I bought my 9/73 FJ55 back in February of ’07…and it’s really hard to believe it’s been a year already! And actually, at the same time, I can’t believe it’s only been a year.
I started my search for another Cruiser after I bought my FJC. A bit different from many folks that have classic LC’s and then give the FJC a try. But truth be told, I had been kicking around the community for about 5 years or more before joining my local TLCA Chapter (Georgia Cruisers). I owe my interest and now obsession to my little brother, DanKunz. He found his 60 Series while on the way to dinner one night and then it was ON. He then bought a 55 in South Dakota, flew there, drove it home, and I was introduced to the Iron Pig (interestingly, this little piggy became FJBen’s and was the one that he rolled. I think those piggy springs are still kicking around somewhere!).
So, I was looking for a LC, and thought that a 40 was for me. Until one day I was on craigslist digging around and an ad for a Land Cruiser caught my attention. And that was the first time I saw it. Turns out it was located just down the street from my brother, so I headed over there to look at it. It had been garaged for all but the last few months, and there is sat…shiny and pretty and dead as a door nail. That thing wouldn’t turn over to save it’s life. Well, at that point I made an offer on it, but the PO wanted to try to get it running. Turns out it was VERY cold, hadn’t been run in a while, and was basically just being temperamental. He called me the next day, I was able to go with my brother and Dad and drive it, and I made an offer and it was accepted.
So I brought her home…and here she is on day one at my brother’s house:
So, I now owned (thanks to the wonders of PayPal) Miss. Piggy in all her glory. Maaco paint job and stickers covering the rust and all! Turns out I am the fourth owner of the truck. It was originally purchased in Marietta, GA by a construction company that intended on using it to drive VIPs around their sites. However they learned very shortly that a 55 in Georgia heat with no A/C was miserable, and gave it to the construction crew to use. It was then purchased by a guy that ran an elevator company, and it was used by him to get around town. Then it was purchased by the family I bought it from, who owned it for 30 years. He did all his own work on the truck, and it was filled with Man-A-Fre and Specter parts and pieces. He had kept it stock and it had never been wheeled except to get to camping and fishing sites in North Georgia. Upon close inspection, she was in need of some TLC and had the characteristic rusty rot.
But her frame was good, and most of the body was in great shape. I decided that this was to be my first adventure with restoring a truck. I had never worked on a truck before (at least not in any detail; I can change oil and tires and what not, but never this in depth) but that there was no better time than the present.
I started my search for another Cruiser after I bought my FJC. A bit different from many folks that have classic LC’s and then give the FJC a try. But truth be told, I had been kicking around the community for about 5 years or more before joining my local TLCA Chapter (Georgia Cruisers). I owe my interest and now obsession to my little brother, DanKunz. He found his 60 Series while on the way to dinner one night and then it was ON. He then bought a 55 in South Dakota, flew there, drove it home, and I was introduced to the Iron Pig (interestingly, this little piggy became FJBen’s and was the one that he rolled. I think those piggy springs are still kicking around somewhere!).
So, I was looking for a LC, and thought that a 40 was for me. Until one day I was on craigslist digging around and an ad for a Land Cruiser caught my attention. And that was the first time I saw it. Turns out it was located just down the street from my brother, so I headed over there to look at it. It had been garaged for all but the last few months, and there is sat…shiny and pretty and dead as a door nail. That thing wouldn’t turn over to save it’s life. Well, at that point I made an offer on it, but the PO wanted to try to get it running. Turns out it was VERY cold, hadn’t been run in a while, and was basically just being temperamental. He called me the next day, I was able to go with my brother and Dad and drive it, and I made an offer and it was accepted.
So I brought her home…and here she is on day one at my brother’s house:
So, I now owned (thanks to the wonders of PayPal) Miss. Piggy in all her glory. Maaco paint job and stickers covering the rust and all! Turns out I am the fourth owner of the truck. It was originally purchased in Marietta, GA by a construction company that intended on using it to drive VIPs around their sites. However they learned very shortly that a 55 in Georgia heat with no A/C was miserable, and gave it to the construction crew to use. It was then purchased by a guy that ran an elevator company, and it was used by him to get around town. Then it was purchased by the family I bought it from, who owned it for 30 years. He did all his own work on the truck, and it was filled with Man-A-Fre and Specter parts and pieces. He had kept it stock and it had never been wheeled except to get to camping and fishing sites in North Georgia. Upon close inspection, she was in need of some TLC and had the characteristic rusty rot.
But her frame was good, and most of the body was in great shape. I decided that this was to be my first adventure with restoring a truck. I had never worked on a truck before (at least not in any detail; I can change oil and tires and what not, but never this in depth) but that there was no better time than the present.
bravo!
