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10-16-2003
by Trevor Hofmann
Rod Millen's FJ-45 Land Crusher Wagon
Some stories might be old, but their just too good not to be told. That's how I feel about a radically modified 1967 Toyota FJ-45 Land Cruiser Wagon, the offspring of Rod Millen Group and Toyota Motor Sales.
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| An oldie but a goody, Rod Millen Group's radically modified 1967 Toyota FJ-45 Land Cruiser Wagon is a real treat. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
In case you have yet to laid eyes on this one-off custom creation, it's not particularly new. Of course the vehicle shell is getting close to forty years old, but the ground up customization that placed it on a 1999 Land Cruiser chassis is not even five years of age.
Oh, so now you're getting interested? I know I'm not the only Land Cruiser fan among my readers, as I've received letters over the years from diehard loyalists requesting write-ups on this brand within a brand. There's something very special about these go anywhere utes, something that reaches deep into a man's most primitive instincts.
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| There's something very special about Land Cruisers, something that reaches deep into a man's most primitive instincts. (Photo: Toyota) |
I've been a major fan of Land Cruisers since my father bought an old FJ-40 back in the mid-'70s. We explored every side road we could find on the way from my home town to our family cabin, about an eight hour drive through relatively untamed wilderness. Following logging roads as far as each would go, seeking out that pristine lake with trout the size of pikes but more often than not ending up high in some forgotten mountain where the road had long ago washed away to the point nothing less than a tank could get through, these are memories I'll cherish forever.
While I appreciated my family's tough-as-nails FJ-40, what Toyota and Rod Millen Group teamed up to build could easily get me out exploring all over again. Where the old truck was about as bare-bones as possible, with an exposed metal interior and the luxury of rubber flooring, this custom restoration combines off-road supremacy with new-world luxury - and that touch of cool that only a classic can deliver.
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| The Rod Millen custom restoration combines off-road supremacy with new-world luxury. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
It all started with Toyota Motor Sales' vice chairman, Yale Gieszl, and Bryan Bergsteinsson, group vice president and general manager for Toyota's Lexus Division, when Toyota was looking for a way to show off its new Land Cruiser technology while displaying an important part of the nameplate's heritage.
According to Bergsteinsson, "Yale had the idea to build a customized Land Cruiser, and we knew that we wanted to work with Rod again." He continued, "We met with Rod and over the course of several development sessions came up with the customized FJ concept."
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| Starting with a barebones 1967 FJ-45 they bought for $5000, Millen and his engineers set to work creating the retro concept. |
After finding the ideal FJ-45 Land Cruiser Wagon for a mere $5000, Millen and his engineers set out to attach it to a 1999 Land Cruiser chassis and drivetrain. But of course, it wasn't just a simple blowtorch and hacksaw job. Factoring in that the older vehicle was narrower and shorter than the new model, either the chassis had to be chopped down to size or the body needed to be widened. One look is all that it takes to figure out what they did. All in all the Retro Cruiser body was widened by 74 mm (3 inches) on each side, and lengthened by 254 mm (10 inches). The front fenders were widened too, while the rear wheel wells were lengthened to make room for larger wheels and tires. While they were at it the rear doors were stretched by about 127 mm (5 inches) to improve access to a much roomier rear seating area.
With the brand new chassis attached to the olde-world body all that was left to make it roadworthy was the addition of Toyota's completely new 230-hp 4.7-L V8. If you've never experienced this engine, available in the Tundra pickup, plus 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs, it's one of the jewels of the truck world. More Lexus than Land Cruiser, its sophisticated 32-valve DOHC architecture and variable valve timing is as smooth as smooth can be, while offering levels of power and torque the FJ-45 could have never known before.
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| The retro Cruiser concept is fitted with Toyota's fantastic new 230-hp 4.7-L V8, which is also found in the Tundra pickup, and 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
Despite the added oomph comes respectable fuel economy, at least compared to the old inefficient inline-6. Minding gas mileage is ultra-important when trekking into uncharted territory, where refueling stations are about as common as Sherpa trials are in Manhattan.
Millen's engineers pulled the engine backwards by 203 mm (8 inches) due to the FJ's narrower engine bay, but all fit in place after a little tweaking. To enhance performance and the V8's authoritative rumble, a Borla stainless steel exhaust system was custom designed.
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| It was important for the Retro Cruiser to be seen as the ultimate off-roader, but not by completely sacrificing modern day civility. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
With a frame, body and engine in place it was time to turn to the suspension setup. It was important for the Retro Cruiser to be seen as the ultimate off-roader, but not by completely sacrificing modern day civility. Therefore, once again, it would take a combination of old and new philosophies to achieve the goal. For refinement an independent rear suspension with coil-over spring/shock assemblies was designed and fabricated in-house, giving the Cruiser 318 mm (12.5 inches) of wheel travel. The front suspension was massaged as well, increasing wheel travel by 30 percent. Widening the track by 102 mm (4 inches) must give the Land Crusher the on road handling of at least a Hummer (which is fairly good by SUV standards). Now it would be comfortable and capable.
The entire package was good for 305 mm (12 inches) of ground clearance, which made it good for getting over the majority of obstacles. For mountain climbing purposes a Toyota factory built driver-controlled rear-locking differential and a dash-mounted center-locking differential button were added, much better than wading out into the mud to lock the wheel hubs by hand - as I remember not my favorite job. To minimize undercarriage damage when the going got rough, the Retro Cruiser also received a set twin set of specially made Kevlar skid plates - lightweight and extremely strong. In order to tackle mud and snow, and look really sharp, Rod machined imposing looking 17 inch billet wheels and mated them to BFGoodrich 35x12.50R17LT tires all round.
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| With all its luxury appointments inside, the Cruiser concept is a big change from the FJ's typical stark interior. (Photo: Rod Millen Group) |
While utilitarian in purpose there was no reason to continue on with the FJ's oath-of-poverty interior. Specially ordered Connolly leather seats and trim, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel, were added. Of course, despite the luxury appointments it would be impossible to forget the Retro Cruiser's primary 4x4 mission, a full interior roll cage made this point clear.
Other service oriented upgrades included a 150 L (40 gallon) fuel tank for improved range, a 38 L (10 gallon) water storage tank (with a shower nozzle hook-up I might add), front and rear 4,082 kg (9000-pound) Warn winches, a GPS navigational system and a satellite telephone. Now the Retro Cruiser could get its driver and passengers out of almost anywhere, and keep them clean in the process.
After all the engineering challenges and simple hard work, both Toyota Motor Sales and Rod Millen Group had a 4x4 force to be reckoned with. Not only did it boast the capability to overcome almost any obstacle that dared enter its path, but it had looks that kill.
While Toyota never put it into limited production, which is a shame, word has it plans are afoot for a retro-styled Land Cruiser replacement. And this may be a good thing. With the resurgence of classic designs that have allowed manufacturers to play their heritage trump cards (every marketing executive loves to sell a story), Toyota would do well to remind the world how its 4x4 roots were planted.
The Land Cruiser has one of the most loyal followings that any vehicle could ever hope to have, with "real" off-road aficionados buying up good examples as soon as they hit the classifieds. Few alternative 4x4s can climb up as steep an incline, traverse as rocky a ridge or dig as deeply in the dirt as an old FJ, and something new available at the dealership that resembled the Retro Cruiser could only tie old positive memories in with Toyota's new vehicle brand image.
Let's hope that Toyota wants to build on this history, and a new Land Cruiser that pulls from the past is in our future.
Specifications (LS):