This video features a stock 1982 FJ40 restoration, in all its glory! Whatch to understand why TLC is the best, the oldest, and the biggest Land Cruiser specialist in the world! www.tlc4x4.com
Mt first 4x4 was a new 1982 FJ40, same color as this one, purchased in Texas. One of the best vehicles I ever owned and it was a sad day when i had to sell. I've followed your channel for years for you have captured the essence of the FJ40 in your work. Thanks for everything you do and for sharing these videos of your art.
Outstanding vehicle as usual. Watching and dreaming. I have decided (when I win the lottery) I want a TLC vehicle instead of an Icon. Now I just need to win the lottery - lol.
I just got an 82 in rough exterior shape, but mechanically sound, 2F rebuilt! I use this video to compare to when I want to know what's right and what's not. Thanks for all the videos!
thank you man for your wonderful presentation and your nice car. Today i'm 51 years old and living in Sweden since 21 year. I hade an identical car like yours when i was 20 years old and i lived at that time in my lovely homeland Kurdistan. When i saw your car i felt happy and sad too because of you reminded me my first car .
man- love your touch on the restoration, Jonathan. Original where it can and should be, updated where it's not obscene and makes sense (headlights, stainless screws/nylon washers, etc.) Smart!
20 years I must be getting old remember when you started, First time I saw one of your fj40/ICON builds I took about 5 or 6 things and applied them to my fj40. and you keep getting better and improving the process all the time... and for those that bitch about what it costs try and do what he does cheaper. I have no idea how many man hours I have in each of my fj40's but its an insane number and they are no where near and nice as these.. You found the holy grail doing something you love, making a living and providing a product people love.. Keep going...... Would just love to be able to buy some of the parts you use. I understand why you don't as dealing with that market can be a total pain and not real profitable... With digital printing and other techs hopefully, you can figure a way to lower the cost and make them marketable... Think about using someone like Summit racing or another outlet for a ICON line of products. I know they won't be cheap but love the quality and creativity.. Ohh it took me a while to find a set of sun visors like your ICON's run but its one of the best mods.... if you could market them at a reasonable price point .... they were $$$$$$$ but they rock. Good luck and thanks for improving and making classic cars/4x4's even better.....
I like my 1965 FJ40 thank you very much. Yes older but like a fine wine. It's a California native but it's been all the way to Peru and back - twice. Bone stock and at the time we got her $1000.00. C U out there.
Great work, I am a big fan. I hope you are able to pass your wealth of knowledge and workmanship/skills to the next generation as people like you are a rarity. well done video. please keep it up.
Congrats to me finally I made my dream 💭 come true I bought 1980 fj40 it need ton of restoration on the body and paint but the engine f2 restored and transmission is very good I love ❤ this car 🚗 very much
I've never known much about these vehicles, so it's great to learn from a subject matter expert. You have a nice matter-of-fact delivery, with the exception of the (humorous) "DON'T get the aftermarket weather stripping!" (That made me chuckle.) l While $100k is a hell of a lot, your expertise and thoroughness justifies itself. Your departures from original are all well justified and usually in the interest of longevity. Even though I'm a Jeep fan, I love the dual doors of the FJ. And Toyota inline sixes are phenomenal engines. Again, thanks for sharing this gem of a vehicle. Obviously, it promotes your company, but it's also very entertaining and informative. You guys also do the 1940's Dodge Power Wagons, right? Those are fantastic. (Again, if I win the Powerball, I'll come to you for a CJ-7, FJ43 and a Power Wagon.)
@ICON What’a BEAUTIFUL RESTORATION !! I know this post is 5 years old now, but I still have a couple quick questions. 1.) How long did this project take? (start to finish/selling point) 2.) How much did this specific FJ sell for? (Final sold price) KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! I look forward to watching more of your videos. Great content, with thorough explanations & info-details. Very helpful. 🤙🏽
I was 10, 14 years old when those Land Cruisers came to Burma donated by world bank for petroleum corporation., it was an era those days..1977-1983....miss them....
Mate, you're a freak. Your knowledge of this vehicle is awesome. I don,t think ill get one now...I wont be able to give mine as much love as it will need. I don't have the skills nor the money. Thanks for the great video though, tremendous presentation.
That was so amazing man, the fj40 is my favourite car ever and it is my dream to own one, one day. I loved this video because you know so much about them. 👍🏼
Very Good video on a proper restoration. You bring good light on a factory restoration with some added perks to the vehicle. All which can be reversed and not lose authenticity. You also bring a good point on the cost of restorations at this level. I am currently working on a '72. It would not make a good candidate for a Stage 3 restoration. I am however making it a resto-mod. Trying to keep what is original together, but also not fretting if something steers away from original because of costs or scarce parts. I think keeping a budget in mind is a important factor in a restoration. One can get either overwhelmed with keeping it pure or in too deep money wise. Great job on your restorations. I understand how much work goes into a proper restoration and you do a good job with the details!
Wow! Awesome video! Good job on the resto and on the rundown.. I have 3 fj40s . '69, '71 & '76. I've always loved them, way more than jeep. But I like the newer jeeps. ..cuz they have those tapered hoods, like fj40 lol
Beautiful work but no need to put down your competition, the non-US models. They can be easily imported and are often in great condition sporting diesel engines. Beauties can be found for less than 10 grand.
No problem Jonathan, but for your information my unrestored Portuguese diesel 1980 BJ40 Is virtually rust free and has a four speed transmission, rear wheel parking brake and dash pads.
Interesting how so many people here want to comment about what the price of this vehicle is and should be when there's really only one thing that determines the pricing. This one thing is called the marketplace and it typically takes pretty much everything into consideration.
Jonathan looks like the door panels are aftermarket, Also, the seat frames must be black, not grey. The screws on the jump seats were yellow zinc plated by the factory.
Toyota was close re-incarnating this and calling it the FJ cruiser.Now,they should try again, this time making it look more like the FJ 40,with the versatility of the Wrangler.Price it right,and they will sell very well.JMO.
Side not: I find it interesting that the cruiser had small back seats that faced one another. I think it was a hang up of my dad's. I can't help but remember he bought a 1968 ford station wagon that seats 10 with the same 2 back seats that also faces each other. And yes, we drove it like a 4 x 4 hunting as well.......lol
the problem is there made to survive the heat because it get fucking hot here up to 45c and in side the car on a hot day out in the sun it can get up to 50c+ they are alright in the Australian winter even in the snowy mountains but in an American winter the engine will struggle.
prntscr.com/iim5nh my family's FJ40 has bean towing fuel around the farm before i was born and its petrol good luck getting a modern petrol's to tow something without drinking a stupid amount of fuel. FJ40 1,480kg + fuel trailer 500kg + fuel in trailer 1000kg = 2.980kg most modern petrol's are lucky to hall themselves around. hell i blew a tire on that FJ40 once didn't even know till i stopped to open a gate i hoped back in and kept driving.
Nice Work Jonathan (As always!).... so, is the gold-colored bolt finish called "iridite"? I wanted to learn more about it since I'm fascinated with your obsession with the details like finishes, fasteners and replicating factory seams, spotwelds, etc. Thx.
From my experience iridite is used mainly on alloy types of metals. It helps prevent corrosion and can be painted over. I own a company that sells fasteners and other small parts such as brackets for cars trucks well almost everything including boats. We do our own plating and have found that stainless steel is the best but it can be very costly so we use zinc and zinc chromate on most of our connectors and brackets to help prevent rust and corrosion. So I believe the goldish color fasteners he is referring to like screws - bolts and so on are zinc or zinc chromate plated. Just my opinion for what it's worth. Thank You
@bockscar Thanks! I'm definitely trying to use stainless as much as possible, though it get REALLY expensive when using graded hardware (GR-8) and sometimes isn't even possible to find. I have never had very good luck with zinc or yellow-cadmium plated hardware, it always seems to get surface rust and corrosion and ends up looking terrible. I have started using zinc chromate (green) as a base layer when trying to protect unpainted metal during fabrication. The EPA seems to have banned it's use though.... it's just about impossible to find in rattlecans since January 2016.... :(
Greg Blanchette - You sir are 100 percent right and so right about cadmium looks ok for a while but fades in color and than the rust is on its way. Thank You
The south east Asian version will be more brutal than this in it's full factory original.usually fitted with 3litre diesel engine..no padded front console..no power steering..no heater..no rollbars.the front bumper are all steel with 2 hooks on it and that's it.the steel wheels are equally bland with no chrome whatsoever.not everybody can afford to drive one nowadays.. VERY expensive and rare.excellent video 🌞
I think if the combination of man hours to restore, the materials used in the restoration, and the demand for it all add up to $100k+, that would justify it. Of course demand is kind of a catch-all, but if that is their price, someone will pay
Jonathan do you prefer the Toyota version or your Icon version? As much as I love my 1975 FJ40 I would probably be an Icon customer after I hit the Powerball! Great job on all your work!
Seriously Nice Resto! Question; I've got a Jan 1981 FJ40 but glove box had a "pull knob" not the round locking door. I've researched and been told those only came on non-USA models. What thinks the expert? Also, my doors do not have the interior dome light hump.
We owned a 73 hard top in California & went hunting in the seirra & I challenge u to find a more capable straight 6 & 3 speed 4 x 4 on the planet. I've sat in it when "every" 4 x 4 pulled over & out of our way while we pushed snow 4' high over the hood & in the radiator while everyone else followed behind. It's not for your pretty city boy. It's a man's hunting machine. No excuses. We're hunting not urban city cruising the Blvd. Take care of these vehicles & they'll take care of u. Many great memories.
Hi...very informative video..I thank you. Can you answer two questions that I can't seen to find the answers to. First question... do all or certain model years have the lockable storage box under the driver seat and if so where do you get them? Secondly is it possible to swap sixties and early seventies front side door panels with the "X" access panel onto later seventies and eighties models? I like the old school stock look of them on a more advanced eighties model for all the reasons you mentioned in this video. Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer. Cheers my friend!
For 100k I would hope you could throw in a couple leather seat covers ! These restored FJ’s have become nothing more than play things for rich guys , it’s a shame really .
Plenty of options that start in the middle teens and up, throw $5,000 to $15,000 to $$$ at fix up and have fun, I’ve got a ‘79 and re-stored it, my neighbor would let me take his out when I was 16 in 1978, I was hooked! Great video!
I have 4 doors 2 quarter panels and the hard roof top to an old FJ40 I want to sell them but I'm not sure what year they are. How do I find out the year? They were given to me by my cousin , old extras laying around he needed to make room in his garage and gave them to me. The thing is his FJ40 is a 74 and these parts he gave me are not, he thinks 76 or older then 74. I dont know how to tell.
I bought a 79 fj40 brand new off the showroom floor 13 miles on it many years later round up giving it away after acquiring many extra parts I still got brand new set of turn signals for the vehicle I have left and right front turn signals original EOM models
I really liked my 1971 fj40 but it only got about 8 mpg. I tried a different intake manifold and a carburetor but the mpg was still 8mpg. (In Alaska)☹️
@Jonathan Ward , In a few years when I pay off my 4Runner I’ll be getting a stage 3 restoration for an ‘82 Land Cruiser, I’d like to keep the interior and body as stock as possible with a few modern amenities, I’ll probably get flack for other naturalists for asking this, but can you mate a newer 5.7 V8 engine from the current Land-cruiser 2019 or a smaller block newer V8 or maybe even the 2019 V6 4.0L from the 4Runner?
