 →
Timeline
-
FJ40 1960–1983
What changed, year by year (5)
- 1960 On sale in the US with a 3.9L six of 125 hp and a 3-speed manual.2
- 1975 The 4.2L six and a 4-speed manual replace the 3.9L and the 3-speed.2,1
- 1976 Front disc brakes.1,3
- 1979 Wider headlight surrounds, and power steering and air conditioning offered for the first time.1
- 1983 The last model year sold in the US.2,1
Buy
Recalls 4
- 69V027000 1969
Door scuff plates may have been fitted so they can short the wiring under them.4
- 81V117000 1981
Long driving above 50 mph on very rough roads can break a steering tie rod.5
- 89V155000 1982–1983
A rear lap belt may not retract fully and can be hard to release.6,7
- 91V110000 1980–1983
Welds inside the fuel tank can crack under heat and load and leak fuel. The tank is replaced.8,5,6,7
Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.
Before you pay
A buyer's checklist for each generation: every warning and recall, with a box to tick.
Sources
The specs, year changes and recalls here are facts from Toyota, NHTSA and reference sources. The desirability and issue claims are reputation, mostly from owner forums, and none is measured against sale prices yet.