Latest photo? I don't think so. I have not been a L.C. owner for 30 years, but remember those 5 years (1967-1971) of great trips in my 1966 FJ-40, and 14 years (1971-1985) in my old 1970 FJ-55. The only reason I'm posting this is because there are so few FJ-55's left and so a look at the old days is instructive. How many posts do you see on the FJ55 registry? No registry. Most of them died a premature death at the hands of body rot. The Toyota anti rust frame and body dipping was insufficient around that time. Of course, it didn't help to have more than 1 second of salt water on the body panels: south of Bahia Gonzaga, 1974:
Down the trail to camp near Telluride, Colorado, 1971: One of 5 jeep trailers with the correct lug pattern on the tail.
Down to the frame in quicksand in Salt Creek, Canyonlands, Utah, 1970:
The only remarkable part of this rig was the factory PTO winch. It had a very low capacity (2000 pounds) so I drilled out the shear pin hole to accept 1/4 inch drill rod. We jumped the dunes with this rig and bent the front axle housing requiring a trip to the frame and axle shop with their 40 ton hydraulic tools. The stove bolt six engine had eternal carb problems. Single downdraft; tiny bore. Still, 5000 pound, 4.11 rear axle; 2700 pound, 4.11 front axle. No traction aids of any kind except deflating the tires on sand. I never broke an axle on the Cruisers. All the pix are 30-50 years old, so you may have to squint.
Here's the FJ-55, front view about 1978. 3 inch spring lift that lasted about 3 years before dropping down to the original position. Tomba Burro front bumper with Warn 8000 winch, P.S., AC, 8 inch wheels with ******** Cepek L-78-15 Armstrong Norseman tires in this view. Rattle can paint job. Chevy 307 V-8; Hone 30% Overdrive; rear Power Lok L.S. diff; 4.11 gears; 53 gallon gas tank and up to 6-5 gallon jeep cans. 1968, Con Fer custom made Toyota specific jeep trailer. Braised diamond plate rocker panels to replace the rusted hulks.
This pic has Armstrong Tru Track 11-15 tires and Jeanie's hand made curtains for all around the back. I had a sail maker build a 'tent-boot' that snapped over the down tailgate and opening. We could sleep 2 adults and 2 toddlers in there.. It looked like the back of a stage coach in a John Wayne movie.
one last pic: south of Puertocitos on the Gulf side of Baja circa 1974: we had 3 spare tires along (there's one under the rear on a crank down) and seven flats: 77 gallons of gas; the exhaust stack was for fording.
jefe4x4