​​Old School Meets New School in the Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser Concept​ 

We all love an old school Toyota Land Cruiser. They are the symbol of durability and ruggedness that can go anywhere on this planet. What if one of those old-school Land Cruisers came back to life? How would you do it?  

Toyota came up with a great concept fusing an FJ60 Land Cruiser from 1985 with a modern driveline. They presented it at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association show in Las Vegas last year and called it the Turbo Trail Cruiser.  

The idea was to keep it in a state that looks original but with a renewed heart. That heart – a twin-turbocharged V6 – is a way for Toyota to demonstrate that you can still work with internal combustion engine concepts alongside electrification and hydrogen fuel cells. It was one of the focal points of the company’s SEMA booth this past fall.  

In developing this concept, Toyota took the restomod route by replacing the old inline-six-cylinder engine with the Tundra’s i-FORCE 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6. With 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, the newer six-cylinder catapults this FJ60 much quicker than the old one. It is also quieter and more refined than the old, rugged engine.  

If you did not open the hood, you would still think the Turbo Trail Cruiser was a stock 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser. The Toyota Motorsports Garage team accomplished minimal modifications to the original body shell and chassis. A new oil pan, a custom wiring harness, a heat exchanger, and a reworked exhaust system are all they needed to do in this concept.  

Another noticeable modification is the additional 1.5-inch lift compared to the original 1985 FJ60. That was done to accommodate the 35-inch tires. They actually kept the original wheels.  

Inside, the modifications remain subtle. Toyota added a JBL audio system to its original head unit. You will not find any Bluetooth or smartphone integration inside the Turbo Trail Cruiser. The paint job matchesthe period using Silver 147 from PPG Automotive Finishes. 

The Turbo Trail Cruiser acknowledges two things. The first is the growth in demand for off-road-ready vehicles amongst customers. With the new Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tacoma, and TRD Pro versions of the Sequoia and Tundra, seeing an old-school Land Cruiser will inspire customers to explore our lineup of SUVs and pickup trucks, opening up possibilities. We love off-roading here in South Dakota, and this concept aligns perfectly with our interests.  

The other part is also to stoke the interest in restomodding. It could be as simple as a few chassis modifications while swapping to a newer powerplant, or something more extensive that features a new frame, chassis components, and a drivetrain. Of course, the parts department at Sharp Automotive can assist in getting the right factory parts for your project vehicle.  

No matter how this concept inspires you, you are invited to consider the possibilities. That is why you should check out the Toyota SUV and pickup truck lineup at Sharp Automotive. Contact us to see what inspires you.