Pristine FZJ80 Land Cruiser Packs V8 Punch

Survivor-spec FZJ80 Land Cruiser features ground-up restoration and LS3 power to create a restomod off-roader that dreams are made of.

In the car community, the word “clean” gets thrown around pretty profusely. However, every once in a while, a vehicle falls into your vision that truly fits the description of that word, no matter how muddied it may be. However, other words might come to mind for this build. “Perfection” certainly tops our list of descriptive words for this gorgeous FZJ80 Land Cruiser. From afar, it looks like a Cruiser that one owner has lovingly maintained for decades. It’s got a bit more to it than that, though.

TLC 4×4 built this stunning bit of off-road bliss. If you aren’t familiar, TLC 4×4 makes a point to add modern touches and upgrades to historic Land Cruiser models without drastically altering their character. It’s hard to imagine something that hits the nail on the head for that mission more than this beauty. Let’s take a look.

A Modern, yet Era-Appropriate Interior Overhaul

The inside of this FZJ80 Land Cruiser looks like something straight out of a 1990s luxury interior design textbook. Leather seats that bare plaid inserts match the tan dashboard with door cards featuring the same plaid material to pull it all together. An Alcantara headliner rests above the entire ensemble and a leather-wrapped steering wheel brings the entire luxury feel of the cabin to completion.

Though it retains its authentic 1990s appearance, this Cruiser also has an upgraded JCV head unit and Kicker KS speakers and subwoofers for the ultimate audio experience. Moreover, the cabin is lined with Dynamat sound insulation to provide a smooth and quiet interior experience, regardless of what’s going on around the vehicle.

From the outside, you wouldn’t be any the wiser that this Land Cruiser isn’t stock. Of course, you get what you pay for in this world, and the TLC 4×4 touch doesn’t come cheap. To land yourself in one of these FZJ80 Land Cruiser examples comes with a starting price of $250,000. It is worth noting, though, that your quarter-million dollar investment lands you much more than a heavenly interior experience.

Modern Powerplant and Suspension Meets an Iconic Chassis

Under the hood lies the iconic General Motors LS3 V8 engine. TLC 4×4 mates it to a GM 4L65E seven-speed automatic transmission with a custom mandrel-bent Magnaflow exhaust system to compliment its modern powertrain. With 430 horsepower on tap, its got more than enough power to venture down the most tedious trails. As is fitting to the theme, though, the modern driving upgrades go much further than the engine bay.

Underneath, TLC upgrades the braking system with DBA disk brakes for superior stopping power. It also has Fox shock absorbers, OME Springs, and a Slee off-road front sway bar to provide an unparalleled driving experience whether you’re on the roads or on the trails. At the end of the day, the $250,000 price tag starts to look pretty reasonable when you take time to consider all of the research and development that went into crafting these amazing vehicles. Perhaps it’s better suited to call it TLC, not research and development.

Images: TLC 4×4