Half Upper Tailgate – for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 (Steel)

A direct-fit replica half upper tailgate for 1975-1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 restorations. Stamped in steel to original-style contours so it lines up with existing seams, gaps and hardware locations — the fastest route from rust bucket to straight body without sacrificing a donor car.

Specifications

Fitment & Compatibility

This tailgate fits the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, model years 1975-1978. FJ40 bodies changed in detail over the production run — most noticeably at the 1973–74 update and the 1979 facelift — so always match the panel to your build year and compare pressings with your original before final fitting. Left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive bodies share most panels; firewall, dash and some cowl parts are drive-side specific.

As with any reproduction panel, trial-fit against the vehicle before final welding or paint. Minor adjustment at flanges and mounting points is a normal part of professional panel fitting, even with precision replica pressings.

The maths of new steel

Restorers rarely regret buying a new panel; they regret the three weekends spent trying to save an old one first. Repairing a corroded tailgate means paying for blasting, fabrication time and filler — and the result is still fifty-year-old metal. A replica pressing costs a known amount, arrives straight, and spares a donor vehicle from being cut up for parts. Your original panel can stay with the vehicle for provenance; your build gets metal you can trust.

About the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 is one of the most restored four-wheel drives on earth. Built from 1960 to 1984, the short-wheelbase FJ40 earned its reputation on mine sites, farms and expedition routes across Australia, Africa, South America and North America, powered for most of its life by the 3.9-litre F and 4.2-litre 2F inline-six petrol engines (with BJ40/HJ45 diesel siblings sharing the same body). Toyota built the FJ40 with simple, flat-stamped panels and a bolt-together tub, which is exactly why so many survive today — and why reproduction body panels can return even a badly corroded example to factory shape.

Because the FJ40 worked hard and lived outdoors, nearly every survivor carries rust in the same places: the rear quarter panels and lower corners, the rear sill and floor braces, the tailgate skins, the front fender aprons, the firewall footwells and the windscreen frame. Original Toyota steel was never galvanised, and fifty years of trapped mud between the body and the chassis outriggers does the rest. Replacing rusted sections with correctly stamped reproduction panels is the accepted restoration method — patching heavily pitted original steel almost always costs more in labour than fitting a new panel.

Installation

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate  |  Typical time: 1–3 hours  |  Welding required: no.

Tailgates bolt to their hinges, so replacement is mostly transfer work: swap chains or stays, latches, handles and any glass hardware to the new panel, then adjust for even margins against the rear opening. Seal the internal seams before paint so the new panel doesn't repeat the original's fate.

Tools: basic hand tools, trim tools, thread lubricant for aged hinge bolts.
Common mistakes to avoid: skipping internal cavity wax, and not checking the rear body opening for rust and distortion before blaming the new panel for poor gaps.

Quality & Manufacturing

BodyBros replica panels are pressed on dedicated tooling developed from measured original panels, in automotive-grade material matched to the application. Pressings are checked against reference bucks for profile, flange geometry and hole placement before packing. Steel panels are supplied with a protective primer coating ready for preparation and refinishing; alloy and plastic parts are supplied ready to prepare and paint. These are aftermarket replica restoration parts — manufactured by BodyBros, not by the original vehicle maker.

Worldwide Delivery

We ship worldwide — including the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Panels are packed in purpose-built cartons or timber crates depending on size; large assemblies travel by sea or air freight with tracking. Duties and taxes are calculated at checkout or on arrival depending on destination. See our Shipping & Delivery page for lead times to your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this tailgate fit my Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40?

It fits 1975-1978 models as listed above. FJ40 bodies changed in detail over the production run — most noticeably at the 1973–74 update and the 1979 facelift — so always match the panel to your build year and compare pressings with your original before final fitting. Left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive bodies share most panels; firewall, dash and some cowl parts are drive-side specific.

Is welding required to install it?

No. This part installs as a bolt-on or transfer fit using standard hand tools — see the installation notes above.

Can it replace a rusted original panel?

Yes — that is exactly what it is made for. The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 commonly rusts in rear quarter panels, lower rear corners, sills, floor pans, tailgate skins, fender aprons and the firewall footwells, and this replica pressing replaces corroded original metal with new steel — no donor vehicle required.

Do you ship this internationally?

Yes. We ship worldwide with tracked freight; larger panels and assemblies travel in purpose-built crates. Delivery times and freight options for your country are shown at checkout and on our Shipping page.

What finish does the panel arrive in?

It arrives ready for preparation and paint. Like any replacement body panel, it should be test-fitted, prepared and refinished before final installation.

BodyBros is an independent manufacturer of replica restoration panels. Vehicle make and model names are used for fitment identification only; BodyBros products are aftermarket parts and BodyBros is not affiliated with or endorsed by Toyota.

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