Specter recently found this rare vintage BJ model which is one out of a small hand full of BJ’s we know of still left on the face of this earth. The early BJ models were “jeep” styles, this rare beast is a BJR pick up model. Specter’s BJ was built in 1955. It was number 320 off the production line, total of 585 BJ models were produced in 1955. The history of the BJ pick up model is pretty scarce, recently we found more history on our BJ pick up. This particular vehicle was used as a logging truck in the town of Wakayama City Japan, just south of Tokyo. They ordered a cab chassis from Toyota and it was sent to Gifu Body Company to be converted with a hard cab and a pick up body. Gifu Body was a company that made low production runs, and one off vehicle modifications. This pick up truck was used by Wakayama City as a logging truck. The PTO winch was used to operate a traveling crane for moving logs up and down the hill side. It was used with a WWII Dodge weapons carrier that was also obtained by Wakayama City. This vehicle was owned by a clock museum for twenty years, before it was owned by Specter. To the best of our knowledge this was the only BJ pick up model ever produced.

It has a 4 speed transmission with a single speed transfercase. This vehicle came with a PTO winch that ran off the crankshaft. It took 2 people to operate the PTO. It has two levers on the passenger side and one lever on the drivers side, inside the cab.

The Vehicle was started for the first time in over 20 years, and it ran like a top. Brake fluid was put into the master cylinder and to our surprise the brakes pumped up and were functionable.

This vehicle is pushing 50 years and just does not want to die...still the tuffest 4x4 by far. This vehicle will be on display along with many other of Specter’s Land Cruiser collection. Be sure and stop by to visit us and see the oldest and the rarest Land Cruiser in the USA. There’s always something new and interesting at Specter Off-Road. You can read more about this interesting vehicle in the new 50th Anniversary Land Cruiser book, see page 403.

The year was 1950 ... a recession was having a negative impact on the automotive industry ... and the Toyota company had reached its lowest point. Then North Korea invaded South Korea and the Korean War began. Japan, being under the influence of America, was used as a supply base for the U.S. Military. This encouraged Japan to create the National Police Reserve Force to lighten the load of the Allied forces and to help protect itself. At first the National Police Reserve Force’s equipment was supplied by the U.S. Military, but soon Japan was urged to develop a local source of supply. This task was given to Japanese automakers who were asked to develop prototypes of compact 4x4 trucks. Immediately the Toyota company began designing and producing a prototype. This is were the history of the Land Cruiser began.

Toyota’s prototype was designed with a SB-type 1-ton truck chassis. It was powered by a 6 cylinder gasoline motor which had a displacement of 3386cc and was water cooled. This prototype was called the Toyota Jeep, and since it used a B-Type engine with a Jeep model it was known as the BJ. Toyota’s 4x4 prototype was finished and ready to present to the National Police Reserve Force.

The Toyota Jeep BJ was introduced to the National Police Reserve Force for their procurement project, but it was rejected. The BJ didn’t gain acceptance until its first test run. The test run was done by Ichiro Taira, who climbed the BJ all the way to the Number 6 Check Point of Mt. Fuji. The National Police Reserve Force was so impressed that it adopted the BJ as their patrol car, and two years later large scale production for the Toyota Jeep began.

The Toyota Jeep BJ’s first production year was solely dedicated to the National Police Reserve Force. This first year was extremely successful and soon Toyota was taking orders from the Forest and Agricultural Agency and from Electric Power companies. It wasn’t until the year 1954 that Toyota changed the name from Toyota Jeep to Land Cruiser. This was the beginning of the Land Cruiser legacy.