The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is often a contest of who can shout the loudest. It’s a floor filled with blinding chrome, questionable body kits, and horsepower figures that look more like zip codes. Then, Toyota walks in, places a silver 1985 Land Cruiser on the floor, and quietly steals the entire show. This is the “Turbo Trail Cruiser,” and it might just be the perfect restomod.
Making its debut at the 2025 SEMA Show , this project is a masterclass in blending heritage with modern engineering. It’s part resto, part hot rod, and completely, unmistakably Toyota. The goal? To show what happens when today’s performance tech transforms one of the brand’s most iconic classics.
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The Heart of a Modern Tundra
The magic, of course, lies under the hood. The Toyota team ripped out the original, aging inline-six and replaced it with the heart of a modern Tundra: the i-FORCE 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
The new powerplant completely transforms the vehicle’s character. Let’s talk numbers:
- Horsepower: 389 hp
- Torque: 479 lb.-ft.
That is nearly double the output of the FJ60’s original engine. But Toyota insists this transformation isn’t just about raw power. The modern i-FORCE V6 brings a refinement the classic truck has never known: quieter operation, reduced emissions, and better fuel efficiency. Plus, it delivers the instant spool-up and steep, linear torque curve that only twin turbochargers can provide. The result is a Land Cruiser that feels more modern, more capable, and infinitely more “streetable” than ever before.
“The Turbo Trail Cruiser is about showing what happens when Toyota’s modern performance technology is integrated into one of our most iconic classics,” said Marty Schwerter, Director of Operations at Toyota’s Motorsports Garage and the project’s lead builder. “It’s a hot-rod approach with Toyota DNA: power, drivability, and reliability in a package that still feels true to the original Land Cruiser.”
A “Factory-Original” Philosophy
Here is what truly sets this build apart from the SEMA crowd. Unlike many restomod efforts, the Turbo Trail Cruiser was built with a singular, disciplined philosophy: to appear factory-original.
This wasn’t a case of cutting and welding until things fit. The Toyota Motorsports Garage team fastidiously engineered every component to fit without cutting into the firewall, relocating mount points, or altering the 1985 FJ60’s structural integrity.
To achieve this, they:
- Engineered completely new motor mounts.
- Machined a new adapter plate to mate the i-FORCE V6 to the bell housing of the FJ60’s factory 5-speed transmission.
- Re-designed the engine’s oil pan to work with the Land Cruiser’s classic chassis layout.
- Fitted a new heat exchanger to the original mounting points to handle the cooling demands of the turbocharged engine.
- Developed a custom wiring harness to connect the engine management system, ensuring factory-quality drivability.
- Fabricated a bespoke exhaust system to give the V6 an aggressive (but appropriate) exhaust note.
The Resto, Not Just the Mod
With the powertrain sorted, the team turned to the chassis and aesthetics, careful to preserve the truck’s timeless character.
The FJ received a modest 1.5-inch lift and a front shackle reversal, just enough to clear a set of 35-inch tires. The body was finished in a stunning PPG reproduction of Toyota’s original 1986 Silver 147, complete with period-correct graphics. The whole package gives the impression that this truck could have spent the last 40 years tucked away in a garage, aging gracefully but now refreshed for the modern day.
Inside, the vintage cabin experience is subtly enhanced by a modern JBL stereo system. It’s the perfect, minimal touch.
More Than Just a SEMA Build
For Toyota, this build is more than just a showpiece. “For Toyota fans, the Turbo Trail Cruiser is about more than just horsepower,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president of Toyota Marketing. “It’s about preserving the character of a vehicle enthusiasts love while showing how seamlessly Toyota technology can elevate the driving experience.”
The truck will be featured at the 2025 SEMA Show booth, but it also serves a strategic purpose. It highlights how gasoline-powered vehicles continue to play an important role in Toyota’s “multi-pathway strategy”. That strategy affirms Toyota’s commitment to offering a full range of solutions – from traditional engines and hybrids to plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells. It’s all about giving customers the freedom to choose the powertrain that best fits their needs.
Of course, Toyota is quick to point out the fine print: this is a special project prototype. It was modified with parts not available from Toyota, it may void the vehicle’s warranty, and it may not even be street legal. But that doesn’t stop us from dreaming. This is the passion for classics that Toyota shares with its customers, brought to life in the most exciting way.
