When I was in high school 20-plus years ago, the coolest kid in auto shop had a gold 1987 FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser. We put an Old Man Emu lift on it, an ARB locker in the rear differential, and he wheeled it hard all over Utah. But, like all 80’s cars, it was already showing serious signs of cancer, and I’m sure not long after we graduated it eventually made its way to the great crusher in the sky, which is a shame because it was a great vehicle.
Thankfully there are companies out there who dedicate themselves to not only keeping vintage iron like the FJ62 on the road, but improving on them so they perform like a modern vehicle. One such company is TLC Automotive out of Harrisburg, NC. TLC has been restoring Land Cruisers since 1996, and with a new 28,000 square foot facility, they’re not slowing down any time soon.
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Along with the new facility, TLC is adding the FJ62 to its list of restomod vehicles. This beautiful blue example, the first to roll out of their new facility, took 2,200 man-hours and $175,000 to complete. But with that you get:
- Rebuilt LS3 engine (430 horsepower, 425 foot-pounds)
- 4L65e four-speed automatic transmission
- Retooled Old Man Emu suspension
- Rear disc brake replacement
- Restored brake calipers and rotors
- Upgraded rear axel
- Method Wheels with 33-inch BFG K02 tires
- New headliner
- Touchscreen infotainment system
- Heated seats
- Power locks
- Power windows
As Ferris Bueller said, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
