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The keys to an iconic fully restored 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 were handed over to its new owner today at Manukau Toyota.
Dylan Kirschberg from Auckland was the lucky winner from about 3000 entries submitted by supporters of Toyota’s Top to Bottom Off Road journey. The expedition saw TV personality Marc Ellis drive a new Toyota FJ Cruiser off road from Cape Reinga arriving in Bluff, last week.
The classic FJ40 was fully restored by Toyota’s expert technicians to celebrate Land Cruiser’s 60th anniversary and was a special guest at event Checkpoints during the journey, proving to be a huge hit with Land Cruiser fans around the country. Marc Ellis was on hand to give the keys to Dylan today.
Dylan Kirschberg said: “Having heard of Marc’s Top to Bottom journey and learning that the prize was a '79' FJ40, I would have been an idiot not to enter the competition. The prize was a vehicle I have always loved”.
“Now thanks to Marc and the Toyota Signature Class team I have a one of kind, restored FJ from Top to Bottom - very cool!”
Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand Assistant General Manager Marketing and Product, says: “It was supporters like Dylan getting behind the journey that made it such a special event.”
“Toyota is proud of Land Cruiser’s 60-year heritage, and its ongoing connection to heartland New Zealand.”
Marc Ellis was at Manukau Toyota today for the handover and said.
“This is a legendary machine, and I am a bit jealous, to be fair, handing over the FJ40 to its new owner. The journey showed us what an icon the Land Cruiser is in this country. There are plenty still in use, and we saw some absolutely champion FJ40s in all manner of conditions along the way.”
As part of the Land Cruiser anniversary, Toyota’s Signature Class facility in Thames completely refurbished the FJ40 from the chassis up.
The Top to Bottom journey was updated live online through its own website and social media. All of those people who offered assistance and suggestions via the ‘Help Marc and win’ competition during the journey had a chance to win the restored FJ40.
The celebration of Land Cruiser’s 60th anniversary doesn’t stop here. Toyota is going to take the FJ Cruiser and the Land Cruiser 70 series vehicle which took part in the expedition on a tour of New Zealand, starting with Fieldays at Mystery Creek next week.