The annual SEMA Show is a great opportunity for automakers to let their hair down and create vehicles they wouldn’t ordinarily offer to the general public, and Toyota’s build for this year’s event is already one of our favorites. What looks like an unassuming Land Cruiser FJ60 has been enhanced with the i-FORCE twin-turbocharged V6 you get in the current Tundra, resulting in what Toyota is calling the Turbo Trail Cruiser. The 3.4-liter mill develops 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, almost double what the original straight-six produces. Best of all, Toyota has retained the original five-speed manual transmission by machining an adapter plate, and it’s done so without destroying the bits of the vehicle you can’t see.
A Potentially Reversible Swap
Toyota says that the Turbo Trail Cruiser was built to appear factory-original, so every component was developed to fit “without cutting into the firewall, relocating mount points, or altering the 1985 FJ60’s structural integrity.” All that means the swap could be reversible, but it also means that the swap should be relatively straightforward for the everyday enthusiast – assuming Toyota offers the new motor mounts and adapter plate to the public. Anyone looking to replicate this build will also need a redesigned oil pan to ensure the motor doesn’t touch the old Land Cruiser’s chassis, and Toyota also added a new heat exchanger to keep the turbo V6 reliable, while a custom wiring harness allows everything to work like factory.
Some Aftermarket Upgrades Are Obligatory For SEMA
While Toyota was at it, a custom exhaust system was fitted, as were a 1.5-inch lift, 35-inch tires, and front shackle reversal, while PPG Industries reproduced the original 1986 Silver 147 paint. In the cabin, a modern JBL sound system was installed, but that’s it – no big screens or over-the-top upholstery. “For Toyota fans, the Turbo Trail Cruiser is about more than just horsepower,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing. “It’s about preserving the character of a vehicle enthusiasts love while showing how seamlessly Toyota technology can elevate the driving experience. It’s a concept build, but it demonstrates the passion we share with our customers for keeping these classics alive in new and exciting ways.” While Toyota has not indicated that it will offer a kit to make such a swap possible, we hope it does, because anything that keeps a classic like this alive without fundamentally altering its looks or character is worth celebrating and seeing over and over again.
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