Toyota Land Cruiser J55 (55 Series / FJ55) - First recognised Land Cruiser station wagon

Question

Toyota Land Cruiser J55 (often called the 55 Series, with common model codes FJ55 and FJ56 in Japan) is the first widely recognized Land Cruiser station wagon line—Toyota’s move toward a more family- and highway-friendly 4x4 alongside the rugged 40 Series. Toyota introduced the FJ55 station wagon in August 1967, and production ended in July 1980, when it was replaced by the 60 Series.

Overview

• Type: 4-door station wagon / early SUV

• Production: 1967–1980 (Toyota notes launch in Aug 1967)

• Role in lineup: Start of the Land Cruiser station wagon branch; successor: 60 Series (Aug 1980)

Design and engineering

• Built as a more spacious, enclosed wagon while retaining Land Cruiser toughness; Toyota highlights its 2,700 mm wheelbase chassis and a newly designed body, replacing the earlier 4-door FJ45V van variant.

• Commonly noted milestone: the 55 Series is described by Toyota as the first “real” Land Cruiser station wagon, marking the wagon/SUV body style’s beginning in the series.

Powertrain (typical)

• Early models used Toyota’s F inline-six; January 1975 saw the switch to the 2F inline-six (Japan designation often changed to FJ56).

Nicknames and culture

The J55/FJ55 is famously nicknamed “Iron Pig” (and sometimes “Moose”/“Pig”), a term of endearment tied to its distinctive shape and face. 

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