Unrestored ’76 Land Cruiser FJ45 Has One Cool Story to Tell

By Brett Foote - March 24, 2020

Land Cruiser pickup is one of just two originally registered in U.K. and served 20 years working on a farm.

There was a time, not too long ago, when restored vehicles were hot property. Everyone in the collector car world expected perfection and scoffed at anything with surface rust, patina, or just good old fashioned dirt and dust. But a few years back, this all changed. Now, original vehicles are in big demand. And the more patina, the better. In that case, this cool old 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup we spotted over at Classic Car Auctions should be one desirable piece of kit.

Even better, this particular Land Cruiser has a pretty cool story to tell. For starters, it’s one of just two FJ45s originally registered in the U.K. It was originally brought to the country as a demo vehicle by Toyota before being sold to well-known English broadcaster Ned Sherrin‘s brother. It remained with the Sherrins for 20 years, serving as a workhorse on the family farm. And you can tell by the way this thing looks.

We mean that in a good, endearing way, of course. Every scratch and bruise on this Land Cruiser tells a story. As does the included correspondence between subsequent owners. This FJ45 comes with a slew of that, along with a file full of inspection and maintenance records that fully document its history. And with just 71,150 miles on the clock, it’s also mechanically sound as well.

And despite changing owners a few times over the years, the old Toyota also retains its original jack and jacking handles, starting handle, toolkit bag, inspection lamp, floor mats, and sound deadening panel. Overall, it’s a very proper and interesting Land Cruiser pickup. And even though there are a number of imports now living in the U.K., this is one of only two that can lay claim to living there its entire life.

Given the current collector car climate, we expect plenty of people will be interested in this old Land Cruiser. Here is a model that’s already one of the most beloved among enthusiasts. Add in a nifty history and rugged looks, and you’ve got a big-time winner in our book.