Thanks Juan,
The motor on the Popayan vehicle is the original 3B (which is super rare in Colombia, they are much more common in Costa Rica). 3B Diesels are so rare here that they probably don't have a selection for their displacement when registering them (1FZs are common). I saw the actual plates on the vehicle but the picture was not as good or as easy to upload as the copy of the owners drivers license which had the relevant serial numbers. I can attest that it is a BJ43.
The owner of vehicle number one has decided not to sell right now, so I'm back to looking for a vehicle. They are so common here that it is just a matter of looking through all of them to find the one you like.
The life of the vehicle depends a lot on where it is located. For instance, if you buy something from Norte de Santander department there is a good chance that it is either Venezuelan (less desirable) or was used to "mochiliar por las trochas" (go mudding through the trails). If you buy something from Barranquilla on the other hand, it spent all it's life exposed to salt air. Find something that has lived it's life in Bogota or Medellin and you have a city car that wasn't used for mudding. Most of the vehicles I've found have been in Bogota (or the surrounding area), Villavicencia or the eje cafetero near Armenia.
When I get a chance I'll post some pictures of some of the awesome preservation and restoration jobs I've seen here. However, these jobs usually have taken the owner 3 to 5 years and he has sunken $70k - $80k into the vehicles. One friend has a 1983 with an original Toyota tarp that he bought for $20k that is so low mileage it still has the original tires on it (he trailers it to shows). He has zero interest in selling though, and I have zero interest in buying a trailer queen that I would never take out on the road.
Hello,
Notice that BJ43s had the B engine, not the 3B. The BJ46, sold only in selected markets outside Japan, had the 3B.
Short and long wheel base 40 Series were assembled in Venezuela. A few were exported to Colombia. They have a Dana 60 rear axle instead of the Toyota one; other than that, they are the same (and as good) as their Japanese cousins. If you find one in good shape, it is worth a try.
You are right on the money spent on preservation/restoration jobs. That is why I suggested finding an un-restored 40 Series in good condition.
Juan