Turning A Vintage FJ43 Into A $200K Custom

The high-end restomod community seems to be gaining traction these days and companies like the FJ Company is riding the wave with their 1981 Toyota FJ43 offering. Of course the restoration process is an arduous one, and that’s why the finished FJ43 starts at a whopping $200,000 before any options are added.

First they have to find a base vehicle in good condition and it need to show minimal rust, have the original drivetrain and preferable be a single-owner vehicle. Once a vehicle has been located, the team completely guts the car and separates the body from its frame whilst photographing the process for the customer’s records.

After that is when the restoration process begins. First the steel ladder frame is refurbished before Old Man Emu leaf springs and Fox shocks are installed. Then they overhaul the braking system and install various new performance parts like custom solid axles, wheel bearings, and 17-inch steel wheels shod in BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires.

After that is the engine, where customers can choose to either stick with the FJ’s inline-six mills or go with a new Toyota 4.0-liter V-6 unit.

A lot of time and effort goes into building one of these unique Vintage FJ43. “For someone with the money, this would be a fun car to have in their personal fleet,” says AutoBlog. Perhaps years down the road, the recently discontinued FJ Cruiser will be considered a vintage vehicle, something the FJ Company will take in hand.