If you haven’t got your vacation car yet, Bonhams Auction House has the solution.
Forget about blazing supercars, prestigious GTs and other pretentious SUVs. The coolest car for your vacation is right here before your eyes. First of all, because it is difficult to have more class than to reach the beach in a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, a true automotive icon. But above all because it is Tom Hanks’s. Yes, his signature is even affixed to the dashboard. However, this dream machine is for sale.
At the risk of disappointing the most rigorous collectors, this example dating from 1980 is not entirely original nor “matching numbers”. Under the hood, no in-line 6-cylinder 4.2 with vintage carburetor, but a 4.3 injection V6 from GM, rather worthy of a Chevrolet Blazer. But to be forgiven, the American mechanics, accompanied by a 5-speed manual gearbox, also from General Motors, develops 180 hp instead of the 135 of the initial Toyota block.
Because the interpreter of Chuck Noland in Alone in the world, movie in which he is the proud owner of a Jeep Cherokee XJ, knows what hostile terrain is, the suspension has been reinforced by a set of Old Man Emu shock absorbers, renowned Australian equipment manufacturer in the field.
But it is on board that this Land Cruiser Hardtop confuses the most by some of its modifications. The more observant will surely have ticked the seats; they come at first sight from a Porsche 911, epoch 997! The original ones, gray in color, are fortunately included in the sale and can be reinstalled to better match the side folding seats at the rear.
There is still a small downside: the car will not be available with August 13, date of the auction held in Carmel, California. Hopefully this doesn’t require you to postpone or cancel your summer rental. And although no reserve price is set, Bonhams believes that to show off on the coast this summer, it will cost between 64,000 and… 110,000 €. It’s a budget to ride in style.
Other news on auto-moto.com:
25 Land Rover Defenders at over € 230,000… all sold already!
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring test: it’s off again for a lap (ing)
Audi RS Q e-tron: the Dakar in electric, or almost
