Guy, is that your Toyota?? Man, that thing looks like it could take on anything and WIN!!
No....that Land Cruiser was owned by a friend of mine. He is on the right in the below photo. His was a 1972 FJ40 which had the bench seat in the front. He put in a posi rear and since it was a three speed he added an overdrive because he traveled to State College Pennsylvania often. He purchased it new and right after doing so he was in a motorcycle accident so his mom used it for the first 6 months he had it. I met him on May 6, 1973 when I applied for a job at the local gas station near my home. Both of them in the photo were instrumental in started me on my exploring of the pines. They were fanatics on exploring and camping on the Forked River Mountains and I spent many years doing so with them. I have not talked to the owner in years but the man on the left told me recently that the vehicle was still around but rarely used and in bad shape.
The man on the left took me to look at the first Land Cruiser I purchased. It was a 1973 FJ40 which then had the bucket seats instead of the bench in the 1972. I purchased it the last week of March 1975. The 1974 Land Cruisers were the first with the square lights and the 4 speed.
My 73 on an unknown bridge somewhere in the pines. Notice how nice and new that bridge is. You don't see that much anymore.
The 1973 FJ40s shared exhaust ports and the valves were constantly burning. Working at the gas station I rebuilt the engine twice and finally added headers to it which solved the burning problem. The problem was anyone within a mile of me knew I was coming but it was an awesome sound. Eventually, I ran that into the ground from my constant pines driving, so I purchased a 1978 new from Cherry Hill Toyota. It cost me $8200 and I had to have my mom co-sign.
The 78 had the double walk in doors in the back making it easier to get in an out of, and it had the 2F engine which was a big improvement over the F engine. However, Toyota was never able to get over the rusting problem, and by the time my girls were young I was getting concerned about the fumes that would come in the vehicle when I stopped. So I ended my FJ40 ownership by selling it to a girl from Turnersville for around $1200. I gave her every single piece of equipment I had ever purchased for it except the adjustable wrench. All these years later I use it everyday at work as a reminder of my Land Cruiser ownership days.
Guy
