1966 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup with Ram Jet 350 and a 1,800-hour frame-off build

Why we picked it

Why we picked it: the FJ45 short-bed pickup is the Land Cruiser most builders want and few can find, and this one has had a frame-off refurbishment by Restored FJ40 of Oregon that the seller says took five years and 1,800 labor hours. It runs a Chevrolet Performance Ram Jet 350 with port fuel injection, a 700R4 overdrive automatic behind the Toyota split transfer case, later-model axles, four-wheel disc brakes and Vintage Air. It has a clean California title in the seller's name and comes with receipts, manuals, restoration photos and build documentation.

The Hagerty auction had no bids yet with about 14 days to go, ending November 3. Bids usually climb, and the page does not state a reserve. Comparable V8 FJ45 builds have sold for $66,000 to $90,500 in the last year, so it's a rare truck to watch rather than a guaranteed bargain. Set your limit from those sales.

The value check

The current bid is $15,000. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $66,000–$90,500, so the middle of the market is about $78,250. That put this car 81% under. Bids usually climb in the final hours, so the discount will likely shrink.

Recent sales of 1960s FJ45 pickups with V8 swaps and automatic transmissions run from $66,000 (BaT, July 2026) to $90,500 for an ICON-built truck (BaT, November 2025). A top body-off 2F build brought $122,000 in September 2026, while a few unbuilt or older-resto trucks stalled at $40,000 to $45,000 high bids.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1965 FJ45 pickup, V8 swap, sold $66,000 (BaT, Jul 2026)
• 1966 FJ45 pickup, engine swap, sold $84,700 (Barrett-Jackson, Apr 2026)
• 1967 FJ45 pickup by ICON, sold $90,500 (BaT, Nov 2025)
• FJ45 pickup market results on classic.com

What to check

• No bids yet and the reserve isn't stated. Expect the price to rise, and confirm whether there is a reserve.
• The listing mentions cosmetic imperfections since the refurbishment, but rust isn't covered. Check the floors, rocker area, bed floor, wheel wells and the bottoms of the doors.
• The axles are only described as later-model. Confirm their make, gearing and whether they suit the V8's torque.
• Check the 700R4's TV cable adjustment and cooling, and how the GM transmission is adapted to the Toyota split transfer case.
• Confirm the VIN (FJ4522757) matches the title, and look through the build receipts before bidding.

Making it drive like new

Most of the work is done: EFI V8, an overdrive automatic, disc brakes and air conditioning. The next steps would be a modern suspension (Old Man Emu or similar springs and shocks if it doesn't already have them), power steering if it isn't fitted, LED lighting, and a good look at the cooling system for hot-weather trail use.

2 builders make a complete chassis for the 1960–84 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.