Toyota Retro Cruiser Is a Forgotten Gem That's Coming to the SEMA Show

Everyone is trying to raise the bar, so it's no wonder the Las Vegas Convention Center feels like Disney Land for car enthusiasts for a few days each year. Toyota's approach for its booth this year revolves around the Track or Trail theme, with 19 accessorized vehicles on display. And this one is a seemingly forgotten gem. But we'll need to go on a trip down memory lane to understand better how this legendary Land Cruiser concept came to be.

The Land Cruiser is one of Toyota's most iconic, best-selling nameplates, with over 10 million units delivered since 1951. Coincidentally, Rod Millen was born that same year in New Zealand. He spent most of his youth racing Mazdas but decided to move to the United States before his 30th birthday. Dirt or asphalt, it didn't matter to him, as he competed in both rally and endurance racing events.

Millen Senior (Rhys is his son) even took part in several WRC events during his career, but what put him on the map was his formidable run at Pikes Peak. He won the Race to the Clouds five times in the '90s, using the Celica or the Tacoma. So, it's easy to understand why he had a good relationship with the Japanese manufacturer. A man of his reputation must have been highly regarded in any circle, so a simple "What If" conversation with some of Toyota's Senior Managers led to the development of a project that most would label as a restomod these days.

The idea behind this Retro Cruiser concept was relatively simple: built upon the legacy of the '67 FJ by adding modern technology, creating an iconic vehicle in the process. The Rod Millen Group's 1967 FJ45 Land Cruiser Wagon wasn't always this cool, as the base car needed a bit of TLC. Millen's company and Toyota brought it into the 21st century with multiple improvements borrowed from the 100 Series. If you park this thing next to a classic FJ, you'll immediately notice the difference in both length and width, but there's more to it than just that.

The rugged Retro Cruiser is ready for any off-road challenge with increased wheel travel on both axles and 17-inch billet rims that are wrapped in 35-inch General Tire Grabbers. With a project like this, you always need an engine upgrade, too, and this vehicle now runs on a 100 Series, 4.7-liter V8 unit. Going to this length, it would have been a pity not to install a custom Borla exhaust, adding character to the build.

Naturally, for this old project, Toyota had to spend more time restoring it to its former glory, and you'll see it at the company's booth this week. I'm still stuck at how good the interior of the Retro Cruiser looks, and I can't help but think that the 2024 Land Cruiser seems to have drawn inspiration from it. You know how they say that a photo is worth 1000 words? I've included a gallery of multiple shots plus a video of the car, which will raise your appetite for a classic Toyota SUV.