Toyota Land Cruiser BJ40 Original Dutch Car, Restored and upgraded, Great Condition (1978) For sale from Gallery Aaldering , in NL, Netherlands

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a special car since its introduction in the early 1950s. Not only can the Land Cruiser do everything, it also remains intact. Typical Toyota and over the years that reliability, which is not always obvious with the competition, only gets better. In 1960 the J40 is presented, actually the third series of the Land Cruiser. This model remains in production for decades.
In 1978 a petrol engine (FJ40) and a diesel engine (BJ40) can be chosen. The first owner of the Land Cruiser you see here opted for the latter variant. A very strong, torque-rich and reliable 3.0 diesel with 80 hp. 1978 means that for the first time a tick could be placed at the option ‘power steering’ and that has also happened with this 4×4.
The first owner was a Dutchman, making this an original Dutch copy. Very special because not only were not many Land Cruisers sold in our country at the time, most were also exported over the years to countries where the all-rounder was more needed.
The car was delivered to Louwman and Parqui in 1978, the stickers of which are still present under the hood. At the time, the all-terrain vehicle was Dune Beige, as most Land Cruisers were. After a long life in the Netherlands, the BJ40 was completely restored. Not ‘a quick blow over’ but a very extensive restoration in which the Toyota is prepared for a new life. During the restoration, the four-wheel drive was fitted with an extra nice anthracite gray tailored suit. The body looks great, with correct panel fittings, easy-closing doors and body edges that are all neatly taut. Hinges, suspension parts, bumpers, fasteners and rubbers are also new, or look like that. At the same time, the car received wide wheel arches, wide steel wheels with huge Goodyear Wrangler tires, a snorkel and a winch. It gives the car a modern and utilitarian look while preserving the original classic character. A well struck combination.
The same story in the interior: ‘like new’. The comfortable, light gray upholstered seats are new, as is the headliner. The countless switches and instruments: it all looks like a time travel to the late 1970s. You may have noticed that there is no back seat, that’s because this Land Cruiser is registered on gray. Functional is the key word in the Toyota and driving can be described with the same term, although ‘amusing’ comes close behind.
The Land Cruiser is cared for down to the last detail. A typical case of: ‘He can really do everything, but it’s almost a shame to let him do the heavy lifting’. Fortunately, the Toyota is also very suitable for normal journeys, thanks to the very smooth three-liter diesel engine. The sturdy diesel starts with a small turn of the key and then does its job without any effort. With the long gear lever, the four-speed gearbox (earlier versions have one gear less) is easy to shift and driving the Land Cruiser is child’s play. The large three-liter four-cylinder is well maintained and completely ‘fool proof’. You will probably not find much more character and convenience in a classic off-road vehicle. An additional plus for Dutch owners is that you can enter every environmental zone because of its age. In addition, the car is exempt from motor vehicle tax.
Also at the bottom, which is much easier to view on a car like this than on most cars in our stock, you can see that the BJ40 leaves nothing to be desired. You can see from the bottom, sills, crossbars and other parts that the restoration has been carried out very well. The shock absorbers and leaf springs have also been renewed.
In short: not only a valued enthusiast’s object, but also a very understandable choice for the entrepreneur who wants to set off on a business trip and who wants to distinguish himself.