- Location
- United States
It’s with a heavy heart that I share some news — my 60 was totaled about a month ago. This was a truck I drove daily for over a decade, crossed the country in six times, and through which I had the pleasure of meeting many of you here.
In the weeks since, after many conversations with @CenTXFJ60, @samc2447, @Rockymtnreaper , and @Kleatus , I made the difficult decision to let it go to the yard. Insurance wanted $10,000 if I chose to retain it. I had just spent the better part of a month installing a full Terrain Tamer suspension, sanding and painting the frame, and restoring it down to the Toyota nuts and bolts — even the brake line clips. It only needed a few more things to be finished, specifically some Trail Tailor crossmembers.
Before I could get there, fate had other plans — a mishap sent it rolling backward down my driveway, through the woods, and into two stone walls. Insurance totaled it out due to the paint and bodywork involved.
I’m posting here because it goes to auction this morning, and I’ve been torn about whether to bid on it myself. In the end, I’ve decided to let it go — but I wanted to share this with the community so you all know what it is, and what it isn’t. It could make a fantastic mechanically solid donor for someone’s rig or a trail gorilla for the right hands.
If not for needing to stay fiscally responsible through the end of the year, I’d be fighting to keep it. But it won’t be long before I’m back in another one. The Copart Auction ends at 10AM EST today, if someone wants a good rig - here's the proof of its pedigree
Build Thread:
1987 Toyota Land Cruiser
Extensive bodywork between 2016–2022 — too much to list here. New England winters are hard on vehicles, and I’ve spent a fortune keeping this one alive.
The two rear body mounts under the tailgate need to be replaced, and I was sourcing fresh metal from Cruiser Gear for the quarters (quoted at ~$200 per side). The body issues never affected how it drove. and it only escaped my attention because of how hard it was to see with the bumper installed.
August 2021
August 2025
In the weeks since, after many conversations with @CenTXFJ60, @samc2447, @Rockymtnreaper , and @Kleatus , I made the difficult decision to let it go to the yard. Insurance wanted $10,000 if I chose to retain it. I had just spent the better part of a month installing a full Terrain Tamer suspension, sanding and painting the frame, and restoring it down to the Toyota nuts and bolts — even the brake line clips. It only needed a few more things to be finished, specifically some Trail Tailor crossmembers.
Before I could get there, fate had other plans — a mishap sent it rolling backward down my driveway, through the woods, and into two stone walls. Insurance totaled it out due to the paint and bodywork involved.
I’m posting here because it goes to auction this morning, and I’ve been torn about whether to bid on it myself. In the end, I’ve decided to let it go — but I wanted to share this with the community so you all know what it is, and what it isn’t. It could make a fantastic mechanically solid donor for someone’s rig or a trail gorilla for the right hands.
If not for needing to stay fiscally responsible through the end of the year, I’d be fighting to keep it. But it won’t be long before I’m back in another one. The Copart Auction ends at 10AM EST today, if someone wants a good rig - here's the proof of its pedigree
Build Thread:
Lucy Liu, a long overdue 5.3 build thread
Copart Listing:1987 Toyota Land Cruiser
What It Is
Drivetrain- 5.3 Vortec (147,000 miles on swap)
- 180A alternator
- Dragonfire plug wires
- H55 transmission
- Stainless headers
- Borla stainless steel exhaust system (full length, 2025)
- New HD clutch & flywheel (2024)
- Wilwood clutch master cylinder kit (2024)
- H42 transfer case rebuilt in 2019 with full Sumo Gearset (4:1:1 low range, long spline input)
- ARB air lockers front and rear
- Rear differential rebuilt (2023)
- New U-joints (2023)
- 555 tie rod ends (2024)
- 40-gallon Long Range fuel tank with Tanks Inc. floatless sending unit
- Rebuilt power steering box and birfields
- Brand new Terrain Tamer suspension: parabolic springs, new shocks, steering stabilizer, shackles, bushings, all with new OEM hardware
- 4° caster correction plates
- Trail Tailor sway bar links
Extensive bodywork between 2016–2022 — too much to list here. New England winters are hard on vehicles, and I’ve spent a fortune keeping this one alive.
- Brand new OEM locks and cylinders
- Full steel bumpers (dual rear swingouts — one tire carrier, one jerrycan/jack)
- Warn VR8000
- 70-series mirrors
- Morimoto LED headlights
- Complete Speedhut gauge cluster (everything works)
- New OEM ignition cylinder to match new OEM exterior locks
- Australian door cards
- Fully rebuilt doors — new guides, regulators, cranks, and weatherseals
- Tuffy console
- Wagon Gear rear storage panels & tailgate panel (all lockable)
- Trail Tailor aluminum B-pillars (painted)
- Trail Tailor Crossmembers
- (5) FJ Company aluminum wheels on Wildpeak AT4W (255/85R16, 2025)
- Bowfin Cruisers 60-series aluminum/steel roof rack
What It Isn’t
It’s not rust-free. Even after extensive bodywork, the rear quarters need attention. The Trail Tailor rear crossmembers and shock mounts were purchased to address the frame — that’s really all it needs structurally if perfection isn’t the goal.The two rear body mounts under the tailgate need to be replaced, and I was sourcing fresh metal from Cruiser Gear for the quarters (quoted at ~$200 per side). The body issues never affected how it drove. and it only escaped my attention because of how hard it was to see with the bumper installed.
The Honest Take
This is a mechanically rock-solid truck. Aside from the body damage, I drove it out of the woods and over both stone walls for another 60 miles without issue. It deserves a good home. If anyone has questions or wants to know more, shoot me a message - and I'd be happy to email some photos. If someone here on MUD gets it, let me know - I have the "bible" for it, the parts lists, and I'd be be willing to work out a deal for the items I kept. I wasn't going to give them all to copart to see the lot vultures rip them out of the truckAugust 2021
August 2025
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