ROTW: Bull FJ45LV

bull · 06-28-07, 01:47 PM

This is the latest cruiser to be added to the fleet. I was surfing ebay sunday evening and came across this FJ45LV in Las Vegas for sale. I showed the wife and she said give him a call and ask the usual questions. I shoot him a mail and within 10 minutes I'm chatting witht the owners son. The original owner had passed away and the son was selling off all of his cars. The son was going through the paperwork on the phone with me. Ton's of receipts for oil changes, alignments, custom gast tank, etc etc. I'm liking what I'm hearing.

He then goes on to say that his father bought it new in 1967 and he is looking at the dealer invoice and loan paperwork from 1967. Instantly I pooped kittens sideways and motioned for the wife to come over. While we were still takling I was writing notes to the wife. Original owner, documentation from 1967, no rust, and original title. He then says his father passed away recently and that he was handling the estate for his mother. He also gave me some history on his father. His father worked for the Las Vegas police department his entire life and used the Las Vegas municipal credit union to buy the LV. The main use for the LV was a hunting and camping rig at their cabin. His son can remember long rides to their cabin in that LV. He said it was his father's prized possesion! He had several 4x4s and painted them orange and white. The original color was freeborn red and white. His son said that he painted all the rigs in his fleet this color. I hung up with him giddy as a school girl. I have wanted a LV just like this for a long time.

The auction had a buy it now for 10K. 2 minutes pass after talking with him and the wife said...well click the buy it now. I did and the rest is history. I paid him and had the LV shipped up to Seattle. I received a manilla folder with a ton of receipts, title, financial paper work etc. When I went to register the vehicle I asked them if I could keep the original title after checking some deep rooted laws they found if the title had historical signifigance it could remain in the possesion of the owner! I had some 67 plates had them added to the LV for the period look. Included in all the paper work was a cd with a bunch of scanned photos of the LV through its life with it's original owner. Included below.

This is my favorite photo below.

Fast Eddy · 06-28-07, 02:04 PM

Wow! That's one of those stories you hear about that may or may not be true. I guess it is possible, eh? Sweet! Plans?

bull · 06-28-07, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Eddy

Wow! That's one of those stories you hear about that may or may not be true. I guess it is possible, eh? Sweet! Plans?

Oh it's true... I will post up plans here in a bit.

bull · 06-28-07, 02:22 PM

Here are the photos from the ebay ad.

bull · 06-28-07, 02:25 PM

Some more!

Custom fuel tank..

bull · 06-28-07, 02:29 PM

Here are some of my pics.

Original floors

Gun racks stay to pay homage..

beaufort-fj60 · 06-28-07, 02:31 PM

are the windows tinted?

bull · 06-28-07, 02:35 PM

More pics..

AC baby!

Found this under a seat...not sure what it is.. cigar lighter coffee warmer?

Bellview winch (spelling?)

Single barrel goodness

The firewalls were painted black back then..(fun fact)

T-67 tag

MDH33 · 06-28-07, 02:36 PM

Awesome. I remember drooling over that one on Ebay and wishing... If only my wife was as understanding about Cruiser Addiction as yours.

So have you been driving it? Plans?

bull · 06-28-07, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaufort-fj60

are the windows tinted?

Is that a rhetorical queston?

yes they are

bull · 06-28-07, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDH33

Awesome. I rmember drooling over that one on Ebay and wishing... If only my wife was as understanding about Cruiser Addiction as yours.

So have you been driving it? Plans?

I have drove it around a bit. Needs a tune up and little stuff. Plan is to pull it in the shop in August and go through the mechanical things so it can be in attendance to the FJ45 run the first weekend in September.

beaufort-fj60 · 06-28-07, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bull

Is that a rhetorical queston?

yes they are

Do pigs fly?

bull · 06-28-07, 02:40 PM

tired of pics yet?

Tool bag from under the seat

bull · 06-28-07, 02:43 PM

aftermarket roof rack. I have seen these on other LVs.

8 track bitches..

macneill · 06-28-07, 02:48 PM

I think you have enough Cruisers now. You can stop.

What a great story. I got goose bumps reading it with the photos.

kellyo · 06-28-07, 02:55 PM

The quadrasonic 8 track is nearly priceless itself. I was drooling over that myself on ebay and Vegas is only 3 hours from me but I was and still am so frigging broke, so you lucked out. Can't wait to see this when you are done. Good luck and keep us drooling.

bull · 06-28-07, 03:06 PM

Here is a picture of the original title

bull · 06-28-07, 03:09 PM

Original owner RIP 1922-2006

bull · 06-28-07, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macneill

I think you have enough Cruisers now. You can stop.

What a great story. I got goose bumps reading it with the photos.

Yeah I'm done. I actually have sold of several land cruisers since buying this one. Going to keep a 40 one each of the 45s and a 80 series most likely.

bull · 06-28-07, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellyo

The quadrasonic 8 track is nearly priceless itself. I was drooling over that myself on ebay and Vegas is only 3 hours from me but I was and still am so frigging broke, so you lucked out. Can't wait to see this when you are done. Good luck and keep us drooling.

If you are nice I may just send you the 8 track player. It is a knee knocker in the current position. It also works nicely. I think the auction was up for 4 hours or so.

That being said I had 5 different party's contact me through ebay asking if I would sell the LV to them. The highest offer was 17K. I told them make it 20k and you can have it...needless to say I never heard from them.

-bull

yzftaco · 06-28-07, 03:50 PM

Nice score Rodney!!

Can't wait to see it at the 45 run...

surfpig · 06-28-07, 04:07 PM

Wow.

Just... wow.

Ducks · 06-28-07, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bull

tired of pics yet?

Nope. Most excellent find. Nice to hear there are still gems out there.

wesintl · 06-28-07, 04:33 PM

It's great to find a gem like that. I love those vintage pics. Nice tribute too...

SLOwag · 06-28-07, 04:58 PM

That is fantastic, I love those old photos. In my opinion, you are the caretaker of this rig until it goes to the next generation.....I wish I were so lucky.

Mace · 06-28-07, 06:12 PM

I had talked to Mike about 10 times about that 45LV.

He was supposed to give me a ring if he ever decided to sell it...

bull · 06-28-07, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

I had talked to Mike about 10 times about that 45LV.

He was supposed to give me a ring if he ever decided to sell it...

He passed away pretty quickly. His son sold it for his mother. I'm trying to recall where they lived. Do you know where?

Mace · 06-28-07, 07:19 PM

Kinda SE Section of las Vegas.

I met him back in 98 while we were doing a water well inventory here in Vegas.

bull · 06-28-07, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

Kinda SE Section of las Vegas.

I met him back in 98 while we were doing a water well inventory here in Vegas.

I just looked up my paperwork. They had lived in Logandale NV since 85 and that is where I had the shipping company pick it up.

greenfox · 06-28-07, 07:27 PM

Bull send the lv down too me I will fix it up for you