1978 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser

LINCOLN LS V8 ----- CHEVROLET 3500 ----- LAND CRUISER ----- VW CONVERTIBLE

1978 FJ-40 Toyota Land Cruiser

The first unit in the lineup is our 1978 FJ-40 Toyota Land Cruiser. Jim purchased the vehicle in Farmington, Utah in the 1970s.

Older Land Cruisers are notoriously rusty and most have been tossed into the scrap heap. Fortunately, this one has spent much of its life garaged and remains in pretty good shape. In fact, the newer vehicles are parked outside while this old thing stays protected.

It is preserved as near to stock as possible. True 4-wheelers look down their noses at us because we have not installed a small-block Chevy V8 engine, locking hubs and differentials, monster tires, long travel shocks, etc. It is a 55 mph vehicle with no power steering, air conditioning, or even adjustable seats.

Our Land Cruiser is parked in the old TNT area near Point Pleasant. This is the location where teens reported seeing Mothman. When Jim was a volunteer at the West Virginia State Farm Museum, he cleared a pathway to these structures.

The truck was used mainly to explore the deserts of southern Utah. We used to help Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) determine which roads and trails deserved wilderness designation.

1