1981 FJ43 Land Cruiser – Copperstate Overland Edition

The FJ Company - Copperstate Overland Edition

Every year in October, the Copperstate Overland brings together vintage 4x4 enthusiasts for a four-day rally through the beautiful landscapes of Arizona. This event, run by the same organizers of the famous Copperstate 1000, had its first run in 2015 and The FJ Company were proud to be inaugural sponsors. They will once again sponsor the Copperstate Overland this year with a special edition FJ43 purpose-built for this event.

About this FJ43

Imported from Japan into Colombia by a local energy company, this 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ43 was part of a large fleet of vehicles used to transport personnel to remote locations within the country. It had the original 2F engine, and most of its body panels were free from rust.

The primary objectives for the build were reliability, safety, and comfort. Beyond that, it had to appeal to the serious classic car collector in search of an authentic Land Cruiser that could be enjoyed at the event, but would also serve as a great weekend driver for years to come. With this in mind, FJ Company maintained as much of the original vehicle as possible, while upgrading a few of its features to comply with those core objectives.

As a part of the full, frame-off restoration, they rebuilt the original 2F engine, the power steering, the front disc brakes, installed a new carburetor, new starter engine, new pumps, and upgraded to a new aluminum radiator. For safety, they added a custom roll-cage, a fire extinguishing system, and 4-point seat belts (optional). The front Corbeau MOAB seats feature the same custom leather upholstery as fold-down seats and door panels. For comfort and drivability, this handsome rig is equipped with a new Old Man Emu suspension, 5-speed manual transmission, and LED headlights. Beyond that, there were some other minor upgrades to personalize the vehicle, while staying true to the authentic Toyota Land Cruiser. The gorgeous paint job in Olive 637, a factory Toyota color, was chosen specifically to contrast with the beautiful mountains in Arizona and neighboring states.

About the Copperstate Overland

Taking place in October, 2016, the Copperstate Overland is a fully-supported on-road/off-road rally open to vintage off-road vehicles. Modeled after the renowned Copperstate 1000 vintage car road rally, the Copperstate Overland provides a fully-catered, first-class off-road driving experience. This year, a new route will cover miles of beautiful desert terrain, verdant river valley and alpine landscape throughout the state of Arizona and beyond.

The FJ Company will be auctioning the FJ43 at Gooding & Co’s Pebble Beach auction August 20-21, and the winning bidder gets a free entry into the Copperstate Overland that comes with the car. 

About The FJ Company

Rough and tough, yet classic and cool, the Toyota Land Cruiser holds a very special place in the heart of auto enthusiasts across the world. At The FJ Company, they share that enthusiasm and love of these iconic vehicles. The FJ Company dedicates itself to solely performing full, frame-off restorations of the classic Japanese Toyota FJ20, FJ40, and FJ60 series Land Cruisers – creating modern versions of this classic ride for today’s driver. Whether you select from one of our available packages, or want to work with them to build your own custom FJ Land Cruiser, they are there to help you experience the joy of driving an authentic Land Cruiser.

For more information on how to make this FJ43 yours, visit www.fj.co/copperstate