Offered between 1960 and 2001 if you include the Bandeirante for Brazil, the FJ40 is an overlanding icon. Offered with short, medium, and long wheelbases, the 40 series came with a varied selection of six- and four-cylinder mills. The 4.2-liter 2F was the largest engine of the bunch, packing 135 ps and 210 pound-feet of twist on full song, meaning 133 horsepower and 210 pound-feet in old money.
Also marketed under the Macho nameplate in Venezuela, the 40 is one seriously desirable 4x4 icon in this day and age. Although purists would rather the FJ40 be as close to the original spec as technically possible, certain peeps don't mind changing the recipe to suit the owner's preferences.
Enter the Brits at Retro Power and Project St. Joan, a rather unassuming restomod that hides a 1UZ-FE powerplant yanked out of a Lexus LS 400. The car that made Lexus a household name was originally available with nothing other than the 1UZ-FE oversquare V8 in combination with a four-speed automatic designed by Toyota subsidiary Aisin.
The Japanese automaker allegedly spent over a billion dollars to develop the first-gen LS, a genuine rival for the S-Class and 7er of that era. Its engine isn't exactly a tower of power, although 250 ponies and 260 pound-feet (353 Nm) is nothing to scoff at. Neither is the 400's top speed, which Lexus estimated at 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour).
Turning our attention back to St. Joan, the FJ40 in the videos attached below is gifted with MoTeC 130 engine management. Said control unit costs in the ballpark of $2,300 at press time, which is quite a bit more than you're charged by Apple for a MacBook Pro 14", MacBook Air 15", or the Mac Studio.
Photo: Retro Power
Rather than using the 400's transmission, Retro Power decided on mating the naturally-aspirated V8 to a purely mechanical automatic from a Land Cruiser J80. This, in turn, mandated a redesign of the center (transmission) tunnel and gear lever surround to suit the more archaic yet more reliable box.
Retaining the classic leaf-spring layout in combination with custom dampers for improved ride quality and stability in the corners, the FJ40 further rocks off-the-shelf brake upgrades, BFGoodrich rubber boots of the all-terrain variety, three folding seats up front, and a two-person bench seat right behind them. Retro Power, at the behest of the owner, preserved the vintage aesthetic of the 40 series both inside and out. To this effect, you'll find a Camaro-sourced air cleaner on top of the fuel-injected powerplant.
Enhanced bumper mounts also need to be mentioned, along with a custom inlet for the V8's throttle body, a Vintage Air unit located beneath the dashboard, as well as retro-inspired switchgear. It's a seriously cool yet laidback 4x4, and its owner can also be considered a laidback chap.
Retro Power explains that the St. Joan nickname comes from Sant Juan, a village located in the north of Ibiza. The owner plans on enjoying the FJ40 as his only means of personal motorized transport around the island, a superb rock island that measures a meager 571.6 square kilometers (220.7 square miles). For reference, Crete is listed with 8,450 square kilometers (3,260 square miles) under its belt.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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