The Toyota Land Cruiser is returning to the U.S., but why wait?

Off-road enthusiasts are rejoicing at the Toyota Land Cruiser's return to the U.S. market after a two-year absence. We don't yet know what the specs on what the likely 2024 model year vehicle will be yet, but the good news is Toyota has sold over 10 million of them worldwide. If you can't wait until the new one comes out, here are some classic versions of Toyota's go-anywhere flagship that you can buy right now.

FJ Company G40

Everyone knows the classic FJ40, which had an incredible run from 1960 to 1964. But if you count versions built in South America, that lifespan extends all the way to 2001. In the last decade these have become such classics that there are multiple companies building restomod examples in the way Singer builds Porsches.

Florida-based FJ Company is one of the best. They take existing Land Cruiser bodies and conduct a frame-off nut-and-bolt rebuild. Along the way, they install modern mechanicals like the 4.0-liter V6 from a Tacoma and 4Runner mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. They're built-to-order so customers can specify exterior and interior colors, as well as performance options like a supercharger or front and rear locking differentials. Starting at $225,000 they're not for the faint of heart, but you can keep up with traffic and show up all the Audis at the restaurant's valet stand without smelling like gasoline.

1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55

In 1967 Toyota decided to branch off the Land Cruiser line with a comfort-oriented "wagon" body style. These longer variants, with chassis code FJ55, seated more and set the template for American market Land Cruisers. The original FJ40 line begat the utilitarian J70, which will soon be making a return to the Japanese market due to popular demand.

Nicknamed the Iron Pig, the FJ55 had most of the capabilities of the FJ40 but the longer wheelbase and larger size did slightly compromise its off-road abilities. They weren't quite as popular as the FJ40 and as such are quite rare today. This one for sale in Statesville, N.C. looks decent if you don't mind a non-original interior. Forget sheetmetal, interior plastics and vinyl are some of the hardest bits to find when it comes to vintage Japanese vehicles, which may explain the custom cabin. This model also has the bonus of being register-able in California, as only cars 1975 or older are smog-exempt. The $37,900 asking price isn't cheap, but there are only a handful of these for sale in the country at any given time.

1986 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60

The FJ60 has been steadily rising in price in recent years. Partially that's because the FJ40s got too expensive, but also because all 80s SUVs like Jeep Grand Wagoneers and Chevy Blazers have become true collectors items. The Land Cruiser's globally respected off-road capabilities have also made the 60-series somewhat of a movie star, with recent roles in safari thriller "The Beast," Navy Seal series "Terminal List", and revenge thriller "The Old Man," and many more.