Overview of the Toyota Land Cruiser 40
This is a 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser 40, chassis code K-BJ44V, a three door four wheel drive with a 3200 cc diesel engine and a four speed manual gearbox. It is finished in white, colour code 033, and the odometer reads 62,970 km, approximately 39,128 miles. It crosses the block at USS Nagoya & Hokuriku as lot 50376 on 9 October 2026, graded 3.5 with an interior grade of C.
The BJ44V is the diesel hard top of the Land Cruiser 40 family, with rear side hinged barn doors, a spare wheel on the back and the upright, utilitarian shape that made the 40 a worldwide icon. The sheet lists a period owner's manual, LIZING II LED headlight bulbs, IPF fog lights, Geolandar A/T tyres and an ETC 2.0 toll unit. The inspector also records a full repaint, underside rust and corrosion and oil seepage around the engine, so this is a truck for a buyer who wants an honest, usable 40 with work to do rather than a finished show car.
The Drive Review
A Land Cruiser 40 does not drive like a modern SUV, and that is the point. The ladder frame chassis, live axles on leaf springs, part time four wheel drive with a transfer lever and a short wheelbase body give it huge off road ability but a rustic road manner. Expect long, deliberate steering with plenty of play, drum style braking effort that rewards planning, and a ride that moves around over broken surfaces.
The diesel is about torque and durability rather than speed. At 3200 cc it pulls steadily from low revs, and the four speed manual puts you in direct contact with it through a long gear lever. Motorway pace is possible but never relaxed, and the sweet spot is a steady cruise on mixed roads and tracks. The cockpit in the photographs is wonderfully simple: a thin rimmed black steering wheel, round switches, a basic radio and four gauges for oil, fuel, temperature and amps.
That simplicity is why enthusiasts value these trucks. There are no electronic aids to filter the experience, every control is mechanical, and nearly everything can be understood and repaired with basic tools. The photographs appear to show a right hand drive truck, but steering side is not marked on the sheet.
Auction Details
The car is offered by USS Nagoya & Hokuriku, lot 50376, in the Prime Corner section, on 9 October 2026. The overall grade is 3.5, the interior grade is C and the exterior grade is 3.5. The auction start price is ¥1,800,000. Registration is Nara 400 tsu 3686 and the frame number is BJ44-003944. The recycling deposit is shown as 0 yen. The Japanese inspection (shaken) is valid until 26 October 2026.
The Autoselecta guide bidding range for this Land Cruiser is £3,250 to £5,750. That is an estimated bidding range based on comparable auction activity, not a guaranteed purchase price, and we cannot say the car will sell within it. Two similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £2,417 and £8,974, but that range includes other versions and conditions. For the minimum bid and landed cost, please use the price panel on this page, which is calculated live. All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: Toyota. Model: Land Cruiser 40. Chassis code: K-BJ44V. First registration: July 1981 (Showa 56). Body: three door hard top with rear barn doors. Engine: 3200 cc diesel. Transmission: four speed manual. Drive: 4WD. Exterior colour: white, original colour, colour code 033. Interior colour: blank on the sheet, although the photographs show beige and brown check cloth seats. Mileage: 62,970 km, approximately 39,128 miles. Seating: 2 (6) persons. Load capacity: 0.5 (0.25) tonnes.
Under the cargo heading the sheet prints a length of 427 cm, width of 169 cm and height of 193 cm. These look like overall vehicle dimensions rather than cargo bed measurements.
Factory Features and Equipment
No equipment labels such as sunroof, alloy wheel, power steering, power windows, leather, TV, navigation or airbag are circled on the sheet, so the factory equipment list is empty. Air conditioning is blank. The sheet lists the following sales points: rear barn doors, spare tyre, period original item with owner's manual present, LIZING II LED headlight bulbs, Geolandar A/T tyres, IPF fog lights and an ETC 2.0 toll unit.
The photographs show polished alloy wheels with Yokohama Geolandar A/T tyres, a chrome front bumper, round auxiliary fog lights, a rear mounted spare, a rear bumper with step plates and a radio unit in the dash. The service book with warranty section is blank, so a maintenance record is not confirmed. Keys and a spare key are not mentioned.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The inspector's report reads as follows. Oil seepage around the engine. Headlining lifting. Seat torn. Cabin dirty and scratched. Underside painted, with rust and corrosion. Whole car repainted, with uneven paint and waviness. Left door handle faulty. Wheel scratches. Small scratches and small dents.
The points to note section is blank. The history field, the import car section and the transfer documents expiry are blank, and the serial number is blank. The colour change box carries only an arrow after white, which we read as no colour change. The ETC 2.0 unit, the period owner's manual and the aftermarket LED bulbs, fog lights and tyres come from the sales points, not the inspector's faults.
In plain terms, the seepage should be traced to its source, the underside has been painted over rust and corrosion rather than cleanly restored, and the repaint is uneven. The faulty left door handle is a small but practical job. The cabin is described as dirty and scratched, with torn seat material and a lifting headlining.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The diagram shows six marks and a spare tyre drawn without a damage code. A1 appears at the front centre, a small scratch on the front bumper or panel, and a second A1 sits on the front left wing, another small scratch. A mark reading トビA at the front centre, near the windscreen just behind the bonnet, indicates stone chips, though the exact location is not certain.
On the left side, middle, a U1 marks a small dent on the left door or body side. On the right side, middle, an A1 shows a small scratch on the right door or body side. At the right rear quarter panel a U2 shows a medium dent, the most significant body mark on the diagram. At the rear centre a U1 shows a small dent, possibly on the rear doors, though that is also not certain. The spare is shown without damage.
Overall this is usable enthusiast condition with a restoration element. The marks themselves are modest, but the full repaint with uneven finish and the underside rust and corrosion mean the paint and floor deserve real attention. The photographs show a tidy white truck that presents well from a few metres.
Interior Condition
The interior grade is C, matching the inspector's comments of a torn seat, a lifting headlining and a dirty and scratched cabin. The photographs show beige and brown check cloth seats, a black steering wheel, painted metal dashboard panels, a floor mat and the simple gauge cluster. The odometer is partly obscured in the photograph, so we rely on the sheet reading of 62,970 km. A cabin like this will respond well to cleaning and a trim refresh.
Japanese Auction Grades
Japanese auction grades run from 6 or S at the top down through 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5 and 3 to R or RA for repaired cars and 1 or 0 for the roughest. A grade of 3.5 is a fair used car with visible wear. Interior C indicates noticeable interior wear and is consistent with the notes here.
Model History
The Land Cruiser 40 series was introduced in 1960 as the successor to the earlier BJ and FJ models and stayed in production in Japan until 1984. It was built with petrol and diesel engines for farms, utilities, expeditions and military and government use, and it was sold in huge numbers worldwide. The BJ prefix denotes a diesel version, and the V suffix denotes a wagon or hard top body in Japanese chassis codes.
The 1981 model sits in the late life of the 40, after years of steady refinement. It keeps the classic body shape, with the long bonnet, separate wings and barn doors, while later changes brought a more comfortable cabin.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The Toyota Land Cruiser 40 is collectible because it is simple, tough and visually unmistakable. Clean examples are rising in value in many markets, and demand has grown in the United States, Australia and Europe. Diesel versions are less common in some export markets, and rust takes a heavy toll on survivors, so structurally good trucks are hard to source.
A manual gearbox, mechanical diesel and genuine Japanese domestic provenance appeal to buyers who want authentic trucks. At 63,000 km, this one is lightly used for its age, though the sheet does not provide a service history to prove it. We cannot promise future values, and this should be bought as a vehicle to use and enjoy, not as an investment.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
Rust is the first concern on every Land Cruiser 40. Look at the floor and the cabin corners, the rear door and body mounting points, the wheel arches, the sills, the chassis rails and the spring hangers. This car's sheet records underside paint over rust and corrosion and a full repaint with uneven waviness, so ask for underside photographs and check what lies beneath the paint.
Next, the engine. The sheet notes oil seepage around the engine, so check the valve cover, front and rear seals, injection pump area and sump for the source. On a diesel of this age, also look at the condition of the injection system, glow plugs and cold starting. Check the gearbox and transfer case for noise, the clutch for slip, and the front axle for leaks.
Steering box play, worn kingpin bearings and tired leaf springs are common on trucks of this age. Finally, check the left door handle, the torn seat and the lifting headlining, and confirm the rear barn doors close and seal properly.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japanese trucks usually have lower mileage, fewer owners and better documented histories than comparable trucks elsewhere. This one has 62,970 km on the sheet, and Japan offers a deep pool of 40 series trucks with open inspector reporting.
USA Import Information
This Land Cruiser is more than 25 years old, so it is eligible for import into the United States. Autoselecta can arrange shipment from Japan to the United States. Please contact us with your city or ZIP code before bidding so we can prepare a delivered quotation. We can calculate the expected purchase price, Japan costs, shipping, customs related costs and delivery requirements. Additional charges may apply depending on your location and the import route.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
Buying through Japanese auctions starts with the sheet, the photographs and a bid placed in advance. If you win, Autoselecta handles payment steps, export paperwork, shipping and arrival support, while your own country's rules determine registration and any inspection needed after landing.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta gives you direct access to Japanese auctions, translated auction sheets, vehicle sourcing, bidding assistance, export handling, shipping, import support, vehicle tracking where available and clear communication throughout. We also support buyers in the USA and arrange arrival support in your own country. We make no promises of savings, only a transparent process.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
This Land Cruiser 40 is one of many cars offered this week. Browse other classic 4x4s, performance cars and utilities and compare their sheets before bidding.
Live Auction Search
Use our live auction search to find other Toyota Land Cruiser 40 trucks as they are listed, filtered by model, grade, mileage and auction house.
Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but remain used vehicles. An auction sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. A forty year old diesel truck may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase.
Please remember the key inspector warnings: oil seepage around the engine, headlining lifting, a torn seat, a dirty and scratched cabin, underside paint over rust and corrosion, a full repaint with uneven paint and waviness, a faulty left door handle, wheel scratches, and small scratches and dents. A service book and spare keys are not confirmed on the sheet. All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
