Toyota Shows Off The Turbo Trail Cruiser
Dubbed the Turbo Trail Cruiser, this one-off SEMA build from Toyota blends a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser with the twin-turbo V6 from a modern Toyota Tundra.
Key Points
- Toyota’s Turbo Trail Cruiser merges a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser body with a modern twin-turbo 3.4L V6 from the Tundra, delivering 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
- The build retains the original five-speed manual thanks to a custom adapter and precision engineering by Toyota Motorsports Garage.
- With no firewall cuts, a factory-style fit and finish, a 1.5-inch lift, and a period-correct Silver 147 paint job, this restomod strikes a perfect balance between heritage authenticity and modern performance.
Under the hood, the Turbo Trail Cruiser swaps the Land Cruiser's original 4.2-liter inline-six for Toyota’s modern i-Force 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 from the current Tundra. The modern powerplant pumps out 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, nearly double the output of the original FJ60’s engine. Best part is, the truck keeps its five-speed manual gearbox.
Toyota Motorsports Garage, the team behind the build, went to great lengths to make the engine swap look and feel OEM. That meant no cutting or welding the firewall, and creating new custom components like an adapter plate to make sure the original transmission would play nice with the new V6, along with a redesigned oil sump pan to better coexist with the FJ60's solid front axle.
Toyota kept things clean and authentic—the Turbo Trail Cruiser wears a subtle 1.5-inch suspension lift, 35-inch Continental all-terrain tires, and a front shackle reversal to improve suspension flex. The build is finished in the FJ’s original 1986 Silver 147 paint, with tastefully upgraded wheels and period-correct trim touches.
Inside, the cabin stays mostly vintage — save for the large digital display sitting atop the dashboard. It looks slightly out of place, but it runs a modern JBL audio system that should bang out some high-end sound if it were ever let free to roam. Toyota hasn’t said whether this build will inspire any production ideas.
The Turbo Trail Cruiser is just one of several Toyota creations heading to SEMA. Catch all the fun from Las Vegas next week when the 2025 show opens on November 4.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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Indeed, like the XJ it's a handsome vehicle. I have an issue though with the departure angle. Hopefully, a swing out tire carrier will be available for accessing the spare. Sticking a spare under the truck offers unique sport for changing tires in mud, snow or sand.
I am guessing with double the outpu tof the original
the original 5 speed and clutch should last about a week behind a 2025 engine