Get Shorty

Woody lives a childhood dream.

- Matt Wood

It seems being a Land Rover nut and then buying a classic Land Cruiser is akin to barracking for both Carlton and Collingwood at the same time, or, if you’re into that other game, the Doggies and the Rabbitohs.

But while old Land Rovers seem to be popular with Instagram hipsters these days, I’ve always had a thing for old Cruisers. Growing up in the bush surrounded by them is probably the reason why, with trayback 45s and shorty 40s seeming to be on the periphery of my life for the past three or four decades. That said, I’ve never actually owned one.

Stateside, prices for old FJ Toyotas have gone nuts, but the sheer volume of Toyota tin on the ground locally has seen Aussie prices remain a little more realistic for the average enthusiast. I’ve always wanted one and have been keeping an eye on the market. The thing is, I wanted a stock FJ, which is harder to find than you may think. I’d noticed really good examples were getting hard to find and had some pretty serious asking prices. Everything else with a realistic price tag was deep in the heart of project territory.